Hey all-
So I've been avoiding writing this post as I suspect the backlash will be a bit rough. Keep in mind though, what you are about to read is the way things happened; unmodified, uncensored, and unabridged...
The good news is the 744 project is alive and well, and will be finished. The bad news is it is no longer an XPFW project. While I could expound for hours on the reason for this change, it can be summarized with simplicity: When we (I) announced this project, XPFW was in the midst of major restructuring. Over the past years, we have lost a great deal of manpower as a result for an increased demand from other developers for the skills of the XPFW team. Therefore, while we brought in some new folks with amazing qualifications, it simply was not enough manpower to have a viable team. Ultimately, folks went their separate ways while only Dennis P and myself continued work on the 744 VC and systems. While we both remained committed, the duties of life and the demands of other projects created a situation in which the VC and systems we were developing would likely not find a home for many, many years.
What you may not know is that I am literally a week away from college graduation, and plan to pursue a career in medicine. I will be beginning my post-graduate education next fall, at which time my ability to dev for XP will decrease significantly. What you also don't know is that the 744 is one of many projects which I have begun, yet due to lack of help was unable to finish. Long before any of this though, I determined a goal: to release at least two complete acf by the time I had to take a lower profile in the dev world. Dennis also is eager to see his work come to fruition, and is equally eager to publish the 744.
After discussing the situation with the rest of the XPFW team, we have resigned to the fact that such an ambitious project cannot be completed at XPFW in a reasonable period of time. Therefore, XPFW has decided to focus on a complete overhaul of the 757 (on which Dennis and I will assist), and discontinue the 744 project as a team effort. Nevertheless, both Dennis and I were eager to see the 744 completed, and began looking for the resources to do so.
Shortly after the mutual decision of XPFW to discontinue the 744 project, I was approached by Goran Matovina of Leading Edge Simulations who just so happen to be working on a 747-200. After some discussion, it was decided to also do a 747-400, using my VC and with Dennis doing the system/panel work. Recognizing that this was the ONLY way in which we could save the HOURS of effort already put into the 744 VC, Dennis and I have agreed to continue development of the 744 in conjunction with Leading Edge Simulations, and X-Aviation.
While this entails that it will be a payware product (unfortunately), I can attest that the engineering and programming going into the 744 as it is now is lightyears beyond what XPFW could ever hope to produce in a reasonable amount of time. To those of you who are disappointed that this is now payware, I understand as my commitment has always been to produce freeware aircraft. In no way did any of this influence the decision on the part of XPFW to cease the project. In fact, this option wasn't even discovered until after the project's termination.
That being said, while I know some may be disappointed in the change, I assure you it's for the better. As for XPFW, Dennis and I are not going anywhere. XPFW and it's goal of producing the BEST freeware acf is still alive and well, and I hope you, our members will be understanding of this decision and continue to support us for all these years. As always, we sincerely appreciate your support of XPFW, and hope you will continue to stand by us during this ongoing restructuring period.
Best Wishes,
The XPFW Team
For those who wish to follow the progress of the Leading Edge Simulations 747-400, you can stay in the loop by checking the following link:
http://forums.x-pilo...php?topic=793.0
Blender is worse than heroine...
We're in a recession, I owe more than $350 on my credit card, and I just got paid today...all be damned, IM GOING FLYING SATURDAY!
Help
Kaphias, on 18 February 2010 - 09:25 PM, said:
I'm personally just having fun guessing what the next big release is gonna be. Because whenever it does come out, it'll be more than worth the wait.
. It's the last thing any developer needs, and as far as I'm concerned, these guys can take their sweet time because we know the end result is going to be amazing. 
)
Keep up the great work guys! I'm assuming you'll be using the awesome exterior model from the v9 Beta 2 (PW engines).
