Thoughts on FlightDeckSolutions Jet Max

[iNerdyBadger]

I saw the jetmax setup today on the FDS webpage and I was wondering what you thought of it. Good deal or bad one?

[Trevor Hale]

The hardware is a good deal I think..  The software, maybe not so much.  I have seen many issues over the past few months with the interface and the SimA software.  I must say though the FDS Jetmax panels looked good when I saw them a couple years ago.

Trev

[thka]

Hi,

I have had one for the last year and the hardware is really good. There are some shortcuts compared to their PRO-MX, no integrated backlight for instance but overall is it a really nice kit. Throughout the months I have done a couple of upgrades and modifications, both with FDS PRO-MX parts & Anders Simparts and both were simple to integrate. So if you don't want to burn everything on the PRO-MX from day 1, start with JetMax and then replace the parts at your own pace. Of course it will be more expensive but you get the ability to pick and choose from their products menu, within certain boundaries of course. It is after all only a single seater setup.

When talking about software I have tried the JetMax with the following combos:
* FSX/PDMG (was really painful and I never got it to work to 100%)
* FSX/iFly CBE, worked really good but was lacking some features and the lack of being able to control the load/fuel from within the Sim also became a pain after a while. Especially during turn-arounds. No longer using that combo.

* FSX/ProSim & P3D/ProSim works really well. There are some setup things you need to consider, need to use stand-alone drivers for the Radio and XPNDR for instance but overall it just works. My current setup is the P3D/ProSim combo.

* P3D/Sim-A was a complete install-and-it-works setup. IMHO the UI is less intuitive compared to ProSim. Disclaimer: I have only tried the Trial version of Sim-A but the trial version should be a full product from a JetMax point of view as to what I have been told.

What I did like with Sim-A was that everything related to the actual JetMax setup is controlled from one computer only. All other variants of software requires you to have a few pieces on the P3D machine and some other pieces on the JetMax machine so to speak. Of course if you only have one machine it will be a no-issue, but I am using two computers and from a maintenance perpective Sim-A won big time.



//Thomas
Currenty upgrading my JetMax (again) with some rotaries from Anders Simparts.

[rs3tier]

I have a Jetmax, which is now for sale as I have upgraded to a full dual seat FDS solution.
I think the Jetmax definitely does what it says on the box... gets you off the desk.  There are limitations with it compared to the big brother solutions - and I think the quality of the MCP and lack of back lighting are the most obvious.  But you need to weigh up these limitations versus the cost of the more complete products.

Upgrading the Jetmax is an option for sure - but only to a point.  At the end of the day it will only ever be a single seater.  As long as your are happy to stay at that level (which is a bloody good idea IMHO!) then I dont think you would regret it.

I used mine with iFly CBE, SIM-A and ProSim.  I have full licenses for all 3 and trialed over a decent period of time.  At the end of the day, my vote definitely goes to ProSim for overall usability, support and ongoing development.

Regards,

[chumley]

Interested to know why if JetMax is a 'bloody good idea (IMHO)' - why did you move to the more complete two seat option?

[Bob Reed]

Interested to know why if JetMax is a 'bloody good idea (IMHO)' - why did you move to the more complete two seat option?

Looks like the biggest reason he upgraded was because he wanted to go with both seats. JetMax is pilot side only.

[Sean Patrick Martin]

I have a Jetmax and I am very happy with it. It looks great setup and completely changes the way you fly. Once started I don't touch a keyboard anymore or use a mouse.

I have one ultrawide monitor which is almost the length of the Jetmax as the front view and two 27" for the side views. The monitors are mounted on tv wall brackets so it all looks quite neat. In total I run four pc's - FSX front view, two computers side views and one avionics pc for Prosim737. Using wideview and widetraffic is a big improvement on sigle gpu card running all three monitors. It runs faster and looks better.

Few changes i made. I didn't buy the MCP for Jetmax I bought the CPFlight Pro which is excellent. I bought an openockpits chrono (which doesn't fit the jetmax so i have temporarily mounted it near the jetmax multicoms until I figure out a proper solution) and an opencockpits transponder. Transponder and coms sit where the FO cdu should be.

Next upgrades will be a ACE yoke and a proper seat. Thinking something out of a cessna or similar rather than a 737 replica seat. Also I run the overhead on a touchscreen pc but I think I will mount another touchscreen monitor above as a temporary overhead. Additionally I will build a custom pedestal for the coms and transponder to sit basically where they should in the aircraft, as reaching across the throttle to change frequencies is not ideal.

I guess the end result is a bastardised 737 pit. Naturally if you have the space and money buy the full rig. I didn't have the space (fits great in a 2m wide room i used as a home study) and my kids education wins on the money front. I am also the kind of person who would buy a full blown FDS 737 pit and then wonder how I could buy a real 737 to increase the realism. Sometimes have to stop and be happy with what you have - the Jetmax for me does the job. It get lots of wows from some friends and other friends (including my wife) look and me and think - "your an idiot". Puts on a smile on my face though which is all that matters to me.

I am just about to hop onto a real plane to go to Sydney. On my return I'll post a few pictures.

[rs3tier]

Interested to know why if JetMax is a 'bloody good idea (IMHO)' - why did you move to the more complete two seat option?

Looks like the biggest reason he upgraded was because he wanted to go with both seats. JetMax is pilot side only.

Sorry, I have been off the forums for the last week or so.
The simple answer is I think stopping at the Jetmax level is a good idea if you can find your "inner peace" at that level. 
I purchased it, it was great - but then I wanted more.  I now have the full blown catastrophe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_1gD-kpoY - and am very happy with that, but I have the heavily diminished bank account to prove it as well.

So sorry if I sent a mixed message here - but my positive rating for the Jetmax is simply that it is a massive step up from your desk flying, and at a reasonably affordable price.

Regards,

[jackpilot]

  I now have the full blown catastrophe - and am very happy with that, but I have the heavily diminished bank account to prove it as well.
Regards,