MS Flight Sim most accurate a/c

[pablo]

Hi!

I don't know if this is the right place to post it, but I would like to know which aircraft of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (freeware or payware stuff, i don't care) is the most accurate and has the closest instrumentation and performance to the actual aircraft.

I want to know because I want to prepare some serious turboprop / jet stuff close enough to real world operations, so I become familiar with IFR at high speeds and Flight Levels (and have some fun too!!!).

Thank you!!!

[mbcxharm]

Personally, I find the PMDG 737NG add-on for FS to be very good in terms of a working FMC etc.

http://www.precisionmanuals.com

[Vee One...Rotate]

Try X-Plane:

www.x-plane.com

More realistic modelling than MSFS, FAA approved (see the site) and used by a certain SpaceShipOne designer with the surname of Rutan.

V1R

[PCav8or]

Forget MSFS. Forget X-Plane. Check this out http://aerowinx.de/
You'll never get anything more realistic than this. It's probably the best 747-400 systems/procedures simulator out there.

[SmolaTheMedevacGuy]

And for the MSFS, my vote goes for the Flight1 ATR-72
http://atr.flight1.net/

There are really few things not as in the real plane

Greetings,
Smola

[admiral ackbar]

PSS (http://www.phoenix-simulation.co.uk/) makes a great A319/320/321 and A330/340 product.

[pablo]

Hi!

Thank you all for the replies (and for the future ones as well).

Regards,

Pablo

[Confabulous]

PMDG, PS1 & X-Plane,

I have the three of them - they all have their issues.

PS1 is really designed for 747-400 rated pilots, has no visuals and is extremely expensive (I paid €350 I think). That said, use it for a while and you could make a reasonable go at operating the real thing (in the sim). FMS/LNAV/VNAV & PFD/ECIAS simulation is superb and would make a brilliant FMS/systems trainer. One 'bug' I found was that at light load and TOGA is would break Mach 1 in level flight. Maybe it's not a bug! Joystick support is diabolical. Say no more.

PMDG 737 is good but could be better. Too much emphasis on graphics and not enough on the systems... accurate enough to keep a 737NG pilot in currency I would suspect.

X-Plane is in a class of its own really - flight model is second to none, you can design your own aircraft (which really teaches you about aerodynamics), instruments can be custom made (and show accurate VOR/ADF problems like dip etc), it's updated literally every week (I'm considering buying X-Plane 8 but it's evolving so fast that I might miss something). Systems simulations is generic and was non-existent - until last week that is - it's being heavily redesigned now. Even the scenery is spectacular.

Even now I look at FS as more of a game really (which the occasional gem) - stretching it takes a LOT of work, but X-Plane doesn't.

Who knows what lies ahead!!

V1R is correct, XP is approved for FAA ATPL training - says a lot about the quality really. I expect it to be used in PPL level training in the next couple of years.

As you can see I'm an ardent X-Plane fan :cool:

Edited to add: One provisio - to log time it needs to be used in with a full-motion sim in an authorised FAA training school. Just found out it's approved for the FAA IR/CPL as well.

[LEM]

Intersting, Confabulous.

Any link to an image gallery about Xplane?

[Confabulous]

X-Plane (http://www.x-plane.com)

Plenty of information there.

[Jet_A_Knight]

I have found x-plane to be the most flyable.

It's not perfect, but it's very good, better flyability than MSFS, for sure.


http://www.x-plane.com/

[Tinstaafl]

There's an open source multi platform sim available called 'Flightgear' & can be downloaded for free. From their website www.flightgear.org:

"The FlightGear flight simulator project is an open-source, multi-platform, cooperative flight simulator development project. Source code for the entire project is available and licensed under the GNU General Public License.

The goal of the FlightGear project is to create a sophisticated flight simulator framework for use in research or academic environments, for the development and pursuit of other interesting flight simulation ideas, and as an end-user application. We are developing a sophisticated, open simulation framework that can be expanded and improved upon by anyone interested in contributing."


The information given in the features page of the website is quite impressive - www.flightgear.org/features

I've not yet installed it due lack of space but I intend to as soon as I can make room.

[WindSheer]

If you are looking for instrument flying (lets be honest, the sims will never 'feel' like the real thing) then definately all of the following:

ALL MSFS

PSS DASH 8
FLIGHT-1 ATR72
CAPTAIN SIM 707 & 727
IRON KNUCKLES DC9


As I said, you will never get the true feel, but for learning instrument skills the above are all great.
I feel the PMDG 737 is top stuff, but is more about learning the 737 systems than anything else, same goes for the PSS 'buses' and the PS1 747-400.

Happy Flying:ok:

[NSEU]

Don't forget (soon-to-be-released) Level-D Simulation's 767 (aka "PIC 767 v2"). It may even match PS1 as a systems simulator.

Rgds.
NSEU

[G-BBAE]

Does anyone know of a good download site that is free where i can get fs downloads.
Simvation isnt too bad but i dont want just textures i want the full lot in one download.

[Jhieminga]

Not really Tech log stuff anymore, but check out www.Flightsim.com, or www.Avsim.com. (Free) registration required but loads of goodies available.

Small tip if someone likes playing with older kites: http://www.dmflightsim.co.uk. The VC10 model has been tested against the actual full size simulator! :p