PMDG's Robert Randazzo | Community Q&A

[@HighFlier757]

Timestamps: 8:28 About RSR 13:47 Beginning’s of RSR’s Flying Career 22:51 RSR’s DC-3 31:49 Does RSR Own a 737? 34:58 RSR’s Interest in Flight Sim 44:35 Projects Get Boring 50:30 Original PMDG Manuals 1:00:18 Challenges of Keeping up with Sim Iterations 1:06:22 Difference in Braking Between NG3 & NGXu 1:11:28 Does PMDG Still Face a Limited C++ Development Environment in MSFS 1:17:18 If PMDG Were to Develop a New Aircraft From Scratch w/ No Legacy Code from Previous Sim Versions, Would This Prompt a Switch to WASM, JavaScript, etc. as Core Languages 1:19:25 RSR’s Favorite Part About Developing an Aircraft (Great Discussion on System Complexity) 1:27:28 Is the DC-6 Getting an Update 1:30:48 Will the DC-6 Have Different Power Setting Options for Cruise 1:31:24 Better Visual Effects for the DC-6 1:37:10 How the Expectation of Consumers Have Changed Over RSR’s Career 1:42:12 737 Max Release Schedule 1:47:34 RSR’s Favorite Non-PMDG Plane 1:52:10 Are There More Classic Airliners in the Pipeline 1:57:04 Can the Default Squawk Code to be 2000 2:00:25 Any news on the EFB 2:11:51 CPDLC and GFO 2:17:30 Is the 787 Being Considered 2:18:35 Is the 757/767 in the Works 2:21:02 Is a non-Boeing Aircraft Possible 2:23:18 What about the 737 Classic Series 2:25:11 What about Smaller Aircraft 2:27:55 Weather Radar & Windscreen Wipers (Great Discussion of Weather Radar Complexity) 2:35:41 Xbox 2:39:22 Is it Frustrating as a Real Pilot Seeing the Limitations of Flight Sim 2:46:16 Is There a Chance for a 747SP 2:47:57 Is the 777X on the Cards 2:48:58 Would PMDG Consider Making Their Own Simulator 2:54:58 Plans for X-Plane 2:55:33 Plane Savers 3:00:15 RSR’s DC-3 and his Trip Across the Atlantic 3:24:38 RSR’s Most Challenging Instrument Approach Ever Flown

[@itssFlexx]

absolute legend appreciate it

[@FilbertFlies]

Oh fantastic. Thank you for doing this, much appreciated 🙂

[@airspeed_alive]

Thanks!

[@endorphineLTU]

God bless you and your family for this. ❤

[@chrisibbotson6367]

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed that 😁. I thought I'd give it a 10 minute listen but 3.5 hours later I was still there. For a man who says he doesnt do many interviews and being a private person Robert was extremely engaging, very open and had so many very interesting tales to tell. His passion and knowledge for aviation is very apparent. When he discussed his beginnings with freeware and his willingness to help others in raising awareness for a potential great product or idea it made me think immediately of Orbx, a hugely renowned scenery developer. I remember many years ago them starting out as Vista Australis back in the FS9 (FS2004) days when they first brought out VOZ, their freeware scenery texture replacement packs for regions in Australia. Thanks again for the great interview

[@tonyhodge6801]

Thank you very much indeed to “FilbertFlies” and your guest, Robert Randazzo for taking the time to stream this simply wonderful interview. In fact, it is so good that I just had to watch it twice as it provides such a fascinating, insightful and thoroughly entertaining watch.

[@FilbertFlies]

Great to hear you enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂

[@angelocosma1007]

@@FilbertFlies I didn’t hear any questions or mention of shared cockpit. Could this be added to the list for the next interview?

[@bigfootflyxr6160]

I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see Rob pull out the 727. I’m a 727 Flight Engineer and seeing a PMDG level 727 would be literally the best thing ever.

[@ChrisVirgilio]

Disagree. It wouldn’t sell and most wouldn’t bother. Something innovative, however, would be a welcome product.

[@Vandantcyclone]

I feel like they’re making way too many promises, no EFB still to this day and they’ve said it’s coming soon for 6 months. There’s no 777 yet and they still have to make the 737-Max.. which at this point seems like a pipe dream. I’m only gonna believe it when I see it.

[@ferrabras]

My first PMDG was the JS4100. I also had the LevelD 767. Then MD11 from PMDG. All for FSX, when I could afford paywares. Now retired I came back to FSX and finally bought the B737. Because it was all they had. PMDG hooked me with JS and MD11.

[@gweilo8888]

This was an absolutely enthralling interview from start to finish. Thanks so much to you and Rob both for sharing. It seems criminal to me that this only has a couple of hundred likes so far, as it clearly deserves to be in the thousands. The DC-3 story was definitely the right way to round it out, and I'll definitely be seeking out the mentioned videos when I have some free time to watch them. Thanks again!

[@ChrisVirgilio]

That’s because it’s mostly fluff and doesn’t do anything to hold PMDG’s feet to the fire for gouging us with broken promises and lackluster products.

[@alexlehman3522]

Amazing interview! I work for a full flight simulator manufacturing company as a test engineer, and it amazes me the amount of care and detail they put on their products! And also the engineering processes similarities are haunting 😅

[@mjl1966y]

fwiw, I bought my PMDG QOTS II AFTER MSFS came out. Some publisher (sim market?) still had copies. Whew. There are a couple of reasons I haven't gone over to MSFS yet, chief among them my inability to fly my PMDG 747, 737 and my all-time favorite, the J41. Yeah, the scenery is great. So what? If it's not PMDG, I'm not going.

[@Lightwriter1]

This is the most entertaining video I have seen in a long time on The Tube! Thank you

[@hjr2000]

Something really cool about it - agreed. This is what happens when two people 'in the zone' about their passion come together and make great content for us.

[@BobbyFuzzy]

Great interview, thanks for sharing, Filbert! Rob has some serious stories 😁

[@FilbertFlies]

Doesn't he just! Was hard not to just dispense with all the questions and let him talk! 😂

[@XCougar85X]

Thank you very much for this interview. Great to listen and watch to during two flights with the 737 they love so much /s hahaha That but where he said he'd love to punish simmers with the 727 engines had me in bits. Absolutely lovely interview and it felt so genuine and relaxed. As a relatively new PMDG custommer i am getting more and more impressed. I heard a lot of bad things about them before but really a plane they are sick and tired of is still one of, if not the, best plane in MFS atm. While i don't have the Fenix, nothing else i own comes close to the 737. The 414 perhaps gets in the ballpark, but that is on a different and much lower complexity level. I never knew that the DC3 in Matts videos was the one of Robert, really cool. That was a really fun series to watch.

[@FilbertFlies]

Thanks for the nice words. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there's a signficant segment of the flight sim community that loves to hate PMDG. I don't really get it, cos they produce top tier planes and are really nice people. But that's life I guess. Haters gon.... no, sorry, I can't finish that 😂

[@CubPilot84]

Very enlightening Rob! Thank you for your time, both of you.

[@iaexo]

Very much looking forward to the 777, and the slip-streaming of the 737 MAX... one can only dream of it happening this year...

[@liortaylor5305]

that was fantastic, really enjoyed the whole interview from start to finish!

[@tra757200]

Imagine this, if you will. In recognition of Richard and the whole Fly! and Fly! II team, a B757 for MSFS with one of the models named after Rich and with the old school steam gauges that many still fly Sure the 707, 747 and 787's are cool but you have arrived when you sit in the left seat of the B757. Love live the B757! Great Interview! There are no finer a/c than the PMDG models.

[@TonyMD56]

Absolutely brilliant to hear all about Robert and PMDG. After listening to this I just want to buy all their products and support such an open and honest PMDG team.

[@hjr2000]

Seconded!

[@paulkirkland3263]

Great video, thanks very much. If you love aeroplanes, and you love flight simming, you can listen to Mr. Randazzo chat all day. What a top bloke he is.

[@wingviewproductions]

Great interview, excellent insight into PMDG and the state of MFS / Asobo that you don't usually hear from MS themselves. I love the 737 in MFS and look forward to the 777 and 747. I think most simmers should watch this it's very informative.

[@JugandoRD]

great interview, Robert is gold!

[@ketelsolivier6148]

Congrats. Great interview. Very much appreciated !

[@Canadian76]

Great long interview Robert is a solid guy.

[@AccusedChip]

Robert it was nice spending some time getting to know you. I enjoyed this interview very much.

[@bitrip]

Great video, got a lot sympathy for Robert after seeing this video. Nice guy, great products.

[@Jolly_Green23]

I could listen to Rob talk all day long

[@fsx-legend4602]

I feel bad for you.

[@SparrowRz]

OMG,. I hope if they go with 727, bring the Super27, that oustanding addon deserves that version.

[@fsx-legend4602]

Thats not going to happen. pipe dream.

[@SparrowRz]

​@@fsx-legend4602 and why is that?

[@ClintThrust-e8r]

I don’t find the 777 particular interesting in reality, however I can’t wait for PMDG to bring it to MSFS. Also a very interesting side note, that the Quality Wings 787 might still be alive and well.

[@lazo5784]

It’s definitely alive. It was never dead to begin with. QW are part time devs that have real jobs and do this on the side. I believe it’s only 2 devs and doing this part time it can take years to get it out in MSFS in order to meet the quality that they believe is good.

About the squawk code, wouldn't an option be to allow it to be saved with the panel states? That way, everyone could have it set to whatever they like as default.

[@PKerusso]

How many went and flew your 737 after watching this.?

[@stevensilva8409]

like a bucket of ice cold water fell on my head. hearing Rob say that "they had the 757 and 767 cockpits ready for p3d but when MSFS arrived they moved it to another plane on their development lists and another developer is coming with both planes" I personally congratulate Rob for wishing him the best of luck to BBS. Personally, I am not going to buy these Boeing from BBS since PMDG for me is one of the companies of yesteryear and it is the one that I trust all my skills that thanks to them I have acquired for my career... I would be very happy if PMDG reaches make the B757 and B767 and possibly the B727... I just wish the best of the best to ROB and PMDG and that they develop what they think is convenient for them and for the community

[@ferrabras]

These new simmers killing our beloved planes😂. I promise I'd buy. You may count 3 copies... 😅

[@andreaskywolf1604]

Awesome interview

[@hjr2000]

I thought this might be dull viewing. I was 100% wrong - this is compelling and fascinating! Thankyou Robert and Filbert!

[@larrysouthern5098]

I learned something about flying into large airports like JFK...D/FW..LAX..etc Instead of going into an airport..fly OUT OF THE AIRPORT..that way every thing looks familiar..just in reverse..sort of like going on your first date.. try to find out as much as you can and get to know them first..sit down and just talk a bit.. takes out the jitters.. Try it and see if it helps in your sim flying. Cya... 🐦

[@mjl1966y]

Ironically, the very old SDK for SFX is better than the one for MSFS, which is kind of a crippled version. Quite surprising. I was expecting a full AGILE API... nope.

[@Jim610]

Where can we find the video of Robert's DC-3 Atlantic crossing? I've tried a search but not finding it.

[@timhendrik7207]

Search for „matt guthmiller dc 3“ here on KZbin.

[@liamrey]

Just wonderful.

[@airbluex79]

I hope this work. Love see a Q&A from PMDG

[@VictorsValiant]

While I know PMDG is doing everything they can to get the EFB into MSFS he seemed to dodge a lot of the blame onto Asobo and maybe rightfully so. But this stuff about the EFB can't talk to the plane I don't buy, the Fenix A320 and the Aerosoft CRJ (to a lesser degree) can both do this unless I am missing something?

[@Matsumoto77]

Those airplanes are coded in a different language, wasm and javascript if i recall, PMDG codes in C++ And the EFB PMDG is designing was coded in script so it can talk to the outside world, and it seems they are having difficulties making the script talk to the C++ airplane

[@fsx-legend4602]

@@Matsumoto77 Aerosoft codes in C++ too and have been doing it for decades. Sounds like PMDG is just making excuses for it not being done yet while focusing blame on MS/Asobo.

[@Matsumoto77]

@@fsx-legend4602 yeah well Aerosofts aircraft are not on the same level of complexity as PMDG, This is common knowledge, the more complex you make something the exponentially longer it takes to make and adjust.

[@fsx-legend4602]

@@Matsumoto77 stop spreading BS PMDG code more systems like failures and other nonsense that normal fake pilots don't care about over Aerosoft, nothing to do with an EFB. Just stop it Fenix is even more complex than PMDG with actual working circuit breakers (280 as a fact) and they have a EFB. PMDG is still living in the dark ages and have not caught up with 2023 yet they want to blame Asobo and MS

[@Matsumoto77]

@@fsx-legend4602 fenix's systems arent even theirs.. they used PROSIM and paid them to use their software, they did almost no back end design themselves, just the modelling and physics, not trying to downplay their achievements, they made an amazing airplane no doubt. but they had help. PMDG is a team of 8 people, 8. thats it. and they do all of their own work in house.

[@g_pazzini]

any summary from this long interview?

[@lazo5784]

PMDG is going to be super busy for the lifetime of MSFS2020

[@hjr2000]

It's worth watching the whole thing, honestly.

[@denault3985]

What a Boeing 787 from PMDG, that would be wonderful...and a buy since I never really loved the 777. Btw, Filbert are you doing to do airport reviews again?

[@norwayspotter26]

I understood it as PMDG having conversations with qualitywings

[@FilbertFlies]

That was how I interpreted it too.

[@luxuryva]

@@norwayspotter26 thats what i picked up aswell when they talked about it

[@DerbeQ]

timestamp please?

[@FilbertFlies]

@@DerbeQ no idea I'm afraid.

[@luxuryva]

wasnt much said about the 737 MAX though hopefully the 787 gets made as she deserves the skies of MSFS

[@FilbertFlies]

No, sounds like it's definitely coming though.

[@GarrisIiari]

@@FilbertFlies and coming whenever it's done, whether during or after the 777 series of launches.

[@kevinm6510]

I hope the Fenix A320 is giving PMDG some motivation to up their game.

[@tgmjrtgmjr8221]

Please, they are very good models. Stop perpetuating one is better than the other. They both are great. Period.

[@hjr2000]

That's how competition works.

[@airspeed_alive]

Amazing interview! Thanks both!

[@CngDelta757]

I'd really love to see the J41 make it to MSFS, what a quirky fun propliner!

[@DreamVirtualFlight]

When they’re takling about the MAX guys?

[@DreamVirtualFlight]

at 1:42:00 they're talking about tha MAX

[@rickyashton296]

This was so interesting 💯

[@judebrad]

To me, the 737 is the equivalent of the Supermarine Spitfire. If you want to make one product, as a model aircraft and have it sell, make either a 737 or a Spitfire.

[@angelocosma1007]

@filbertflies I didn’t hear any questions or mention of shared cockpit. Could this be added to the list for the next interview?

[@FilbertFlies]

I believe this is something Asobo intend to bring to the sim natively.

[@hjr2000]

@@FilbertFlies It is brother

[@hergi-tp9ve]

Any timestamps for when should we expect 777 release and is PMDG planning on doing the 757

[@wojtekpietrusiewicz]

He talks about it multiple times. It really is worth it to watch the whole thing.

[@lazo5784]

757 & 767 cockpits are ready to go. No plans as of now to do them but if the cockpit is done then it’s a high possibility they may come.

[@hjr2000]

Soon(TM) hahaha

[@bradymatlock]

Are we not going to talk about the 777 in the intro shot? 👀

[@lazo5784]

That could be CS 777. The exterior model of CS777 is actually pretty good. Now the interior and systems are TRAAAASH

[@FilbertFlies]

I'm afraid it's one of Drzewiecki Design's statics from Newark. ;-) I really wanted a PMDG 737 in the foreground and a nod to the future in the background, but alas it's not a PMDG 777.

[@Pe11ePD]

After all that love for DC3 and familiarization, I'm left in wonder why Rob didn't pulled the plug and let PMDG do "study level" DC3 for P3D, and now for MSFS? It's an amazing airplane, it has a pure soul, and you can even feel a bit of that with default DC3 in MSFS, and a bit more with enhancements from flightsim.to, but we all know PMDG would do a pretty good simulation of it simply because it would be build on pure love and dedication.

[@evangelgreek6864]

I would buy the 747 SP !

[@ysteinRnning]

Great news that PMDG is making an A380! 🙃

[@jeffcupido4110]

Can you please make subtitles available? I am hard of hearing. Thank you.

[@Nufsed007]

Just click the button at the bottom of the vid, they work perfectly

[@hjr2000]

KZbin supports these natively.

[@PKerusso]

Did anyone notice the pmdg falcon 3x model in the background?

[@jerrellarmstrong7026]

So Awesome!!

[@airbluex79]

Any plans to have the able to use a iPad with Pmdg aircraft

[@FilbertFlies]

This is a recording of a past live interview. Comments are probably not going to be seen by Robert or anyone at PMDG. They are not the place to ask further questions, which would be better directed to the PMDG forums.

[@platohjwang]

is already there

[@omgedson42]

Robert, Hi from your friends at Parallel 42. As always, we'd love to work on effects for PMDG aircraft. HOWEVER, it's a bit of a different world in MSFS, so we need to work closer together, we'd need a hook for effects on your end, leave the rest to us! Let's gooooo Edson Soriano Managing Director, //42

[@jacobwiqvist1760]

I wonder why PMDG not have modell backlight in the knobs the right way? Some knobs the white Line should be backlit but moste of them are not backlit. Ther are probably reason for this. But none of the knobs on the lower light panel are backlit. In general it is only knobs with white line and ni black bordet that is backlit,ea. Electrical panel knobs. They have Done the same misstanke in Zibomod. Smal detail but any way…

[@tgmjrtgmjr8221]

How do you know the wifi antenna on top is scale, you don't, get over it dude.

[@njyde]

What is GFO?

[@FilbertFlies]

Global flight operations. Nobody knows that much about it but this is an intro kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmGbeKWoqr2pZqM

[@hjr2000]

@@FilbertFlies thanks

[@peter-mv5gk]

very symapthetic this man

[@morpheous8888]

Too bad there are no plans for X-plane 12, I believe the blade element theory it uses has superior flight dynamics

[@tgmjrtgmjr8221]

Hardly anyone based on flight sim surveys use XP anymore. Much less percentage than MSFS.

[@firefox3187]

2:52 the Redmond course

[@SimRaceFly80]

Wonder why the EFB "data transfer" is an issue for PMDG but yet Fenix and a couple other devs use an EFB right now with no issue. How are other devs coding it?

[@FilbertFlies]

I'm not sure, but I suspect that it's something to do with the backend software that the Fenix has. There's no other plane I can think of that has an EFB that interacts with it like the Fenix has.

[@tgmjrtgmjr8221]

It's more of a commercial issue.

[@CaptainKA320]

Why won't PMDG support 3rd party class cockpit software companies, such as Project Magenta or Pro Sim? There are many cockpit builders worldwide, so there is a market out there.

[@tgmjrtgmjr8221]

Its not necessary. Pro sim and project magenta are avionics suites only. Why would PMDG use someone elses avionics?

[@saren6538]

hope he was asked about the wipers clearing the rain on his products...he never gets asked this ?

[@youngcerialbox]

1:52:26 👀👀

[@vasiliosgrekousis8192]

Wow, I'm surprised how much MSFS lacks! Being an FS after all.. and lacks that much. I find it really strange. I wish MSFS has Prepar3D framework behind...

[@michaelwirth3720]

Top Mach Studios F22 Raptor on Xbox and i dont need any new planes in this game anymore. Its all i need

[@yoyoyoyoshua]

Can you post the time stamps? Not everyone has the time or attention span to listen to this for over 3 hours.

[@FilbertFlies]

I don't have the time to watch it back for over 3 hours to time stamp it either at the moment I'm afraid.

[@ClintThrust-e8r]

That is a very time consuming process, especially with a interview of this length. I would suggest releasing an interview of of this length, broken down into smaller parts, then it’ll be more manageable to timestamp the specific parts.

[@FilbertFlies]

@@ClintThrust-e8r that would be even more time consuming. The aim of this interview was that people would watch it live on Twitch and put their questions to Rob. I put it on KZbin for people to watch later if they wanted to but there is of course no obligation to do so. I'm not going to do any editing or time stamping because A) It's a wandering conversation that doesn't fit nearly into topic heading B) I don't have time and C) I don't want to! 😂

[@joelwebb7849]

Think people should get a grip of reality and know KZbinrs aren’t there to accommodate your every need, enjoy the damn interview and stop complaining

[@yoyoyoyoshua]

@Joel Webb Nope, if they can make a video of the interview they can include time stamps.

[@stephenjones8928]

3 and a half hours? That's like a trip from CYYZ to KDEN. Didn't your bums get sore?🙃

[@GLU373]

Jesus loves all God bless everyone!!!!!!!!

[@Coccoluto]

EFB inside a virtual cockpit its a no sense today. All of us have a tablet, or a pad... its better to develop an external app, like virtualperformance.

[@melb00m21]

You obviously don't fly in VR then...

[@guit320]

Yes !In Vr it is a must have

[@FernandoLXIX]

It drives me nuts when someone says "you know" literally after every phrase.

[@FilbertFlies]

Oh dear. I hope you didn't watch the whole thing!

[@scarsstitches636]

A bit stuck up if you ask me. After watching this, i changed my view about him.

[@ryan1111111555555555]

its such a shame this sim is absolute garbage, the only thing it has is the visuals, everything else is terrible

[@Nufsed007]

😅😅😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Nufsed007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ6Yi6iwrJmrmZI

[@fssim6825]

ook

[@ryan1111111555555555]

@@Nufsed007 Exactly my point, its a game made for little children who use emoji's to formulate an argument, enjoy your google maps simulator buddy!

[@fssim6825]

@@ryan1111111555555555 I agree, with default aircraft and scenery it totally feels like a game, but with add-ons it gets to a whole new level.

[@Michael-ig8ne]

They gotta release the 737, 747, 777 version 10 so they can fully milk it before they make a new plane.