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| Jetstream 41 By: Edward Longe |
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| Jetstream 41 Manufactured: PMDG Published: Aerosoft Click on image's to enlarge. The Jetstream 41 In the mid to late 1980's British Aerospace began to design a regional jetliner to compete with Dornier 328 and Saab 340. Developed from the earlier Jetstream 31, the Jetstream 41's first flight was on the 25th September 1991 and was introduced into service during 1992. During its production period (between 1992 and 1997) approximately 100 rolled out of the factory at Farnborough. As of 2007 approximately 53 remain in service worldwide and the vast majority with Eastern Airlines. A major reason for the Jetstream's success is its low running costs and its ability to operate from shorter strips then traditional jet airliners. The J41 only requires a crew of 3 (2 pilots and 1 cabin crew) . The J41 has a maximum speed of around 295 knots and a maximum cruising altitude of 26,000ft. The J41 Add-on: When PMDG announced the release of the J41 it was anticipated to replace Flight 1's masterpiece ATR 72. For some unknown reason there is a lack of regional turboprop aircraft available for FSX but PMDG have always been known for pushing the boat out so it must have been an obvious choice to develop an add-on of a little known regional turboprop. As the proud owner of PMDG's MD-11 I was honoured when Sim-Reviews offered me the chance to review the latest PMDG add on. Priced at €39.99 for the boxed addition and €39.95 for the download addition. Compared to other PMDG add on's the J41 is an absolute steal. A major reason for the price tag is that it is widely regarded as a 'lite' add on compared to the MD-11X or 747-400. Included in the package is a 98 page highly detailed tutorial flight which covers in depth the various systems on board on a tutorial flight from Westchester County Airport to Washington Dulles international. For the download version you will require Adobe Acrobat. Included at the end of the tutorial is charts of both airports which is always a nice extra. The tutorial covers everything that you will need from start up in cold and dark to shut down.   Also included in the package is a Configuration manager which allows the user to alter parts of the panel to his or her liking. This is pretty slandered in most of PMDG add-ons. However compared to the MD-11 this is fairly basic. Another feature of the package is the 543 page operations manual which goes over the various specifications of the J41. Think it is fairly safe to say that PMDG value the paperwork just as much as the add-on itself. Unlike many developers nowadays PMDG always take time and attention in creating the all important checklists and various other utilities that are needed to fly such a complex add on. I am very pleased to see PMDG staying consistent in field. As per usual with PMDG add on's you only get the PMDG livery. Now this may sound bad but all liveries are available free from the PMDG website and other freeware sites like flightsim.com or avsim.com. I like the way PMDG do this because it means you don't have any liveries you don't want or will never use just hogging up space on your hard drive. Typical of PMDG, all free liveries from their website are of exceptional quality. The Exterior model: PMDG have always been hugely successful in there exterior models and I am delighted to report back their developers still remain consistent in this critical field. In this add on PMDG have modelled propeller feathering, doors and emergency exits (including baggage hold doors), ailerons, flaps and elevators. One feature that I really like about this add on is the Ramp manager which allows you to place cones around the J41. It also lets you place a baggage cart, Ground Power unit and open the rear emergency exit. The ramp manager is only available when both engines are shut down and the parking brake is engaged. I have found with many Flight Simulator add-ons that certain animations like flap extension and retraction that they seem to be laboured and scabrous. I am delighted to say that PMDG have broken this trend. The flaps seem to extend fluently. This is great to see in this add on. The Virtual Cockpit (VC) PMDG have always been known for producing some outstanding VC over the past few years and when they decided to develop the J41 it must have presented a very different challenge. Most of PMDG's successes have been down to the complexity of the add-on and the detailed VC. The challenge PMGD had was that all of their add-ons for FSX had glass cockpits where as the J41 doesn't. The J41 VC, it is clear to see the vast difference between two cockpit based with the MD-11. Just because it doesn't include ECAS systems and a stat of the art auto pilot, it doesn't mean I don't like it. In fact, the VC must be one of the best VC's on the market nowadays. Replacing the full glass cockpit of the MD-11, the J41 has back to basic dials which gives you a real sense of what flying should be. Seeing both VC together I think I actually prefer the J41 Aircraft System:     Now obviously on a small regional airliner, the onboard systems are going to be vastly different compared to onboard systems like on large regional jets for example on board the 757. This is where I believe the main chalice lied for PMDG in developing the J41. Now the centre of any aircraft is the Flight Management Computer (FMC) which programs the route and displays the aircrafts position and further route on the ECAS screen. Most simmers who mainly fly big jets will find the J41's FMC a challenge. For example instead of having a enter key for each option you need to flick between the two options. Basically it is two options for one key. Comparable to the MD-11, the J41 has extremely basic for example all engine displays are manual on the J41 compared to extensive computerised displays on the MD-11. But this is to be expected. One thing I was extremely disappointed about not being included in this package was the lack of a load manager although PMDG have included a load sheet on the captains left had side which is alterable and give information on landing weight, fuel on board and Maximum takeoff weight. Another feature that really impressed me about this add-on was the Speed cards which provide information on takeoff, landing, and cruise speeds. It also provides the advised speeds in various air temperatures at various aircraft weights. Closing Remarks  It is clear to see that PMDG have developed the J41 with perfection in mind. They have consistently produced mind blowing add-ons for Flight Simulator and the J41 is no exception. This add-on has to be one of the all time grates for Flight Simulator possibly on a par with the MD-11 or 747. It would be criminal of me not to commend their work in the VC department. |
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