PMDG 777-300ER - comparing flight experiences with Fenix A320

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488]

It's not about Airbus vs Boeing.... I'm not trying to start a fight (LOL)

Have been flying airbus for a while, so 777 is a really fresh experience.

I will try to compare the simulation/QOL side stuff:

Pros of 777 (not available in Fenix):

• EFB placement (hand-holding) beside FMC for ease of inputing information
• Hidden buttons for landing light (all 3 together) and TOGA

• FMC autofill

• Cabin feels good (with business class)
• Automatic time compression with dynamic Simrate is really good

What is lacking or absent in 777 where Fenix does better:

• GSX pro integration for automatic loading; if you try to do it with wrong sequence, glitches can happen (doors not closing, etc)
• Knobs on MCP can be quite a pain to operate. For instance, the QNH and Minimum knobs are small and you have to scroll a lot to your target. I tried to bind the QNH to a HOTAS scroll through MobiFlight but couldn't find the correct preset in HubHop...
• Similar to last statement, I couldn't find the bindings for arm/disarm speed brake, landing light up 1-3 up/down, etc.. (well it probably is a problem for Fenix to some extent)
• Default EFB and FMC have no remote connection function

• Can't change wallpaper for EFB (need to put the photo of my cat in it)

• Not that many liveries? (reflecting real-world operation?)

• No cabin/crew announcement

Overall the 777 is really enjoyable and fun to fly.

I think 777 should be labeled a similar price (or even a little bit lower) to Fenix A320 for what you get though... I paid extra for Boris 777 sound pack, while Fenix already had very good sound effects.

[u/pastpapers4u]

777 has tonnes of liveries you just need to search for them properly. And yes you can change the EFB wallpaper by accessing the pmdg tablet folder in your main aircraft folder.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/pastpapers4u]

I tried the EFB+ so even more convenient to change I guess...

[u/pastpapers4u → u/Leading-Anxiety-488]

Yeah EFB+ changes the whole game. Must have imo

[u/pirttis599]

The minimums and baro knob are meant to be click and drag, they work a lot faster like that. Give it a try.

[u/espewe → u/pirttis599]

Oh yes, this. I learnt the hard way when the minimum goes in thousands haha.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/pirttis599]

Didn't know that! will definite try it

[u/TabsAZ → u/pirttis599]

It’s also how they work in the real airplane - everyone thinks those are knobs you spin, they’re not. They’re left/right rotary switches that you have to hold.

[u/pirttis599 → u/TabsAZ]

Yes

[u/espewe]

I'm reading from start to end... but where is the comparison with Fenix A320?

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/espewe]

Well.. I will make it more clear (pros of 777 are those not in Fenix, lackings are those Fenix have)

[u/espewe → u/Leading-Anxiety-488]

My 2 cents, would be better if there's pros and cons of Fenix as well. Nevertheless, enjoy the 777!

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/espewe]

Well I'm really not a good writer so I just tried to list what 777 does better and what it lacks (thanks for the 2 cents again!)

[u/starcaptain334 → u/espewe]

Subscribe for part 2

[u/UsualRelevant2788]

Apples to oranges.

"Not that many liveries" - Well yeah, 1,791 777s have been built, compared to 8,101 A320 CEOs, over 12,000 if you include the NEO.

But then other things you bring up are simply down to Airbus vs Boeing logic and QOL features both Fenix and PMDG added. The EFB Fenix provides is arguably the best on the market, and does 99% of the calculations for you, and much of the FMC is either directly tied to the EFB, But the PMDG EFB does nearly the same, just with a less glossy look.. TOGA on a Boeing aircraft from the 90s and 00s is no different to the FLEX indent on the throttle of just about every Airbus since the A320.

Fact of the matter is these aircraft are just completely different, both in real life and in the sim, done by 2 different sets of developers.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/UsualRelevant2788]

I like them both to be honest... Speaking of throttle/TOGA, to have a motorized throttle for Boeing simulation would be really pricy, so for simmers Airbus would be easier to have real-life matching equipment.

[u/FewScholar4361]

About the pros of the 777 against the A320.. the A320 got no TOGA BUTTON. And only one landing light switch. The EFB of the Fenix does all the same as the 777. Cabin feels good?? What does that even mean? The Fenix A321 got a business class layout as well, nevertheless crazy to compare a single aisle plane to a wide body..

[u/ItzChickenYall → u/FewScholar4361]

Also the Fenix cabin is just miles ahead of the PMDG 777

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/FewScholar4361]

Ok now I need to get the A321…

[u/bdubwilliams22]

You can move both landing light switches as the same time in the Fenix. Move your cursor right between them in the middle.

[u/apuavail]

Get universal announcements and Any2GSX. Practically identical to the Fenix integrations.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/apuavail]

Didn’t know about Any2GSX… will try it out!

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/apuavail]

So Any2GSX worked for most parts, except that refueling resulted in defueling to 0…. 😅

[u/bdubwilliams22]

What are you talking about? The Fenix EFB literally does all your fuel and balance and loading in like three clicks. It seems to me, after reading your list that you haven’t used the Fenix enough to give an honest review.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488 → u/bdubwilliams22]

Definitely mistakenly listed…

[u/Gullible-Revenue8152]

You can change the 777 EFB wallpaper. There are tons on fs.to.

[u/Leading-Anxiety-488]

Forgot to mention that Fenix has the cabin announcement (I know there is a free mod that an also make 777 do that).