I would like to know which Single engine complex airplane for cross country IFR would have the most realistic flying qualities and least software and installation problems. From what I about read about Carenado airplanes, they seems to have good products. I have flown real time singles from Taylorcraft to Piper arrows. Would appreciate any recommendations or experiences with any specific ones you fly or have flown in FSX. Thanksres

The RealAir Decathlon/Scout/Citabria package (complex taildragger with fixed gear - low and slow) and the RealAir Marchetti (retractable gear - faster). Simple installation and unparalleled flight models.Ken

If you want something that is fast, pretty, and easy to fly, either the Lionheart Bellanca Turbo Viking or the Orbx Lancair IV-P are both good choices. They both have lovely VCs, great flight models, and you can currently get either of them from www.flightsimstore.com for under 16 quid. Personally, I prefer the older Bellanca, in fact it is one of my favourite FSX aircraft of all. Stick the Reality XP GNS 530 in either of those and you'll have yourself a very fast, extremely convincing single-engine GA aircraft that can manage to get high enough over weather, go at extremely high speeds and navigate pretty much anywhere you like IFR.Carenedo's aircraft are always visually pleasing, but their flight models are not always the best, some are really great, others not so much, for example, the Carenado Piper PA32 Saratoga looks really good and it has some nice representations of original avionics such as a Century III, and it flies pretty well too, but I think the Flight Sim Developers Piper Saratoga II TC flies more like a real Saratoga does (some might disagree though). The FSD one isn't quite such a good visual model as the Carenado one, but it too has some nice avionics, with both glass and original steam cockpit variants. In short, if a Carenado aircraft takes your fancy, be sure to read a review paying attention to comments about the flight model.If you aren't too bothered about very high cruising speed, but really want a lot of challenges on IFR flights in tricky weather, then you might also consider the very recently released Aerosoft Diamond Katana 4X. This is because aside from all the nice features it has (and there are many) it does a very convincing job of icing effects (it builds up on the wings, jams the controls, mists the canopy etc). This means it is something that is particularly realistic and challenging to fly in IMC even though it is primarily an ab-initio trainer in real life. It is also designed to integrate the Reality XP GNS 530 in the VC with a simple click of a button, which is one of the many nice touches. Persistent wear and tear is one of several highly realistic features of this aircraft in FSX to the extent that it might also be thought of as a simulation of actually owning the aircraft as well as being able to fly it, since you can service or replace practically every single component on the thing and you even have to wash it once in a while since it gets covered in dead flies etc. It is fair to say that it should currently be regarded as the standard for others to beat when it comes to making GA aircraft for FSX.Al

For GA, probably one mentioned above, especially the RealAir planes, but best overall I would have to go with the A2A Spitfire with AccuSim! In the way it overrides the default flight dynamics It just takes it to a level, others can't. (Soon (Hopefully) to be eclipsed by the P-51D Mustang with Accu-Sim)

Yeah I agree, the A2A Spit is probably the best single-seater FSX aeroplane there is, but as much as I love the thing it is hardly ideal for modern-day IFR flights. On the other hand, if there are several Messerschmitt bf-109Es barring your way, it's the aircraft of choice. :( Al

The best one would be the Orbx Lancair. It's much faster than any Arrow you've flown though! I also recommend buying the Reality XP GNS (either 430w or 530w)http://fullterrain.com/product_lancair.htmlThe somewhat dated but still excellent RealAir SF260 would also be a good choice:http://realairsimulations.com/flash.php?page=sf26007_intro (plus there's a discount right now yay)The Carenado F33 bonanza is ok too:http://www.carenado.com/CarSite/Portal/index.php

Complex only or High Performance/Complex-some of those mentioned above are more than complex?There are lots of great aircraft the but latest/greatest taking use of the latest technology for me is the:Aerosoft DA20....not only everything modelled from preflight to icing to bug splats and wear and tear..a new high for GA aircraft in fs imho...simply amazing...Best light twin is the Milvz c310 ( I know not a single-but since high performance mentioned in this thread why not?)After that the Carenado F33/vtail (high performance/complex).

.. my favorite is the Commander 115 TC by FSD International, real fun ...

This is from memory: Complex = constant-speed-prop + retractable-gear + flaps..High-performance = more than 200hp..I.E.. A Cessna 182 is high-performance, but not complex... OR .. a Cessna 177RG is complex, but not high-performance ..

Thanks to all those who replied to my request for the best single engime complex airplane. I am leanimg to the Ceranado F 33 Bomanza for use on my mid ramge computer. What kind of frame rate loss has been experienced by anyone using the F33?AMD 3.4 CPUGeForce 7025 BoardNividia GTX 4604 MB RAM

While no real systems modeled I always fall back and enjoy the Pilatus PC-12 from Flight1It's as fast as a small jet

My vote is for the Lionheart EPIC LT. Turbo, single engine, glass cockpit. Great plane, fast, and modern. Give it a look.

Carenado's F33 is a good one, it's good on frame rates and it has a decent flight model that is a fair approximation of the real deal. Certainly a good choice for IFR, where it lives up to its less than flattering nickname of 'The Doctor Killer' LOL.Al

Thanks to all those who replied to my request for the best single engime complex airplane. I am leanimg to the Ceranado F 33 Bomanza for use on my mid ramge computer. What kind of frame rate loss has been experienced by anyone using the F33?AMD 3.4 CPUGeForce 7025 BoardNividia GTX 4604 MB RAM

The Carenado Bonanza is a good choice (my favorite single engine plane).Frame rates are good, and if you really want realism in the Bonanza,I would suggest equipping it with a set of Reality-XP FLT gauges.

+1 on the Carenado Bonanza.This airplane, in combination with the RXP gauges, really is nice. As much as I like many of the others mentioned here, I, too, have to say that the Bonanza is my favorite single-engine, for now anyway.My screenshot doesn't look too much different from Bert's but this it the V-tail version so the RXP gauges are a bit different to accommodate the differences between the holes in the VC. It's also a testament to the variety of options available with the RXP gauges.