The A2A Wings of Silver Stratocruiser is unlike any aircraft you have flown in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The Boeing Stratocruiser is a double-deck, pressurised, four-engine, medium to long range, high altitude, high speed, commercial transport plane. The aircraft is designed for a normal gross weight of 147,000 pounds, a high speed of approximately 350 mph, a service ceiling of 34,000 feet, and a maximum range of approximately 4,000 miles. To its passengers, it flew them in first class comfort higher, faster, and farther than anything before.
The 377 paved Boeing’s entry into the airline business, and you can still see this technology in use today. The Stratocruiser and its massive Pratt & Whitney R4360 engines, represents the highest step in the evolution of aircraft piston-engine technology. These engines were so powerful, that this huge Stratocruiser set the transcontinental speed record from Seattle to D.C.; beating both the Lockheed Constellation and the North American P51 Mustang. Even by today’s standards this aircraft has amazing performance. There is also a Pregnant Guppy variant that was custom-made to transport rocket components for the Saturn V to NASA. You have to see it fly to believe it.
A2A Simulations has crafted and pioneered many new technologies for this aircraft which has become the flagship of the Wings of Silver line for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Never before has the team worked so diligently to produce what we feel, and you may agree, is the most accurate representation of a true “classic” airliner.
What is Captain of the Ship?
Real pilots will tell you that no two aircraft are the same. Even taking the same aircraft up from the same airport to the same location will result in a different experience. For example, you may notice one day an engine is running a bit hotter than usual and you might just open your cowl flaps a bit more and be on your way, or maybe this is a sign of something more serious developing under the hood. Regardless, you expect these things to occur in a simulation just as they do in real life. This is Accu-sim – it puts the gauge back in the game.
Realism does not mean having a difficult time with your flying. While Captain of the Ship is created by pilots, it is built for everyone. This means everything from having a professional crew there to help you manage the systems, to an intuitive layout, or just the ability to turn the system on or off with a single switch. However, if damage is enabled and the needles are in the red, there will be consequences. It is no longer just an aircraft, it’s a simulation.
tim –
If you are up for the ultimate challenge, the Stratocruiser is the right aircraft! You not only have to fly and navigate but also manage the turbocharger, the pressurization, the cowl and intercooler flaps as well as all the other systems. Doing all this by your own – without the virtual flight engineer – is a very challenging but rewarding experience. It is also a legendary aircraft as the Stratocruiser was A2A’s very first Accu-Sim aircraft. They later released an comprehensive update that also added Captain of the Ship functionality. That’s why the Stratocruiser does not feel old when compared with newer A2A products.
markadeane (verified owner) –
An evocative experience and a deeply satisfying challenge for any simmer. Systems, navigation, engine management, the whole lot. Forget your magenta lines, this is the real challenge!
David Clapp (verified owner) –
What an absolute doll! I’ve enjoyed every A2A aircraft, but the Captain of the Ship feature is so much fun. Having a crew on board makes flying FSX so much more engaging. I’ve always wanted this aircraft but was a little intimidated by the added complexity. But, the flight engineer does a first rate job. He follows your lead through every phase of flight and let’s you focus on flying. And flying this beauty is a real treat! She is so alive, it’s uncanny. I flew my maiden flight tonight out of Washington National and out over the Chesapeake. My crew kept me out of trouble with reminders and comments. My favorite part of any flight is landing and it was a rush to bring that big beautiful aircraft in for the first time. If you think ahead and manage your airspeed, she is very stable and settles down like a dream. A world apart from the C172. She’s my new favorite aircraft and I’m looking forward to learning all her features. Another winner for A2A! I just wish I hadn’t waited so long.
pmatthess (verified owner) –
So here we are in the new store! And with the ability to leave a review. The B377 Stratocruiser is an aircraft I think every simmer should have, it represents the very outer limit of high performance piston aircraft used in the commercial world. When you fly this bird you get the sense that the engines are being beaten to within an inch of their lives. These things overheat VERY easily, don’t expect good results after just 10hrs. You need to learn by experience how close you can get to the edge before the engine temps ruin your day. With such complex engines maintenance issues where always a problem in real life and thats represented in this aircraft. The reason I love this old beast is for the aviation history, nostalgia, and the satisfaction you get from doing a trans-atlantic flight in real time with no mishaps on your record! (and no babies screaming in the passenger cabin). At the moment in the sim world we are all looking towards P3Dv4 and all the advanced addons coming out these days for that platform. And for every time I yearn for those new advanced addons to be released, I yearn just a little more for this baby and the other A2A addons to join us in the 64bit world. – Love – an A2A Customer