Captain Sim 727 Captain
Airplane Background
The Boeing 727 is a three engined jet airplane that was produced in the early 1960s until August 1984, 1,831 aircraft were delivered in that time.
The Boeing 727 has a place in aviation history, it was previously the best selling airliner, and contributed to the development of the world's jet transportation system.
Captain Sim Package
The product we reviewed is an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX). Captain Sim also have a Boeing 727 add-on for FS2004 (Legendary 727).
The package is available as a download, and installed with no problems at all.
The various 2D panels and views can be selected from an icon selector panel, and there's also an animation control panel, where doors, windows, wheel chocks and multiple other items can be operated by one mouse click.
Looking at the external model shows many animations,
including the ability to view cowl doors, air stairs, and even see open emergency exits and inflated emergency slide, if selected. You can have flight attendants at the bottom of the air stairs too !
Moving inside, the entire cabin and galley is recreated, in excellent detail.
In the cabin you can open and close overhead lockers, move head rests and arm rests, and even the window blinds.
The detail is amazing, illustrated with an image of a flight attendant on the back of the main passenger door (above).
Doors can be also be opened and closed, including the aft door, which on the Boeing 727 is at the back of the fuselage.
The galley has a movable cart, and even the lavatory door moves.
There's a lot to see and do in this package !
The virtual cockpit is incredible, and very immersive.
The cockpit has numerous animations too, including moving seat parts, clipboard, windows, wipers, doors, and even air vent controls, to mention a few!
Included with the package is the Aircraft Configuration Editor (ACE), where you can change the passenger and cargo loads, and manage liveries.
The documentation is excellent and available as 3 downloadable pdf's from the Captain Sim website. The documentation provides checklists, operational procedures, performance data, as well as 92 pages of systems information, all beautifully illustrated with color images.
Flight Test
After describing the package, it's time to take her for a flight !
We take an opportunity to view the external textures as we line up on the runway.
The virtual cockpit is wonderful, and looking around you can quickly operate the systems as in the real airplane.
Once up to speed the airplane flew smoothly, and performance was good.
During the course of several flights, the airplane handled extremely well.
Summary
With some systems knowledge (excellent documentation to learn from), this is an add-on that can offer systems complexity, advanced airplane operations simulation, and a beautiful modeled airplane to explore, literally, whether inside the flightdeck, cabin, or externally.
Highly recommended !
Available from Captain Sim web site (www.captainsim.com).
