I have several payware GA planes in my FS9 stable. I added one more this week--the RealAir SF.260.Nothing I have flown in FS2002 or FS9 compares to the RealAir SF.260, which is seemingly built out of magic, and puts the fun back in this hobby. I know this plane has been around for a while, but for some reason it hadn't interested me. I am usually looking for my default GA plane when I'm buying a payware, and I guess I felt that the SF.260 was more suited to acrobatics than VFR cruising.After finally getting a hold of this thing, I only wish I could step back in time and buy it when it first came out. This plane is gorgeous to look at, has the best VC I've used, and flies like a dream. It is incredibly stable, but very agile. It's great to be able to side slip and burn off some altitude in a hurry. The bubble canopy makes you feel like you are on top of the world. Simply put, this will be my default GA plane until I see what Microsoft has to offer in FS2006.The best thing--frame rates in this beauty are very high ... I've tested it against several other payware planes and it beats them all in terms of fps performance, despite the level of detail it provides!Besides my recommendation for the SF.260, I also wanted to offer some praise to RealAir for their incredible customer service. I had an issue that was resolved quickly and with extreme graciousness on the part of Rob Young.I know this sounds like a payed endoresement ;), but I don't care. Sometimes you just have to share your happiness, especially when there is so much negativity in this hobby.

Amen to your oi ;) I know exactly how you feel, RealAir's SF.260 is such an amazing plane that anything else pales in comparison.VOlker :]

Its a truly fantastic plane. I've spent hours over the past few days since I got it flying around in it. I can't stop panning around that VC, it is so incredibly crisp and clean...and I agree about the framerates too. Very well optimized.

I share your points of view, guys !!! SF260 is a remarkable aircraft. But don't forget Decathlon. They have both their particularities. The first one can forgive pilot's error that second one doesn't tolerate.Big thanks to Mr Young and Mr Moloney for providing us these aircrafts. I hope their current motivations are still the same as first ones in order for satisfied customers as I am to benefit from their next great projects.Few words about support for finishing : I think it has no equal !!Best regards, Vincent

Hear hear! Realair is top notch.Dave

I agree. The SF260 is an excellent value for the money. It is a work of art in FS2004, both visually and flight model wise.Tony

I could not agree more... the Marchetti is truly "as good as it gets" right now..If you are looking for your next purchase, I would also recommend the RealAir Decathlon.. made by the same team and just as perfect..

I too have recently purchased the SF260 and I agree entirely with the first post. I am particularly impressed with the frame rates (very important to us mortals without the latest hardware;-)) - this is the first payware aircraft I can remember purchasing that seems to have no effect on frames (whilst otherwise still being a huge improvement on the default planes).Boogie.

Agree with all said.After crashing into the sea off EGJJ in my PMDG 737 last night (not sure what went wrong - must have been tired;-)) my finger hovered over the "exit" button in FS2004 but...I hesitated and decided (at 12.57am) to have one final flight in the RealAir SF-260.FsMetar supplied the free weather data (right up to date!) UK2000 supplied the Jersey Airport scenery (thanks Gary..) FS Genesis supplied the bumps and dips, FS2004 supplied the fantastic weather colours and textures and SF-260 took me (or did I take it?) on a couple of touch-and-goes at EGJJ before sleep caught up with me and I had to roll her back into the hanger.Definitely THE default aircraft for MSFS and delivered by a software company that understand service and professionalism (dare I say a rare thing among FS payware companies nowadays).Decathlon is fantastic as well - excellent for practising tail-dragging and a nimble aerobatic ace to boot.Adam

Yep, have to agree, RealAir makes great aircrafts and I love 'em. I have have the SF.260 and Decathlon in my hanger now. :)I also installed all the repaints for the SF.260 I could get my hands on here at Avsim. If you're wanting to do the same then what you do is install the FS2002 repaint, then open one of the FS2004 SF.260 default texture folders and copy/paste the files canopy.bmp, canopy_glass.bmp and pilot.bmp from there into the repaint that was made for FS2002.Cheers,Jim

Thank you all gentlemen. I'm glad you are enjoying both aircraft.Kind Regards,Rob Young - RealAir Simulations

Same for me!Please do more aircraft, Real Air!AC5

Well said Jimmy! Agree completely - one nice "Bird" and fun to fly!Erv KSDF

Have to agree, the SF 260 is one of the best planes ever made for FS. And the best of all is, I can enjoy it unspoiled and can do with my PC what I want without having to care about installations, IP Adresses or whatever.That really pays off, the reputation of Realairsimulations is close to 100%, while others that limit the number of installations or other hassles are somewhere below sea level regarding reputation here across the pond.Planes just made for simmers, very good. Mike

The Sf.260 is a fine airplane, and was one of my first payware purchases for FS2002.I do want to reiterate my similar enthusiasm for an airplane that I posted a vote for a while back - the T37 Tweet payware twin jet. Its side by side cockpit, aerobatic capabilities, great 2D panel, awesome VC, and a flight model that nails the real aircraft's numbers remind me of the Sf.260. Also, the external visual model is as good as anything out there, and it has 10 discrete repaints included. It is $5 more than the Sf.260's US $25 price. But, keep in mind that every single gauge in the airplane is custom-made, including the funky navigation gauge... see www.t37sim.com/pics/panel/main2.jpg.Also, recently the T37 guys released an incredible manual for the Tweet in Acrobat format. It should give you an idea of the depth of this airplane package. It includes details on T37 standard and emergency procedures, military pattern flying, navigation and instrument approaches using the T37's systems, scanned images of the real checklist, and much much more as the saying goes.http://www.t37sim.com/instruction_manual/enjoy,Dave Blevins