FSX Pilots: Aircraft- The good, the bad?

[flaminghotsauce]

I like FSX and it's default aircraft. I want to talk about add-on aircraft.

I'm getting to a point where there are not too many freeware airplanes that I can stand to use. Most are fairly unattractive, or have some panel problems that annoy me enough I don't keep them. I'm still looking at some payware aircraft that look phenomenal, and it's disappointing to download a freeware aircraft that I hate. So I try to compare freeware with payware to see how good I can get. I have yet to pull the trigger on any payware aircraft although I have about five I'd love to get (I'm saving up for some hardware).

I thought I'd start a sort of "review" thread so we can notify each other about add-on FSX aircraft, good ones, and bad ones. Freeware, payware. What you've found that you keep flying, what you found that you hate, etc. If you find a good one, ya don't necessarily have to do a review! But please post a little something especially if it's really good so we can try it (or if it's really bad so we know to not waste our time). If your have the page link that'd be cool too.

The last couple of days I have done some reading about low wing versus high wing airplanes. So I've been kind of on the hunt for a good Piper single. Last night I downloaded a Piper Arrow:

www.simviation.com/simviation/static.php?ID=61&page=6

(2nd one down) By Hauke Keitel. The package is called "FSX PA28 R 201 Arrow 3 Package"

The good: This is a pretty nice one that has a good VC, reasonable looks outside, and seems to handle pretty well. I was impressed watching the control/e start sequence flipping all the switches and things. The panel is pretty good, I like it. I have only done a brief flight so far, so this is far from a complete review. Clickable visors! While "shift+number" checking I discovered there's a flight planning form in there. Shift+3 I believe. Interesting addition that I've not seen before. Reasonable download size for FSX.

The bad: I miss the bump mapping, it looks like a FS2004 or 2002 model (what can I say? I'm getting spoiled by FSX). The prop needs the texture repair to make it not partly black outside. The 2D panel is UH-GLY. Ugliest 2D panel in the history of the planet possibly. It probably wishes it looked as good as 8 bit Nintendo. Lucky I don't use the 2D panel much. I don't like black panels, but the Virtual cockpit panel isn't that bad, I guess. Maybe that should be in the good column.
The GPS is apparently disabled. I didn't find it. I don't necessarily mind, though. It's good to not use it sometimes.

A brief review, but it's an FSX aircraft that I'm going to keep. It's a thumbs up. I'll even search out the work of Hauke Keitel to see if I like any more of his stuff.

[louross]

I use FS9, but maybe I can give you some ideas, even tho you may very well be aware.
If you want some of the large prop stuff, I'm pretty sure that calclassic.com has many of theirs upgraded to FSX- DC6's, DC7's, etc. For GA, have you checked with Dreamfleet? They are payware, but their B727 is probably the most accurate a/c in FS (probably get flamed here). Based on that and comments in the forums, their GA planes are probably top notch.
I think that Fokker Project (freeware) has probably upgraded their RJs to FSX.
I think the site is premieraircraft.com (freeware). Some of their stuff isn't bad, you kind of need to try each one you like and see.
Like the big ones?. PMDG B744 is absolutely amazing. LevelD 767 is right up their with it.
Interested in something a little older, mentioned before Dreamfleet B727. You can actually order the CDs (or is it DVD?) from a former UAL captain who will explain actual 727 systems and you will use this info in the Dreamfleet 3-holer.

Freeware, go to www.simviation.com/hjg/

home of Heavy Jet Group for a choice of DC8's, 707's, and etc. from earliest y to latest.

I would stay awa fron Capt. Sim. Wouldn't waste my money.

Hope that helps.
lr.

[flaminghotsauce]

If you have particular aircraft you love, do a quick review for us. Although I'm trying to focus on FSX in this thread, FS9 will do also.

I personally don't much fly jets, so you won't get any flames from me about any heavy metal. My search parameters are "FSX/prop/single or twin/tricycle landing gear. Pretty much. Occasionally I get on a whim to look at something different.

I dig around simviation a LOT. There are a couple of authors, if that's a good description, that I sometimes search on. That Piglet guy, Alejandro Rojas Lucena, Bob Chicilo, Bill Lyons are a few whose work that I've enjoyed.

[flaminghotsauce]

I'll tell ya one thing that drives me nuts! I have SP1 and SP2 installed and there are problems for aircraft designed for FSX without these service packs. There' glitches, weird anomalies that show up in the dash, airplanes with missing parts, etc. So I am careful to read the descriptions to look for airplanes meant to work with SP1+2. When I find an aircraft that fits all the parameters of something I'm lookiing for, I'll give it a whirl only to discover it has terrible misfunctions, anomalies, and arrrgh-ravating somethings, as if it was simply ported over from 2004.

I have little patience for these aircraft attempts. I don't fault the authors, I appreciate the work that goes into putting together an aircraft that is offered up for free! My patience is limited by my actual available time to mess with fixing things. I'm getting cranky I guess in my old age, but I don't much go for "well, it looks kind of OK, and with a few hours testing and .cfg manipulation" type airplanes. If I cannot install and go, I get frustrated and leave it usually.

Even something like a black prop disk is enough to boot an otherwise okay aircraft. I downloaded three aircraft last night, one couldn't be opened, some zip file difficulty, one had black prop disease along with no inside modeling, and one was just flat ugly. I'm on my laptop so I can't report the names of these models yet. My daughter is doing some flying at the moment.

These aircraft are noteworthy of "avoid" status. I'll get the names later.

[louross]

Understand. Thing is FS9 works great, has tons of scenery and a/c downloads. Why don't you just go back to FS9?
lr.

[flaminghotsauce]

Eh, I sold my copy with my old simulator computer system....

[Bill Von Sennet]

I don't have FSX, but one of my favorites is Premiere Aircraft Design's Cessna 414A Its on flightsim.com

FSX filename is c414jprx.zip

FS9 filename is c414jpr9.zip

Another favorite is the Beech King Air C90B_XP with the Blackhawk upgrade that gives it performance similar to the new C90GT. By Dee Waldron

FS9 only. filename at avsim.com is beechcraft_king_air_c90b_xp_170210.zip

[flaminghotsauce]

Hey Bill, good one on the 414! I downloaded it and gave it a ride from KIRK to KJEF. Nice! It's oddly kind of frame heavy, but not bad. Good sounds from those rumbling engines, too. I noticed in the read me that Tom Goodrick is listed as a contributer and real life 414 pilot!

I remember when we were all getting Dee Waldrons C90. Thats a good airplane. I might have to search out an FSX derivative.

[Bill Hendrix (bgas046)]

I downloaded the 414 from Flightsim and I like the airplane but I had to change some figures in the contact points cause all it wanted to do on takeoff or landing was bounce.

[Joe]

I don't have any add-on aircraft for FSX. A 414 would be nice as that's what my friend's company has and I got to fly it once. Part of the problem for me is I only use VC anymore and it's hard to find 3rd party ones that don't look like ass.

[flaminghotsauce]

I agree Joe. Some third party addons are really bad. Some are almost as good as what comes standard with FSX. The payware stuff is getting really good, but is getting really expensive.

[Bill Von Sennet]

Regarding the "bounce" on the C414A

That has been fixed. I have Fix 10 I think I got it from the Premier Aircraft Web-site.

[Tom Goodrick]

They must have copied in the FD I did for the FS9 414A model I built. That's okay as I don't claim any rights on my work except if it is used in payware. Don't know where they got the idea I used to fly a 414A. A C172 is the biggest aircraft I flew in the real world.

[flaminghotsauce]

I finally hit the hip pocket and bought a couple payware airplanes. Carenado has several on sale until 12/19.

I bought the 182Q and it was one of the least expensive on the website. But it's worth every penny! I have only done an hour or less in it but it's proven to be a very good airplane. The handling is a class above what I'm used to in the default FSX 172. I have difficulty taxiing in the 172, but the 182 is smooth and intuitive. It also handles better in the air, way better.

Starting it up, the rumble of the engine was a new and wonderful roar. The only problem is at full throttle, I can hear where the noise loops. But slightly less than full throttle, the loop artifact goes away. Insignificant anyway, it's just something I notice as I used to do LOTS of audio sampling and looping. Piano is really hard to get right. Anyway, the airplane sounds wonderful, flies great, looks great, and makes me very happy. The only thing I haven't figured out is the autopilot. But I hand flew the trip IFR through two VOR's and to an NDB approach and the worst part of the flight was the pilot.

I also bought the Archer II. It is equally beautiful to view. I haven't flown it much yet. I got so enthralled by the 182Q that I took the Cessna on the maiden voyage. I was wanting to get a high quality, low wing aircraft, and this is quite good. I was trying to talk myself into a complex low wing, but this was almost half price. Simple it is. I'll have to fly this one some more, but it is a lovely piece of work. Carenado makes some sweet stuff.

[Jon]

.
Speaking of Carenado's lineup: my all-time favourite of theirs is the T-34B Mentor.

I find that most Flight-Sim aircraft (I use FSX) have so-so handling, and a few have good handling qualities. But only a very few have those certain, sweet, "oh my gosh" handling manners that make the aircraft feel just absolutely sweet in your hands. The MAAM-Sim DC-3 / C-47 package has it, and so does Carenado's Mentor.

Highly recommend it without reservation.