News of the 737 NG3 has been pouring in for much of 2022 as PMDG gears up for a blockbuster release with the team’s head Robert Randazzo once again returned to the forums with another iterative weather update on the progression of the 737 NG3 for MSFS. The announcement broke the news that the series of products is now entering beta testing, the decision being made last Thursday with the state of the add-on “mostly conforming to the final product”.

Priorities remain the same, though this week introduces further refinements to the 3D including the HUD and HGS rendering, scaling adjustments across the visual model, shadow models and visual refinements to the ground service vehicles. The technical side of things includes the introduction of TCAS II v7.2 for both online and offline traffic, increased pushback accuracy and validation work on equipment and hardware. See here for the breakdown from the forum post:

• Further adjustments to the 3D model of the Heads Up Guidance System, including improvements in the combiner glass technique and positioning.
• Scale work, detail and adjustments over all of the 3D models, including VC and external models.
• Implementation and testing of TCAS II v7.2 with both online/offline traffic.
• Continued work on shadow models and texturing
• Verification of hundreds of hardware/equipment/functionality options.
• Updated models and textures for ground handling equipment.
• Improved accuracy for automated pushback features, including user-driven pushback tractor.
• Continued system logic checks, verification and adjustment to resolve previously and currently reported system logic service reports.
• Implementation of client side installer and server-side installer assets.
• Functionality verification for flight plan loading from outside tools (simBrief, etc) as well as saving/loading of FMS generated flight plans.
  

Randazzo elaborated saying that much of the work revolves around polishing the aircraft, which the aircraft is at a stage where the team has addressed most of the msfs related issues and effort is now being streamed into "platform-PMDG issues", issues that stem from the team’s lack of familiarity with MSFS.

Two screenshots were provided, demonstrating the collimated HUD and the graphical prowess of the simulator. For the HUD, Randazzo promoted that it “works well both in daylight and in night modes”, with support for variable dimming and flying modes normally used in flight:

In the same respect as their previous DC-6 release, the lighting was all done from the ground up to take advantage of MSFS’s lighting system. The second image showcases the light flare as the sun shines against the glistening metal skin of the fuselage and wings. Subtle creases reflecting the surrounding environment are also visible from the picture:

Randazzo then moves to address questions raised about the performance, which he provided an indefinite answer given that the aircraft and the equipment used in development wouldn’t accurately reflect the use-cases for the end user. The general consensus is that the performance is largely in line with other aircraft offerings. The development build lacks the optimisation effort which wouldn’t provide usable FPS numbers and it includes development tools attached such as a debugger. Once the testers delves into the beta copy, Randazzo would be able to supply more concrete numbers. 

Randazzo also intends to follow up on this post with a demo video, with the intent to showcase features such as the collimated HUD - this week is the goal though Randazzo is wishful in that regard. That wraps up the development update for the NG3. As usual, Threshold will closely follow the development of the aircraft, stay tuned! Check the original update through their forums.