>Don't be so whipped (WAPAH!)! >>Just buy the DC-9 now and when the CS727 is released, buy it >later. You have a job don't you? Use your money! >>By the time CS727 is released we will all be looking for >something else to fly, that is pretty cool.... You have a lot to learn about being married ;)Thanks for the comments guys. Keep em' commin'!Shane

Just to be different (or, probably, controversial!) .... neither. There are such excellent freeware DC-9 and 727 packages about for FS2002 that I cannot imagine why anyone would need to add payware versions of the same aircraft to their stable. If they were to be the only thing you'd ever fly, well, perhaps; but they'll be lost on your hard drive within a couple of weeks and you might as well have spent the money on beer.No, for me, payware has to offer something REALLY worth forking out for. The only one I've ever found to date is the SIAI-Marchetti. I've tried the DF 737 on a friend's rig and that IS cool, but I would never spend that amount of time flying the same aircraft. Too many goodies about in FS2002, and I like the variety.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitak.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/reds.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitakv3.jpg

No, for me, payware has to offer something REALLY worth forking out for. The only one I've ever found to date is the SIAI-Marchetti. I've tried the DF 737 on a friend's rig and that IS cool, but I would never spend that amount of time flying the same aircraft. Too many goodies about in FS2002, and I like the variety.Too each his own I guess, I'm not sure how anyone can fly heavies with out the PIC 767 or PSS 747, but hey, that's just me ;-)

Everything is out there in freeware with one exception - FMC. I use Tony D'Ambrosio's gauges for which, yes, I had to pay; but I put them in all sorts of aircraft where they are appropriate. I've been flying my Saab 340s for ages with this panel, for example:http://www.swiremariners.com/TAsaab.jpg But as you say, each to his own. I just never get to adequately use what I have already!Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitak.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/reds.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitakv3.jpg

>But as you say, each to his own. That is correct. For example in my own case - I have to pay once in a while to escape from panels like the one you are showing above. Sorry but most of the freeware stuff just doesn't meet my minimum esthetical considerations even if functionality is there ... One exception is Grabowski's freeware ERJ-145. But it is a rare exception indeed.Michael J.[link:jdtllc.com]http://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg

<>Maybe you've missed work by Richard Probst, Paul Golding, Oleksiy Frolov, Jan Visser, Yannick Lavigne, Stellan Hilmerby and Espen Oijordsbakken; to name but a few.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitak.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/reds.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitakv3.jpg

>Maybe you've missed work by Richard Probst, Paul Golding, >Oleksiy Frolov, Jan Visser, Yannick Lavigne, Stellan >Hilmerby and Espen Oijordsbakken; to name but a few.Some of the work you cite is quite good, other not so good. Again, it depends on one's threshold. Michael J.

<>No doubt. Just out of interest then, Michal, what payware model(s)have encouraged you to "pay once in a while to escape"?Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitak.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/reds.htmlhttp://www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitakv3.jpg

I'm making a very wild guess here but I think Michael is going to pay for the upcoming Meridian... Don't know why I got that impression! ;)Krister

I won't take anything away from Flight1. I own the 421C, and FSD's Seneca V and Cheyenne. All of these aircraft are absolutely wonderful. I don't have the DC-9, but I do have the CS727. I just wanted to comment that CaptainSim has actual 727 pilots on their staff. For me, that's very important. Just like the 421C, which was modelled after an actual 421C, which Mr Rhodes has had quite a bit of flight time in, if I'm not mistaken.Just an FYIJim

>I'm making a very wild guess here but I think Michael is >going to pay for the upcoming Meridian... Don't know why I >got that impression! ;) >Got this one right ! This is a good example of a project-depth that we would never see in the freeware world. But I don't want to be misunderstood. Even though I think many freeware aircraft panels are not up to my standards I have nothing but outmost respect for their authors. A healthy mix of payware/freeware offerings is what makes this community vibrant.Michael J.[link:jdtllc.com]http://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg