Would love to see a JustFlight DC-9
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So I know I'm just One Dude online and that JF has a product development timeline that is already scheduled out multiple years from now. So, I have no expectation that my making this post will prompt a "wow we never thought about it, you're right, we'll do it" type response.
For what it's worth, though -- and for the sake of just, like, manifesting, haha -- I wanted to say that I can hardly imagine an aircraft that would fit better into the current and upcoming JF MSFS aircraft catalogue than a DC-9.
If you look at the DC-9 through the bulk of its production, you're looking at an aircraft that has basically the same level of automation and instrumentation as the F-28 but was much more widely utilized by airlines. Of course, when the MD-80s took over, later models began coming with your more modern FMC, RNAV, etc. type capabilities as standard, but with the DC-9 I don't think any were originally built with an FMC/FMS. The DC-9s that did have something like that, I imagine they were all a retrofit, so slotting the upcoming JF UNS-1 into it as an option likely would not be that hypothetical.
They were extremely common (976 built, used by many major US carriers), documentation should be very easy to come by (you can routinely find complete sets of pilot's manuals and maintenance manuals on eBay), and there are still numerous flying examples. So, I'd imagine it'd be easier to get reference information for than the F-28 was.
I help run a network of three virtual airlines which have a combined membership that sits around 1200 people currently, and one of those three VAs (the smallest, admittedly) is dedicated to curated selections of historical airline timetables (shout out to https://www.piedmont-virtual.com/). The lack of a quality DC-9 in MSFS is something we constantly run into when trying to select new timetables, and wishing someone would make one is a frequent discussion topic with our members. I am convinced there would be a robust market for the DC-9.
As far as I know, no one else is working on it. The Coolsky developer has confirmed he had no interest in updating it and moving it from P3D to MSFS (I often wonder if someone could buy the project from them), Leonardo has also never expressed any interest in doing a DC-9 when asked, and I've heard of no one else announcing it.
I hope JF will consider it!
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So I know I'm just One Dude online and that JF has a product development timeline that is already scheduled out multiple years from now. So, I have no expectation that my making this post will prompt a "wow we never thought about it, you're right, we'll do it" type response.
For what it's worth, though -- and for the sake of just, like, manifesting, haha -- I wanted to say that I can hardly imagine an aircraft that would fit better into the current and upcoming JF MSFS aircraft catalogue than a DC-9.
If you look at the DC-9 through the bulk of its production, you're looking at an aircraft that has basically the same level of automation and instrumentation as the F-28 but was much more widely utilized by airlines. Of course, when the MD-80s took over, later models began coming with your more modern FMC, RNAV, etc. type capabilities as standard, but with the DC-9 I don't think any were originally built with an FMC/FMS. The DC-9s that did have something like that, I imagine they were all a retrofit, so slotting the upcoming JF UNS-1 into it as an option likely would not be that hypothetical.
They were extremely common (976 built, used by many major US carriers), documentation should be very easy to come by (you can routinely find complete sets of pilot's manuals and maintenance manuals on eBay), and there are still numerous flying examples. So, I'd imagine it'd be easier to get reference information for than the F-28 was.
I help run a network of three virtual airlines which have a combined membership that sits around 1200 people currently, and one of those three VAs (the smallest, admittedly) is dedicated to curated selections of historical airline timetables (shout out to https://www.piedmont-virtual.com/). The lack of a quality DC-9 in MSFS is something we constantly run into when trying to select new timetables, and wishing someone would make one is a frequent discussion topic with our members. I am convinced there would be a robust market for the DC-9.
As far as I know, no one else is working on it. The Coolsky developer has confirmed he had no interest in updating it and moving it from P3D to MSFS (I often wonder if someone could buy the project from them), Leonardo has also never expressed any interest in doing a DC-9 when asked, and I've heard of no one else announcing it.
I hope JF will consider it!
@piedmonitor I'd absolutely second this request, the DC9 is really the early regional jet, and while it wasn't as common in the rest of the world as they were in the US, they were still incredibly common.
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So I know I'm just One Dude online and that JF has a product development timeline that is already scheduled out multiple years from now. So, I have no expectation that my making this post will prompt a "wow we never thought about it, you're right, we'll do it" type response.
For what it's worth, though -- and for the sake of just, like, manifesting, haha -- I wanted to say that I can hardly imagine an aircraft that would fit better into the current and upcoming JF MSFS aircraft catalogue than a DC-9.
If you look at the DC-9 through the bulk of its production, you're looking at an aircraft that has basically the same level of automation and instrumentation as the F-28 but was much more widely utilized by airlines. Of course, when the MD-80s took over, later models began coming with your more modern FMC, RNAV, etc. type capabilities as standard, but with the DC-9 I don't think any were originally built with an FMC/FMS. The DC-9s that did have something like that, I imagine they were all a retrofit, so slotting the upcoming JF UNS-1 into it as an option likely would not be that hypothetical.
They were extremely common (976 built, used by many major US carriers), documentation should be very easy to come by (you can routinely find complete sets of pilot's manuals and maintenance manuals on eBay), and there are still numerous flying examples. So, I'd imagine it'd be easier to get reference information for than the F-28 was.
I help run a network of three virtual airlines which have a combined membership that sits around 1200 people currently, and one of those three VAs (the smallest, admittedly) is dedicated to curated selections of historical airline timetables (shout out to https://www.piedmont-virtual.com/). The lack of a quality DC-9 in MSFS is something we constantly run into when trying to select new timetables, and wishing someone would make one is a frequent discussion topic with our members. I am convinced there would be a robust market for the DC-9.
As far as I know, no one else is working on it. The Coolsky developer has confirmed he had no interest in updating it and moving it from P3D to MSFS (I often wonder if someone could buy the project from them), Leonardo has also never expressed any interest in doing a DC-9 when asked, and I've heard of no one else announcing it.
I hope JF will consider it!
@piedmonitor i also second this, I would love to see a good
DC-9 for any sim, specially MSFS -
I absolutely agree. The DC-9 would be a great addition to the line, it was a perfect aircraft that was used by many European airlines. In its day 1965 - 1985
it formed the "backbone" of medium haul aircraft. I'd also put a lot of stock in this old-school bird. -
So I know I'm just One Dude online and that JF has a product development timeline that is already scheduled out multiple years from now. So, I have no expectation that my making this post will prompt a "wow we never thought about it, you're right, we'll do it" type response.
For what it's worth, though -- and for the sake of just, like, manifesting, haha -- I wanted to say that I can hardly imagine an aircraft that would fit better into the current and upcoming JF MSFS aircraft catalogue than a DC-9.
If you look at the DC-9 through the bulk of its production, you're looking at an aircraft that has basically the same level of automation and instrumentation as the F-28 but was much more widely utilized by airlines. Of course, when the MD-80s took over, later models began coming with your more modern FMC, RNAV, etc. type capabilities as standard, but with the DC-9 I don't think any were originally built with an FMC/FMS. The DC-9s that did have something like that, I imagine they were all a retrofit, so slotting the upcoming JF UNS-1 into it as an option likely would not be that hypothetical.
They were extremely common (976 built, used by many major US carriers), documentation should be very easy to come by (you can routinely find complete sets of pilot's manuals and maintenance manuals on eBay), and there are still numerous flying examples. So, I'd imagine it'd be easier to get reference information for than the F-28 was.
I help run a network of three virtual airlines which have a combined membership that sits around 1200 people currently, and one of those three VAs (the smallest, admittedly) is dedicated to curated selections of historical airline timetables (shout out to https://www.piedmont-virtual.com/). The lack of a quality DC-9 in MSFS is something we constantly run into when trying to select new timetables, and wishing someone would make one is a frequent discussion topic with our members. I am convinced there would be a robust market for the DC-9.
As far as I know, no one else is working on it. The Coolsky developer has confirmed he had no interest in updating it and moving it from P3D to MSFS (I often wonder if someone could buy the project from them), Leonardo has also never expressed any interest in doing a DC-9 when asked, and I've heard of no one else announcing it.
I hope JF will consider it!
@piedmonitor
totall y agree with this BUT, to accompany the F28 I'd first like to see an F27 Freindship - same era, great turboprop and natural to have side by side......JF F27 for earlier sims was very well received, so needed for MSFS maybe for 2024??? -
Around 2.5 years later, and the landscape for Diesel 9 enjoyers remains bleak.
The old Coolsky website is completely shut down, as are the old FlightOne forums where you could ask about it.
The Sky Simulations DC-9 hasn't been updated in 9 months and the updates it received previously have failed to elevate it even above a default aircraft in terms of systems depth and accurate functionality, not to mention the whacky and inaccurate flight model. It does not seem like this is a viable project for anyone who wants a 'study level' DC-9 in the MSFS era.
JustFlight's successes with aircraft like the F28 and BAE 146 continue to position them as the top choice to produce a top quality DC-9. I don't expect anything more from the JF staff beyond a boilerplate "thanks for the feedback, we're not in a position to comment on future projects" response, or none at all, but I'm still out here tilting at windmills hoping this aircraft is perhaps on their minds as a future project.
The DC-9 was the mainstay of so many fleets for such a long time. We have the fantastic Leonardo MD-82/83/88, but no DC-9, and that is such a huge gap in aviation history to be lacking.