Flight1/CoolSky Super 80 Pro

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a short to medium range, narrow body commercial passenger jet aircraft. The MD-80 is an improved development of the DC-9 and was fitted with new engines, a further stretched fuselage and increased wingspan. Initially the MD-80 was designated DC-9 Super 80 or DC-9-80, but this designation changed to MD-80 in 1983. The MD-80 designation is a generic designation for the series and doesn't apply to a certain model. The models in the MD-80 series are: MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88. The first MD-80, a MD-81, was delivered to launch customer Swissair in September 1980. Currently American Airlines operates the largest number of MD-80s. The MD-80 remained in production until 1999.

The Super 80 Pro simulates the MD-81 with the latest cockpit upgrade given to the MD-80 series. The package is developed by the Norwegian CoolSky and being sold via the publisher Flight1. It contains the MD-81 model, 2d panel, virtual cockpit, sounds and manuals. This MD-81 is a great aircraft in many ways. The exterior is detailed, well done liveries, almost all systems simulated, realistic panel and virtual cockpit, realistic sounds and very educative and easy to use learning mode. This mode can be activated via the panel and will help you to start engines, takeoff, land, do checks, etc. This is accomplished with text messages and arrows that point to the right instrument. Another way to learn is to read the well written user manual and aircraft operating manual, which are available in .pdf format.

If you don't like to learn all the systems at first, you can choose one of the start modes, like 'cleared for takeoff' which configures the aircraft automatically for you up to the takeoff flap setting. Advanced instruments and functions like the flight computers, weather radar and autoland feature are all simulated. Buttons and knobs that are clickable on the panel are clickable in the virtual cockpit as well. So you can do an entire flight from within the vc. Interesting detail: the windows on the fuselage are not textures, but you can see right through the aircraft and see the interior. It looks more realistic compared to flat textures.

Unlike the Super 80 package, this version is for FSX only. One very interesting difference is the option to use high resolution textures. These are developed by McPhat Studios and can be downloaded from their website. Right now there are 2 UHDT (Ultra High Definition Textures) liveries available: American Airlines and Trans World Airlines. These liveries are 4 times sharper than regular liveries (2048x2048 pixels textures instead of 512x512 pixels). The results are insane detailed liveries (see screenshot 6 and 7) - without any drop in framerate! A big thanks to the texture artists at McPhat Studios for these 2 pieces, which are by the way freeware!

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