On December 12, 2025, I released a comprehensive video review of the PMDG 777-200LR on my channel. The flight chosen for this review was a short yet iconic route: Karachi (OPKC) to Islamabad (OPIS). This article expands on that video, offering a written perspective for readers who prefer detailed breakdowns.
Flight Overview
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Aircraft: PMDG 777-200LR
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Route: Karachi (OPKC) → Islamabad (OPIS)
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Duration: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
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Purpose: Showcase PMDG’s attention to detail, systems depth, and flight dynamics in a real-world scenario.
Aircraft Systems and Simulation Fidelity
The PMDG 777-200LR continues to set the benchmark for high-fidelity simulation:
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Flight Management System (FMS): Fully functional with accurate route programming, SID/STAR integration, and performance calculations.
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Autopilot & Flight Director: Smooth LNAV/VNAV transitions, precise altitude captures, and realistic autothrottle behavior.
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Cockpit Modeling: High-resolution textures, immersive lighting, and accurate switch logic.
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Soundscape: Authentic engine sounds, environmental effects, and cockpit alerts that enhance immersion.
Flight Experience
Departure from Karachi
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The review began with a cold-and-dark setup, walking through the full pre-flight procedure.
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Karachi’s bustling airport provided a realistic backdrop, with ground services and AI traffic adding to the immersion.
Enroute Segment
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The aircraft performed flawlessly during climb and cruise, showcasing PMDG’s aerodynamic modeling.
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Navigation displays and system logic were highlighted, emphasizing accuracy in fuel predictions and step climbs.
Arrival into Islamabad
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The descent and approach into Islamabad demonstrated the aircraft’s handling in complex terrain.
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During the landing the airlpane handling was smooth.
Strengths of the PMDG 777-200LR
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System Depth: Every system is modeled to a professional standard.
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Performance: Smooth frame rates despite the complexity.
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Immersion: From cockpit sounds to external visuals, the aircraft feels alive.
Areas for Improvement
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Cabin Modeling: While the cockpit is exceptional, the passenger cabin lacks detail compared to newer add-ons.
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EFB Integration: A modern electronic flight bag would enhance usability.
Checklist
1. PREFLIGHT
- PARKING BRAKE….SET
- THRUST LEVERS….IDLE
- FLAPS….RETRACTED
- SPEEDBRAKE….RETRACTED
- WIPERS….OFF
- BATTERY SWITCH….ON
- EXTERNAL POWER….CONNECTED & ON
- ADIRU….ON
- PRIM FLIGHT COMPUTERS….AUTO, GRD CLOSED
- THRUST ASYMM COMPENSATION….AUTO
- APU GEN SWITCH….ON
- IFE/PASS SEATS….ON
- CABIN/UTILITY….ON
- L + R BUS TIE SWITCHES….AUTO
- L + R GENERATOR CONTROL SWITCHES….ON
- BACKUP GENERATOR SWITCHES….ON
- NAV LIGHTS….ON
- EXTERIOR LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- COCKPIT LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- EMERG EXIT LIGHTS….ARMED, GRD CLOSED
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWITCHES….AUTO
- FMC….INIT POSITION
2. COCKPIT PREPERATION
- WINDOW HEAT….ON
- PRIMARY L + R ENG HYDR PUMPS….ON
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- L-C1-C2-R DEMAND HYDR PUMP SELECTORS….OFF
- NO SMOKING SIGNS….AUTO/ON
- SEAT BELTS SIGNS….AUTO/ON
- EEC MODE SWITCHES….NORM
- ENGINE START SELECTORS….NORM
- AUTOSTART SWITCH….ON
- LEFT FWD FUEL PUMP….ON (PRESS-LIGHT OFF)
- ANTI-ICE AS….REQUIRED
- EQUIP COOLING….AUTO
- GASPER SWITCH….ON
- RECIRC FANS….ON
- FTL DECK TEMP CNTROLS….AS REQUIRED
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWITCHES….AUTO
- L + R TRIM AIR SWITCHES….ON
- L-C-R ISOLATION VALVES….AUTO
- ENG + APU BLEED AIR….ON / AUTO
- PRESSURIZATION PANEL….SET / AUTO
- ATIS….RECIEVED
- FMC….PROGRAMM
- MCP….IAS – HDG – ALT SET
- F/D….ON
- A/T CHECK….ARMED
- LNAV….AS REQUIRED
- VNAV….AS REQUIRED
- FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS SET….NO FLAGS
- AUTOBRAKE….RTO
- COMM / AUDIO PANEL….SET
- TRANSPONDER / TCAS….SET / TEST
- AILERON + RUDDER TRIM….SET 0 UNITS
- TAKEOFF BRIEFING….COMPLETE
3. BEFORE START
- DOORS CLOSED….(CHECK DOOR PAGE)
- APU SELECTOR….START >ON
- GROUND EQUIPMENT….DISCONNECTED
- R ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….AUTO
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….ON
- L ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….AUTO
- C1 + C2 AIR DEMAND HYDR PUMPS….AUTO
- L + R FUEL PUMPS ALL….ON
- L + R CENTER FUEL PUMPS….AS REQUIRED
- PASSENGER SIGNS….ON
- BEACON….ON
- RECALL….PUSH
4. ENGINE START
- ENGINE AREA….CLEAR
- SEC DISPLAY UNIT….ENGINE
- ENGINE START….ANNOUNCE
- ENGINE 1 START….SELECTOR START
- ENGINE 1 FUEL CONTROL LEVER….RUN
- ENGINE 2 START SELECTOR….START
- ENGINE 2 FUEL CONTROL LEVER….RUN
5. BEFORE TAXI
- L + R GENERATORS….ON (LIGHTS OFF)
- APU SELECTOR….OFF
- ENG START SELECTORS….NORM
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWTCHS….AUTO (LIGHTS OFF)
- L-C-R ISOLATION VALVES….AUTO (LIGHTS OFF)
- ENG BLEED AIR….ON (LIGHTS OFF)
- FLAPS SET….CONFIRM
- STABILIZER TRIM SET….UNITS
- FLIGHT CONTROLS….FREE AND CORRECT
- RECALL….CHECK
- LOWER DISPLAY UNIT….OFF
- ANTI-ICE….AS REQUIRED
- TAXI LIGHTS….ON
6. TAXI
- TAXI TO ASSIGNED RUNWAY….SPEED MAX. 20 KNOTS
- BRKS/GYRO/TURN COORDINATOR….CHECK DURING TAXI
7. BEFORE TAKE OFF
- PARKING BRAKE….SET
- CABIN LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- ENGINE INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- TAKE-OFF DATA….(V1, VR, V2)CHECK
- NAV EQUIPMENT….CHECK
8. AFTER TAKE OFF
- POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB….GEAR UP
- AUTO-BRAKE….OFF
9. CLIMBOUT
- AUTOPILOT….ENGAGE (WHEN SUITABLE)
- ALTIMETER….SET STD (29.92 / 1013)
- BELOW 10’000FT….MAX. 250 KIAS
- ABOVE 10’000FT LANDING LIGHTS, RUNWAY TURNOFF LIGHTS, LOGO LIGHT, WING LIGHTS….OFF
- ABOVE 10’000FT FASTEN SEAT BELTS….OFF
10. CRUISE & DESCENT PREPERATION
- ENGINE & INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- FUEL QUANTITY….CHECK
- LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- SEAT BELTS….ON
- ATIS / AIRPORT INFORMATION….CHECK
- ALTIMETER….CHECK
- RADIOS….SET
- RESET MCP ALTITUDE….CHECK
- FMC APPR SPEED REF….SET
- LOCALIZER FREQ….SET
11. DESCENT
- ANTI-ICE….AS REQUIRED
- LANDING ALT….CHECK
- RECALL….CHECK
- RADIO ALT / BARO MIN….SET / CHECK
- AUTO BRAKE….AS REQUIRED
- APPROACH BRIEFING….COMPLETE
- ALTIMETER….RESET TO LOCAL
- LANDING LIGHTS….ON
- PASSENGER SINGS….ON
12. APPROACH
- ALTIMETER….CHECK
- LOCALIZER FREQ….CHECK
- LOCALIZER COURSE….CHECK
- APPRCH….ARM
- GLIDESLOPE ALIVE….GEAR DOWN
- FLAPS….AS REQUIRED
- SPEED BRAKE….ARM
- LANDING FLAPS….SET
13. AFTER LANDING
- TRANSPONDER….STANDBY
- FLAPS….RETRACT
- SPEED BRAKES….DOWN
- LANDING LIGHTS….OFF
- STROBE LIGHTS….OFF
- TAXI LIGHTS….ON
- CABIN LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- ANTI ICE….AUTO / OFF
- APU SELECTOR….ON
- AUTO-BRAKE….OFF
- RWY TURNOFF LIGHTS….OFF
- APU GEN….START / CHECK VOLTS
14. PARKING / SHUTDOWN
- PARKING BRAKES….SET
- ENGINE FUEL CONTROL LEVERS….CUTOFF
- GROUND CONTACT….ESTABLISH
- GROUND OPERATIONS….AS REQUIRED (FMC)
- PASSENGER SIGNS….OFF
- BEACON LIGHT….OFF
- C1 + C2 AIR DEMAND HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- L ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….OFF
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- R ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….OFF
- FUEL PUMPS….ALL OFF
- FLIGHT DIRECTOR….OFF
- APU SELECTOR….AS REQUIRED
- EXTERIOR LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- DOORS….OPEN
Final Thoughts
This Karachi–Islamabad flight review highlighted why the PMDG 777-200LR remains a flagship product in the flight simulation world. Its balance of technical accuracy and immersive experience makes it a must-have for serious simmers. Whether you’re flying long-haul or short domestic routes, the PMDG 777 delivers reliability and realism every time.
