HiI am looking for a payware or freeware add-on for FSX - I want something that is realistic. Is there anything out there that can simulate the fly-by-wire technology? Either Airbus or Boeing would be fine.I currently have Just Flights Airbus Series Vol 1 and the A340 add-ons but they are the F-Lite range and I feel I now want to progress to something that's more realistic and is actually like flying the real thing.Any advice would be great.Thanks.

There are a selection of such add ons including Wilco/Feethere, PMDG and Aerosoft all of which are payware - circa £20.00 £25.00. From a real aircraft design point of view Boeing are more traditional and tend to have fixed linkages between cockpit and flying surfaces/engines. Airbus however are very much the leader in FBW.I recommend your next stage is the Wilco/Feelthere Airbus A319/A320/A321 package. However, I think there may be an upgrade on the way for this product so worth making enquiries before you buy. This aircraft has a fully functional Flight Management Computer (FMC) and Central Data Unit (CDU) through which the Flight Plan is entered/loaded plus SIDS and STARS for the worlds airports. It is through the CDU that the performance criteria are entered, calaculated and applied. This aircraft requires upto date world airfield and navigational data which has to be uploaded monthly, it is called the AIRAC Cycle and for flt simmers is available (at a cost of about £12.00 ish per year). One such supplier is Navigraph.Quite a handful of aeroplane and a big step from F-Lite and FSX Default which accept the basic FSX Flt Plan therefore you need to fully understand the systems and so on from the documentation provided. But, once you are on top of it it is very satisfying when flown and handled well.I'm sure there will be some other views for you to consider. Good luck - Roger

aren't all fsx planes fly-by-wire? :(

aren't all fsx planes fly-by-wire? :(

That's my line! :(

I myself own the A320 by Wilco and I have to say that it is a very nice plane to fly if you are not yet ready for the "I sit there two hours before I want to takeoff" amount of detail. However, if you want to go for something really realistic, and although they aren't fly-by-wire PMDG tends to make very complex add-ons.Especially the 747 and the MD-11 have been mentioned quite frequently to be superb. VRS has also produced a very nice aircraft, I'm not actually sure though if the F-18 (http://www.avsim.com...10/VRS/F18.html) is a fly by wire aircraft.Maybe even better though: The Embraer E-Jets by Wilco. I've heard that they are quite good and they come with addons like CALL! which are supposed to be quite useful. In fact, when looking through the reviews on Avsim - almost anything that has a Gold Star Award is an excellent choice. The E-Jets are also fly-by-wire.What kind of range are you aiming for though?

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When you say "realistic", do you mean "mind boggingly detailed", or something that is intermediate? If the former, I'd suggets saving your money and waiting for the PMDG 737NGX to come out.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. I'm going to look through the ones suggested so far, PMDG seem to be the favorite so far with people I've asked.

What kind of range are you aiming for though?

Good question, I hadn't really thought about it but a mid-range aircraft would be fine. I prefer doing shorter distance flights but don't have the time to sit at the computer for hours and hours.

When you say "realistic", do you mean "mind boggingly detailed", or something that is intermediate? If the former, I'd suggets saving your money and waiting for the PMDG 737NGX to come out.

Probably the later actually, not something that'll take hours and hours to configure for take off but something that's a step up from the F-Lite ones I'm using now.Thanks again.

There are a selection of such add ons including Wilco/Feethere, PMDG and Aerosoft all of which are payware - circa £20.00 £25.00. From a real aircraft design point of view Boeing are more traditional and tend to have fixed linkages between cockpit and flying surfaces/engines. Airbus however are very much the leader in FBW.I recommend your next stage is the Wilco/Feelthere Airbus A319/A320/A321 package. However, I think there may be an upgrade on the way for this product so worth making enquiries before you buy. This aircraft has a fully functional Flight Management Computer (FMC) and Central Data Unit (CDU) through which the Flight Plan is entered/loaded plus SIDS and STARS for the worlds airports. It is through the CDU that the performance criteria are entered, calaculated and applied. This aircraft requires upto date world airfield and navigational data which has to be uploaded monthly, it is called the AIRAC Cycle and for flt simmers is available (at a cost of about £12.00 ish per year). One such supplier is Navigraph.Quite a handful of aeroplane and a big step from F-Lite and FSX Default which accept the basic FSX Flt Plan therefore you need to fully understand the systems and so on from the documentation provided. But, once you are on top of it it is very satisfying when flown and handled well.I'm sure there will be some other views for you to consider. Good luck - Roger

Hi Roger,Thanks for your suggestion. When I downloaded and installed Just Flights Airbus Series Vol 1, when you go to select the aircraft in the menu, it has "wilco/feethere". It includes the A319, A320 and A321, so I must have the one that you describe? Any ideas when it says "Wilco/Feethere" when I got it from Just Flight?Thanks.

Hi Roger,Thanks for your suggestion. When I downloaded and installed Just Flights Airbus Series Vol 1, when you go to select the aircraft in the menu, it has "wilco/feethere". It includes the A319, A320 and A321, so I must have the one that you describe? Any ideas when it says "Wilco/Feethere" when I got it from Just Flight?Thanks.

Wilco/Feelthere developed it, Just Flight published the boxed version, afaik.

Wait for the PMDG NGX or get the VRS F-18.Or get both... lol. The VRS F-18 is the best mil jet made for FS, and the NGX looks to be the best airliner ever made for FS.

Wait for the PMDG NGX or get the VRS F-18.Or get both... lol. The VRS F-18 is the best mil jet made for FS, and the NGX looks to be the best airliner ever made for FS.

I prefer the commercial airliners as apposed to the fighters so might wait for the PMDG 737NG. Does anyone know when this is likely to be? I like the look of the Airbus Series Vol 2 from Wilco so may get that in the meantime :(

To be honest I believe that the E-Jets would suit you best. However the PMDG 737NGX is of course also an excellent aircraft, but you'd have to wait until they finished developing it, also expect it to be priced quite expensive as PMDG is known to be. I'm not sure about the Ariane 737, maybe read through a few reviews of that if you can't wait. I'd buy the E-Jet though.

aren't all fsx planes fly-by-wire? :(

Well, they are, but their version of the FBW makes the default Airbus look very, very weak. I mean, this makes turns very hard and climbs to be very, very slow. You know that Microsoft tends to oversimplify default aircraft. AFAIK, all of Boeing's current aircraft are FBW operated. Dave.

I prefer the commercial airliners as apposed to the fighters so might wait for the PMDG 737NG. Does anyone know when this is likely to be? I like the look of the Airbus Series Vol 2 from Wilco so may get that in the meantime :(

I didn't get on with the A340. I found it more 'buggy' than the Vol 1 Series. If I remember it had a problem maintaining the glideslope and pitch attitude wasn't right. A shame because the A340 is my favourite airliner. I hope we get a decent version of it someday.I can also recommend the E-jets. And you might also like to take a look at the Quality Wings 757. Ian