I am looking to fly a F50 in FS9, but I am a little unhappy with what I have found. The Dreamwings F50 is a beautiful visual model and there are most repaints that I want. However, I am not happy yet with panels and flight dynamics. There is the one by VirtualCol, but it's clumsy to use and the flight dynamics seem to be off. Is there anything else that is good? On simmarket they advertize a PAOB product. How is that? Visual? Systems depth/panel?ThanksChris

I don´t have the PAOB but it seems to be a good one. It should deserve a second view.

Systemswise, the PAOB Fokker is the same as Espen's freeware panel (except for CTDs, I hope). In my opinion, the hassle of swapping the EHSI for another one that works is noth worth the $37 PAOB charges for their aircraft you want to avoid the CTDs. I've heard, however, that PAOB aircraft are nice for hand-flying. And its VC is the best of the three.Virtualcol's systems are not the best (what do you ask for $12?), but they are the only ones that offer some kind of FMC (very basic). Ironically, I prefer the feel of the Virtualcol Fokker than that of the Dreamwings bird, but I'm not a pilot. Take into account that the Dreamwings and PAOB Fokkers are modeled after the standard F-50 (with PW-125B engines), while Virtualcol's one is modeled after the version Avianca has (with the more powerful PW-127B engines). I still prefer the visual model and availability of repaints of the Dreamwings F-50. That, some good PW-125 (or 127) sounds and Espen's panel (with another EHSI) should be a very good deal if you don't miss virtual cockpits.Best regards from Colombia,Luis Miguel

Systemswise, the PAOB Fokker is the same as Espen's freeware panel (except for CTDs, I hope). In my opinion, the hassle of swapping the EHSI for another one that works is noth worth the $37 PAOB charges for their aircraft you want to avoid the CTDs. I've heard, however, that PAOB aircraft are nice for hand-flying. And its VC is the best of the three.Virtualcol's systems are not the best (what do you ask for $12?), but they are the only ones that offer some kind of FMC (very basic). Ironically, I prefer the feel of the Virtualcol Fokker than that of the Dreamwings bird, but I'm not a pilot. Take into account that the Dreamwings and PAOB Fokkers are modeled after the standard F-50 (with PW-125B engines), while Virtualcol's one is modeled after the version Avianca has (with the more powerful PW-127B engines). I still prefer the visual model and availability of repaints of the Dreamwings F-50. That, some good PW-125 (or 127) sounds and Espen's panel (with another EHSI) should be a very good deal if you don't miss virtual cockpits.Best regards from Colombia,Luis Miguel

Luis Miguel, thank you very much for that detailed advice. Looks like I'll be going with the combi of Dreamwings and the freeware panel then. It's not so much the money I mind - I'd be prepared to pay even USD 50 for a good plane - but somehow I find the Dreamwings visual and the choice of repaints more compelling.You mention a CTD problem - that is a CTD problem with the freeware panel? How can it be circumvented?Also, I see that you are from Colombia. I am a great fan of "challenging approaches" and Colombia has some really nice ones (downtown Medellin!!), but I certainly do not know all of them. In your knowledge of the country and its airfields, which ones are challenging for approach and landing from a terrain and/or procedure point of view?Thanks in advanceChris

You mention a CTD problem - that is a CTD problem with the freeware panel? How can it be circumvented?

Yes, this is the drawback of the freeware version. The solution is to replace the EHSI for another one that works, such as the one from the default 737. Or maye you would like to retrofit the gauges from Integrated Simavionics, just like this:I haven't tried them, but someone will try to convince you to do so :(

Also, I see that you are from Colombia. I am a great fan of "challenging approaches" and Colombia has some really nice ones (downtown Medellin!!), but I certainly do not know all of them. In your knowledge of the country and its airfields, which ones are challenging for approach and landing from a terrain and/or procedure point of view?

I see you have some good knowledge about Colombia, Chris. Medellín and Manizales (SKMZ) are challenging approaches because of terrain. Medellín is special because it has the 2nd place in aircrat movements in Colombia (after SKBO). In its glory days, 727s, 737s, 707s and even A300s used to land there regularly. Now, because of NIMBYs, the biggest plane allowed there is an E170 and the presidential BBJ.Speaking of Bogotá, SKBO has one of my favorite approaches: the VOR-Charlie approach. It's a circle-to-land approach to runways 31 L/R, but you have to be aware of the distance to the BOG VOR, so that you don't end up being too close to the cerros and the Nariño Palace (presidential house). Try that in a heavy. Also, SKBO has some crazy departures, specially if going from the 13 L/R runways to the southeast.Bucaramanga (SKBG, my hometown) has also its appeal: cliffs before and after the runway. Now it has an ILS, but try a visual approach. The same thing can be said about Pasto (SKPS), but I've never flown there in the sim. Santa Marta (SKSM) is similar, but with water instead of cliffs. Yo have to be very careful with the approach at SKSM: some years ago, a pilot didn't do so and ended up with a brand-new E190 in the sea. Luckily, brakes in FS are overpowered comparing with the real-world ones.Another tough one is Málaga (SKLA): a tiny airfield with no scheduled service, a 3200 ft runway with an elevation of 6700 ft...also with cliffs everywhere.Oops, looks like I got excited, sorry for hijacking the thread. Just for closing the off-topic, your best bet would be flying to airports in the Cordilleras (mountain ranges) and maybe the Pacific coast too. You need a good mesh for Colombia, Avsim and Virtualcol have some good freeware ones.Best regards from Colombia,Luis Miguel

Luis MiguelNo worries about "hijacking", I don't think anyone else is following this thread. And I certainly welcome your excitement and sharing of local "Colombian challenges"!! I thought I knew most difficult airport around the world and I have a nice list of about 70 of them. But I think I'll very soon will make tue acquaintance of some new places like Malaga.Back to the topic at hand: that panel looks awesome!! I understand this is the freeware panel mixed with some Simviation gauges, correct?Could you point me to somewhere where I can find an explanation of how to build them in? How did you do it?Thanks again, you have been incredibly helpful in me discovering a plane that I think I'll like and more than that some new challenging airports in the Andes.CheersChris

Back to the topic at hand: that panel looks awesome!! I understand this is the freeware panel mixed with some Simviation gauges, correct?Could you point me to somewhere where I can find an explanation of how to build them in? How did you do it?

Actually, I didn't build it, Chris. The image I posted is also a link to a panel retrofit posted at the page of Integrated Simavionics. It's just a panel.cfg file, you'll only need to download it, extract it, paste it into the panel folder (backup your original panel.cfg) and enjoy it. As far as I understand, the hard part (adding the gauges to the panel) is already done.

Thanks again, you have been incredibly helpful in me discovering a plane that I think I'll like and more than that some new challenging airports in the Andes.

You're welcome, I hope you like them (the plane and the airports).Best regards from Colombia,Luis Miguel