Best "Classic" Airliner for FSX (Freeware or Payware)?

[deeknow]

Ben, I'd 2nd the CS 727, its a beauty, you wont regret it.

One other machine no ones mentioned yet is the excellent Simcheck A300, it really is a classic in Airbus terms, check it out

I think Ian suggested the LDS763 which I also love and fly a lot, has nice systems detail, but ... visually at least internally its not really up to par now with the other more recently released machines you're considering, you may be disappointed.

Oh and regarding AI, definitely grab the freebie AI pack from FTX...
https://fullterrain.com/product_traffic.html

[SeanTK]

154B-2 1990's era panel, with KLN-90 from Aerosoft Catalina.

[bennz]

Thanks Dean, I actually looked at the SimCheck but heard its not very good. I used to fly with A310 Master's edition. While it was a complex system but had many bugs.

For Airbus , I am waiting on Airbus X Extended A320 and FSLabs A320 ( which is going to be much better than Airbus X )
Shame Airsimmer failed to deliver...

I was thinking about the CoolSky MD-80 but the Super version is modernized . I enjoyed the fs9 version, smooth flying and good level of simulation while keeping the original state. But I guess not as good as CS 727 or 707

Thanks for the screenshots Sean! She looks nice with this panel. I will certainly look further into it. But I should remember the integrations won't affect the AP . right? It just an assisted tool

[SeanTK]

QUOTE (bennz @ Aug 20 2012,9:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But I should remember the integrations won't affect the AP . right? It just an assisted tool

Correct, advisory only. Basically, in the 154B-2, the GPS was actually used as the primary "outside of Russia/CIS" navigation tool, despite the inability to couple the system.
That being said, you are able to use any of the navigation systems, including the NVU on the center console, anywhere in the world.


Regarding complex sims themselves.....Project Tupolev is also making a system simulation of the Ilyushin Il-62M for FSX that will be of the same quality as this Tu-154. Release is hopefully late this year or early next year.

I'm keeping an eye on the FSLabs Airbus too, despite not being that into Airbus aircraft. It'll certainly be an comprehensive simulation!

I've looked into the SimCheck bus myself, but have hesitated due to simply not hearing much about it in general. What negative things have you heard?

[bennz]

Sean, I heard few people in a forum in UAE talking about it ( Used it for virtual airline ) and they didn't like the flying characteristics and reported many bugs with the systems, Although I am not sure if they were talking about the V2 or the older version, I read it quite a while ago.

But.. Like others things on the net, we can't be biased without the actual proof. So I guess Dean must have some experience with it as he recommended it . Am I right?

[Ian Warren]

The Areosoft 320X is very disappointing by compare to the Catalina and Bronco for example but i'm sure they will debug it and patch at some stage .

[bennz]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 21 2012,1:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Areosoft 320X is very disappointing by compare to the Catalina and Bronco for example but i'm sure they will debug it and patch at some stage .

I guess Airbus X Extended going to have some neat features and more simulated systems . although they have mentioned its mainly designed for daily operations and some emergency systems ( which is most ) and weather radar are not simulated , along with few others. To me it is not a deal breaker as Emergency in FSX is quite pointless .

FSLabs are working on a very detailed A32x series which I believe going to be released in later 2012. I hope it is worth it.
I was so waiting for Airsimmer A320 and got so disappointed with their product, thankfully didn't waste my money on that.

[Ian Warren]

After all the rant and rave and negatives i do about Arbust , AirbusX did not disappoint , it did what i said .. broke down .

[deeknow]

QUOTE (bennz @ Aug 21 2012,1:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But.. Like others things on the net, we can't be biased without the actual proof. So I guess Dean must have some experience with it as he recommended it . Am I right?

Hey Ben. There is no V2 as such, but there is a service pack. Yes there are some niggles but they've not bothered me to be honest. There are some load state workarounds and some hassles when combined with weather engines (active-sky I think which I dont use). Anyway, take a squizz on the forums and judge the feedback there, forums are at Aerosoft as their the distributor for the simcheck A300...
http://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/forum...-simcheck-a300/

Oh and for the sake of transparency :-) I didnt actually pay for the simcheck, I won it in a nzff.org monthy screenshot comp, but I would HAPPILY pay for it, of all the classic airliners I have a real soft spot for the A300, it was truely a bold step and innovative and has enough steam-gauges to keep us old timers happy. The detail is lovely, and its leagues ahead of the CLS model, and the freebie HNAC model.

And as a shameless plug, I've even done a few repaints for the A300, check em out here: http://www.deeknow.com/notes/games/FlightSim/repaints/

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (deeknow @ Aug 21 2012,6:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As a shameless plug, I've even done a few repaints for the A300,

Not sure if you knew Dean , the A300 prototype did visit Wobblyville (ex-Christchurch) in 1974 , i biked out that day with my elder bro Allan ... first thing we said to each other and both noticed how high the plane stood as it taxied in .

[deeknow]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 21 2012,5:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not sure if you knew Dean , the A300 prototype did visit Wobblyville (ex-Christchurch) in 1974 , i biked out that day with my elder bro Allan ... first thing we said to each other and both noticed how high the plane stood as it taxied in .

Huh, no I didnt realise that Ian. They did get pretty desperate early on when there were very few takers to buy models so no surprise they headed down under. TAA (Trans Australia Airlines) bought a few which then ended up in the Qantas fleet later. Yeah they are a pretty manly looking aircraft I reckon, nice lines, certainly better than the A320. And I love the whine of those GE CF6's !!!

[Ian Warren]

The aircraft were in there own right back then , all the way to the 310 model of 1981/82 , 1985/88 give them another ten years they decided to get arty and believed themself hi tech only to create problems - the beginning the 320 model .. not only the aircraft F/W but also the ground handle and logistics - sell them cheap to get in the market , fine but in the early days they either caused more problems .. don't help with my experiences with all Arbust .... Like everything in today's world even Boeing has more contractor s , gone the real pioneering Classics .

[bennz]

I am one of the big fans of A300 specially the A306 and many hours on it as a passenger ( Though had the privilege of cockpit visits when world was a more relaxed place. Those buses are very reliable and real work horses of aviation. They take lots of stress and remain operational with "relatively" lower RMO cost.

My other most favourite are TU154B, M and TU134A. I remember the noise of the engines on startup and the roaring of them on take off, even with the discomfort of the cabin ,the joy of flying you get from those birds is unique!

I will do more research on Simcheck bird and see what feeling I get from feedback. PMDG should really start looking at some buses for next projects We need a quality one

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (bennz @ Aug 22 2012,10:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will do more research on Simcheck bird and see what feeling I get from feedback. PMDG should really start looking at some buses for next projects We need a quality one

With the 777 and 747 incoming and after looking at the NGX they will satisfy me for a while ... but the one i have interest in and will ideal in through out the smaller grass fields would be their DC-6 , if the current PMDG fleet has anything to go by this one will be a real doosie

[hasegawa]

Since yesterday we have in FSX a new potential candidate. Avro RJ 70/85/100
Look at flight1.com

Why is this aircraft a milestone? It is the last Airliner, completly made in the UK. It is a modified and modernized Version of the famous BAe 146. The last of it was made in 2002. We call them "Jumbolino", because of the four engines and the massive behavor of this aircraft. It is not a beauty and looked for me like a to hot washed Iljuschin Il 76 "Candid". ;-)

In Reality it was and is a very stable and safe aircraft with it´s four engines. It is interesting, that this aircraft was a forerounner for quiet aircraft. Passengers love this aircraft because you have much room and big passengers have not the same problems like in the Bombardier CRJ 700 or 900/1000! But, meanwhile, it seams, that the time of the Avro RJ´s in Europe are over.
The last Lufthansa-flight was Munich-Cologne, 15. August 2012... and Brussels Airlines, Swiss want to replace them in the next two years. Air Baltic, Air Malta, Turkish Airlines, SAS have this aircraft no longer. Malmo Aviation replace them also with the new Regional Jet from Bombardier. Atlantic Airways from the Faroe Islands changed them for Airbus A 319... But, most of these Avro-Jets are meanwhile in Latinamerica, Asia and the states of the former Soviet Union.

If You see the Bombardier DASH 8Q-400 and the Avro RJ 85 for example, the DASH 8Q-400 can fly the 1070 km from Berlin Tegel to Riga in 1 hour 50 minutes. The Avro RJ need 1hour 40 Minutes... and the Bombardier need only 1/3 of fuel... The DASH 8 has two Engines, the Avro RJ four... and this is a cost factor in flight and on the ground... You have much more work with the Avro, to keep them flyable.

But... i like the Avro RJ. She is for simmer a good aircraft. with its "speed" from around 270 kts, slow landing speed, is solid and has no "bad habbits". The new Quality Wings Avro RJ 70/85/100
are new native DX-10-compatible aircraft, are good looking, have all the typical animations. The VC is good. Only one Point. The upper MFD colided with the altimeter if you increase it, a smal handling problem. The FMC is good. All pages are usable but you can also load a typical FSX-flightplan. Autoland is possible but you must be in the limits. The version for FS 9 was good to test and it was good for the brandnew FSX-Version.

The price is hot and you get the Avro RJ´s for FS 9 and FS X for one price and the BAe 146-100/200/300 are free! updates in stage 3 planned for the end of the year.

Also accesptable is, that the designer let you not alone with your aircraft. The Manuals are good and if you have a problem, they have a forum with rapid reaction.

[Ian Warren]

Andreas , I'll post screens of this shortly of the RJs, lot of fun landing it into the smaller airstrips , i found it to be very slippery on approach , this may out of Ben league due the range , ideal for New Zealand sectors due to its lower speeds but it is a lot off fun , the concept of the 146/RJs go's back into the late 60s and some of the early designs were very unique

[TonyM]

Hi,

Got the RJ yesterday, and so far, love it !!!

As Ian says, great flying it into smaller airports.

They were used extensively over here in WA by Ansett WA.

And they are often seen still,into and out of YPPH, doing FIFO runs
into the many mine operations. National Jet is the operator I think.

My only issue with it is that the first 2 liverry downloads seem corrupt and wont work in
the QW livery installer thingy

Cheers

TonyM

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (TonyM @ Aug 24 2012,12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

National Jet is the operator I think.

National it is and has quite a snazzy livery , saw one at Avalon few years back .

Ill have to check the livery package , only be European schemes i guess , ... Landing into small NZ airports , recent was Vincent Aviation into Manapouri so a VA paint is going to be required for starters .

[hasegawa]

Well, QW has the BAe 146 100/200/300 in the works and came as free update for users of the current package of Avro RJ´s. So we have them all in one package, from the very beginning in the 1970´s to the last aircraft of the line. It is in my eyes also a piece of history. Looking back at the BAe 146-100. The cockpit was a conservative one... even in the time of the introduction of this aircraft type. Yes, you have an FMC, but it is a very simple one. This aircraft has no autothrottle, no autoland, the autopilot can not hold the speed and you have a lot of work with the engines. The cockpit is analog. And now look into one of the latest Avro RJ´s and you can see the difference. Autoland, autothrottle more glas and reduced analog instruments... but it is still a modernized BAe 146.
Flying the old and the new... we have the chance to see the history of aviation for 30 years in one aircraft.

[bennz]

There are few of these plane around for fs9 and fsx. I heard some negative feedback regarding flying characteristics and limited simulated system. Is this the same plane or a different one?

I would be interested in this if it passes your quality checks

Some screenshots of VC and exterior would be great!:)