Another day and another release for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This latest one is from Wing42 with their recreation of the Boeing 274D – a classic radial engined two engine airliner from the 1930’s. Let’s have a look!
Classic aircraft release
Microsoft Flight Simulator has seen a growing collection of vintage aircraft and Wing42 have already contributed to that with their Bleriot XI. Now they are coming out with the Boeing 247D and it looks very interesting.
Among the feature list are the usual entries like high fidelity 3D model with PBR textures, realistic flight model, custom animations and WWise sound pack. This aircraft also comes with some interesting systems simulation that takes it above and beyond your average MSFS aircraft.
Wing42 have developed an external systems set that they are calling their “Prop-o-Tronic” physics engine. Accurate systems modeling under the system include Oil, Electrical, Heat-exchange, and more. Also mentioned in the feature set is a realistic start-up procedure involving the flywheel, hand crank, and clutch. A virtual ground crew can do the job for you or you can crank the prop yourself!
This also has a unique outdated radio nav system called “radio range.” Here’s what Wing42 have to say about that system:
The pilot of a historic 1930s aircraft would dial in a frequency on the radio and listen to the changing Morse code transmitted to find his way. It is an annoying and challenging, yet very rewarding way of navigating the skies. We included almost 700 historical radio stations (around 400 of them located in the U.S.A.) and outfitted the aircraft with a Bendix MR1B wireless controller.
Interesting stuff. The radio also runs on the same AM band as your conventional music radio stations and they have piped in some royalty free, era appropriate music into some of the radio stations.
A few (p)reviews are out for this aircraft including these two that I watched. They should give you a good sense of the aircraft.
If all this sounds like you might be into it, its available from Wing42’s website for £14.67. Wing42 have made a point to keep the price low with the idea that they are more likely to sell more copies than if they came in at a higher price. Check out the Wing42 Boeing 247D on their website. It should come to the MSFS Marketplace sometime later.
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