Any update plans for new Combi / Freighters?

[Cornishman]

Hi, I'd love to know whether we could see a few new Very Large category "ghost" (as in, I know they don't yet really exist) cargo and combi airliners. Aircraft such as 767 combi / 777 combi / 787 combi and 787 freighter (actually 2 Kenya Airways 787s have been converted to all cargo I believe). Also A330 combi and A350 combi and cargo ?  I mean, It's not like the game isn't already full of other "ghost" airliners - ones that never made it past the drawing board IRL, so why not?

Thanks

[Viscount Bailey]

I dont get to play the game that much that this ever affects me but I see som much of these sorts of problems for people that I totally agree. I can at least see from my perspective the insanity of the crazy cost model when you go from 3 to 4 and more fleets. Sorry but that ruins the game for mee too. I want to enjoy more fleet types without that bankrupting my airline when the next fuel spike hits.

[Sami]

I would actually prefer to add more pure cargo planes first, since the combis are a bit of a odd and special case since we can't (for now at least) change the configuration of the pax/combi spread. Thus making them a bit limited to the players. (Not sure how easily they can change the internals in the real life, haven't really researched, but seems to be a bit of a difficult case to handle, since there are many exceptions and special configurations involved?)

[groundbum2]

I think in real life combis are by and large dead. The FAA upped the requirements for passenger safety in the '00s such that it made any mixing of cargo/pax on the same deck totally cost prohibitive. Which makes sense as who'd like to have "squished by breakaway crate of ipads" on their death certificate? 

Simon

[Cornishman]

I would actually prefer to add more pure cargo planes first, since the combis are a bit of a odd and special case since we can't (for now at least) change the configuration of the pax/combi spread. Thus making them a bit limited to the players. (Not sure how easily they can change the internals in the real life, haven't really researched, but seems to be a bit of a difficult case to handle, since there are many exceptions and special configurations involved?)

Well that sounds really good. I do understand these things we ask are not a quick 5 minute tweek for you. Even if I could see my way to using something more modern than 767s as freighters into 2035 that would be brilliant - we just need 1 plane out of 787 or A350 to start with. Also, I appreciate you like to use RL data to create these. Perhaps it would help to find out the RL data of the Kenya Airways 787 cargo planes and start off by going along with that?

@groundbum - hi Simon, yes I get it in RL the combi's are dead, I agree that's true... my whole point is that we need something to keep this game fluid into the mid 2030s since we do get there in these GWs and IRL we haven't gotten there yet  so we cant be following only the way RL has happened.

[groundbum2]

I'd lurrrvvvvvvvv a A330C omg or a340-500hgw-c  !!!

[Cornishman]

@ Sami

Would it help if I tried approaching the company that performed the cargo refit of those 787s for some basic data?  If so, can you give me a draft of the type of data you would like from them?

[Sami]

Yep, sure. Since we have the 787 data, the cargo version needs the capacity, and operating weighs, and possibly also the range values if different from pax (full payload range at least).

[groundbum2]

https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/aircraft/freighters/a350-freighter

range 8700km/4700nm
109k kg

[DanDan]

I would actually prefer to add more pure cargo planes first, since the combis are a bit of a odd and special case since we can't (for now at least) change the configuration of the pax/combi spread. Thus making them a bit limited to the players. (Not sure how easily they can change the internals in the real life, haven't really researched, but seems to be a bit of a difficult case to handle, since there are many exceptions and special configurations involved?)

come on, really? the 747-400M? no chance? it would make the whole 747-400 fleet group so much more desireable. and its actually a real plane. and its done quickly i am sure.

I think in real life combis are by and large dead. The FAA upped the requirements for passenger safety in the '00s such that it made any mixing of cargo/pax on the same deck totally cost prohibitive. Which makes sense as who'd like to have "squished by breakaway crate of ipads" on their death certificate? 

Simon

klm flew the 744M up to the covid pandemic and then realized that they are the best planes to be used as improvised freighters, so they kept them flying for a while longer, while the regular 744 were retired. and in canada, combi 732 are still flying and will probably for the next 10, 20 or even more years

[Mort]

Pretty sure there was an actual A340-300M in use at one point, by KLM if memory serves. Will try and dig out some sources.

[Sami]

https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/aircraft/freighters/a350-freighter

range 8700km/4700nm
109k kg

Range, as in "what range"? that alone does not tell anything. Range with full payload? Range with some suitable payload for marketing purposes? Empty range? 

Naturally also cargo hold capacity is needed too.

[tungstennedge]

we could always try start with the a350-900f (proposed but not created) since it would have the same specs as a350-900, except for cargo volume.

[groundbum2]

If I research the A350F Sami is there a fair chance it'll be added to the database? Don't want to waste my time etc...

S

[YoYo]

can we add A310-300F into the list as well 

[knobbygb]

Can't we just make an 'intelligent guess' as to the numbers for something like the A350F?  I reckon, with the knowledge already gained from other types, we could come pretty close. If it wasn't quite correct then - so what!  At least it'd be the same for everyone so no advantage and remember that a lot of the original figures over the years have been tweaked quite a lot due to inaccuracies. I'm all for accuracy where possible (I HATE the idea of adding imaginary types), but for a 'future aircraft' it doesn't matter so much.

[Cornishman]

Airbus themselves announce the purpose-built A350F

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF-VmGkQfxs

[tungstennedge]

Im salivating at 109tonne payload with about 5 tonnes of fuel per hour. That would be mindblowing for my cargo ops

Also, found some rudimentary technical specifications but they should be sufficient for what the game needs.
https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-02/Airbus-A350F-Facts-and-Figures-February-2022.pdf

[DanDan]

Can't we just make an 'intelligent guess' as to the numbers for something like the A350F?  I reckon, with the knowledge already gained from other types, we could come pretty close. If it wasn't quite correct then - so what!  At least it'd be the same for everyone so no advantage and remember that a lot of the original figures over the years have been tweaked quite a lot due to inaccuracies. I'm all for accuracy where possible (I HATE the idea of adding imaginary types), but for a 'future aircraft' it doesn't matter so much.

certainly no less accurate than the a350-800 or other never-produced modells, and probably way more accurate than the 747-family!

[Sami]

The linked PDF seems to have enough data. Of course that is still preliminary, but should be okay based on these.