Prices

[Guest Knikolaes]

All I can say is "Wow" on PMDG's prices. I am ever so thankful that such awesome products are so easy to afford for the quality that you get.I guess I never really thought of this until just now, when I visited another site and went to pay for a 737 BBJ add-on and on conversion of the product to US Dollars it was 100 bucks!!!! Yikes. I quickly hit "Cancel".The first thing that came across my mind at this moment was just how glad i was that the PMDG products I use are so detailed, accurate, and wonderful, and I am definately aware of the long and hard man hours that PMDG puts into their work. They take this business very seriously and yet makes it so easy on us to enjoy their products.Thank you, PMDG. I am sure I am not the only one out here that gets reminded once in a while of just how good we have it with your products.

[Guest nramsey]

$100? Wow, that's insane. That's more than double what FS2004 cost when brand new! I too, am very greatful for what PMDG has produced in the 737 and hopefully the upcoming 747 and MD-11.

[Guest Knikolaes]

Yeah no kidding, and that was for one single AC with a few liveries. They had a few AC with 2D cockpits for like 50 bucks. All I could think was "wow", because 100 bucks gets me a full hour flight lesson here at my local FBO.OH . . .speaking of flight lessons . . . . anyone here from Colorado? That knows about a college called AIMS? They apparently have a flight program and training for profssional pilot under an Aviation Science Degree is covered by Pell :-) I might get my dream after all, guys!!!!!!I was wondering if anyone here had gone to that school. Everyone I spoke to that attended that school says they are awesome, but none of them were int he aviation department. I was hoping to get a school view from an aviation student's perspective.

[Guest ZOTAN]

Chris,I havent heard of that college, but my guess is that it is like every other aviation college. Dont waste your time or money; get your ratings through your FBO instead. It will be much cheaper in the long run.

[Guest Knikolaes]

Thanks, Matt.FORTUNATELY it is not a flight school. It is a degree through a regular college, and I'll be going for an AAS degree. That's what enables Pell to cover my expenses for me.I know what you mean about trying to get into the "fast track" schools though. My dream school has been Delta Connection Academy, but that's for certifications only and no degree is involved, so no financial aid for me **shrugs**As long as I can fly, either way, I am fine :-)

[Guest neeraj.pendse]

Does anyone know any inside information about pricing for the Queen? :-jumpy

[Guest Figuretti]

I tell you what it depends on what your goals are. If you want to go to the airlines, this day in age you

[Guest Knikolaes]

Thanks, Adrian. The degree I am going for is an AAS in Aviation Technology. I do not know much about any Aviation Science programs here in Colorado, unfortunately.

[Guest nandrzej]

>Does anyone know any inside information about pricing for the>Queen? :-jumpy Whatever the final price may be it will be a fair price. I have always been amazed with the value PMDG squeezes into their products.cheers, Nick

[Guest Knikolaes]

Heheh aye -- and whatever price it is, I am sure it won't be any $100 USD LOL.

[Guest Mapper]

Hi Chris-Take it from a real ATP in the business. Be very careful before you invest yourself in an aviation career. Know all the facts. Don't be blinded by the allure of shinny jets and cool uniforms. Be very sure you realize the lifestyle pilots live in the regional airlines, and it's right for you. Be absolutely sure that if you wake up 10 years from now making $35,000 a year, you'll still be happy. Realize how little $35,000 really is! What happens if you loose your medical? Compare the cost of flight training with the realistic earnings potential.The rest you'll learn along the way,Good luck-Mike

[clayton4115 56]

here in Australia you start flying regionals / contract stuff in woop woop and earn $30,000 australian dollars thats like $20,000 American and its a fact that only 10% of budding aviation students get to eventually fly the jets 737s etc.

[Guest Knikolaes]

Aye, indeed it has been a reality check for years, but for years I have been looking into this and just trying to find a way to fly. I am about to turn 30. I have made mistakes with my credit, and mistakes with choices in life. I have been through a lot. BUT one thing . . . just one thing . . . has always remained a constant . . . and that is my love to fly.While stability in life is important in a logical sense, yes, money is not that important to me. I actually don't want to be rich with cash. I'd rather be rich in soul and spirit. I would rather make 30,000 flying than 80,000 telling someone they have 6 months to live (I envy Doctors and their strong emotional status int heir jobs).I guess I got this from my father. He was the same way. He was a school teacher, and he cared a lot about what he did. My father was the only school teacher I know of that -- on the first day of school -- he put our home phone number on the chalk board and it stayed up there all year. His first day speech to the kids in the class would be along the lines of, "I don't care if it is school work related or not. If you need someone, give me a call." The class he taught was 5th Grade.He was an amazing man, and when he passed away I literally thought I was stepping into a movie-star style funeral or something. Why? Because he touched the community for so many years. The firemen that responded to the call were former students of his -- that's how long he'd been teaching.Was it WHAT he did? No. It was HOW he did it. He aspired to make a difference not only to others but to his family. Now some might read this and think: "If he wants to make a difference, why doesnt he become a teacher too?" or "Then why a pilot?"The answer is simple. Two parts actually. 1: I love to fly. My love for flying actually started with a day of boredom. I was sitting at home one day and installed FS2002 on my computer because quite frankly all my other games had gotten boring. I ALWAYS had a love for aircraft, but until that day I had never experienced a flight simulator and had FS2002 stashed in my disks thinking it was some sort of combat sim or something.Wow, was I ever in for a change.Within a week I was engrossed in the flight lessons that the sim had to offer. My keyboard wasn't cutting it. So I bought a joystick. And then things started to fall into place with my realization that this was more than "just a game" -- far more.It was that act of boredom that brought me a few months later to take an introductory flight. At KPUB, Flower Aviation, I took my first Cessna ride. I had been in airliners before, but this was different, and for 1 hour I was at the controls. It was a Cessna 150F, and I now have 4 hours in that little bugger.She's now down having her engine rebuilt for her annual. Anyway, after the first intro ride I ended up getting gear at home to keep in practice -- yoke -- pedals -- goflight systems -- and thogh FS will NEVER be a substitute for the real thing, nor will it be the level of sim that FAA approves, it IS an inspiration -- a reminder of what brought me to striving for a childhood dream.That was 1 of the 2 parts. The second part of my answer? Well, I believe EVERYONE makes a difference as long as they succeed in doing it. Piltos, EMT's (I am a certiified EMT-:(, teachers, sanitation specialists, plumbers -- every single occupation in this world has a key role in how we live as a whole -- as a community. My particular love is flying, and I believe that if you are happy at doign something, you should pursue it to the fullest.I like being an EMT, but it isn't my calling -- though i WOULD lvoe to combine that and one day work for "Flight for Life", combining both skills and eventually upgrading to an AAS in Paramedic.So I guess while, yes, I do realize how little piltos make AND I know about the rough schedules, short notice changes and lack of predictability the career can bring -- in my heart it is worth it. And even better -- I am VERY fortunate enough to have a sweetie in my life that not only supports my ambitions, but she is even responsible for me finding this school I am considering.Weather it is on a 747 for an airline, an ATR for a regional, or a Cessna as a flight instructor . . . one thing is for sure -- I will never give up my dream to fly :-)

[Guest Knikolaes]

>here in Australia you start flying regionals / contract stuff>in woop woop and earn $30,000 australian dollars thats like>$20,000 American and its a fact that only 10% of budding>aviation students get to eventually fly the jets 737s etc.>**smiles** I think that is true here in the US as well, mate :-) What a lot of budding folks do not realize I think is, "It's not what you fly, it's how you fly." I have seen and heard students talkign about the iron as if that is all there is to the industry. To me it's the people. Like I stated in my reply I just posted a few moments ago, sometimes it is the little moments thatcan make years of effort worth it.Little moments . . . ah we have plenty of those sometimes, don't we? Little moments can make us learn a LOT as well. Like my little moment of my first landing in that Cessna 150F -- I scared poor Mike (my instructor) to death I think -- for some crazy bloody reason I pulled back to idle BEFORE crossing the runway threshold. He quickly reacted and saved the day, and though that was not a GOOD moment, it is a moment that I will remember for years -- because I like to remember moments I can learn from.:-)And Mike - -I love your signature with the values quote. Makes me think even more of sayings me father used to say to me. :-)

[Guest Philip Olson]

Chris, While I do not currently live in Colorado I am from there and lived there for 28 years, I will always be a Coloradan. Someday I will move back home but for now I am in exile. :-lol Anyway as far as AIMS goes, I met someone once who went through their aviation program and was very happy with it. I wish I could give you more information than that but it is all I know. I do know that it is a good school and more than likely you would be happy with it. I wish you all of the best in your future, I am completely behind anyone in this industry, it is a heck of a job!I also agree with you about PMDG, we do get value for the money here. These guys make the best planes available and are very dedicated to bringing us the best but still they try to keep the prices in what I consider a reasonable range, they could charge much more for the quality and most people would still pay for it at twice the price. Since PMDG entered the MSFS market they have raised the bar quite a bit and I love it. Philip Olsonhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg