Which model(s) do you guys think responds best for manual flying? Freeware and payware comments welcome. Not looking for best FMC, textures, bells and whistles, etc....just best response to yolk and rudders. ITA

I don't know which one is "best" for hand flying but I do have both the FeelThere 737 classic and the iFly 737 NG and both are a pleasure to hand fly. I have flown the 737-200 in the real world and it handles beautifully. Both the iFly and FeelThere 737's seem to replicate the basic handling well. (I retired from flying many years ago so I can't claim more than what my memory tells me - it "feels right.")

 

Of the two, the iFly is by far the better value overall as a product. (iIn fairness to FeelThere, the iFly is a much newer product)

 

Cheers

Ian

The reason I asked about handling is that, at times (especially with real weather (AS6), I find it nearly impossible to hold a straight course on final. Also when I disengage the AP at 400ft to land, sometime the 737 (default and some freeware versions) will suddenly nose up and make recovery impossible and thus a go around. Does the iFly 737 handle these situations much better, or do you think it more pilot than aircraft?

"or do you think it more pilot than aircraft?" To be honest, it might the that. ^_^ Or it may be your controls - are you having similar problems with other aircraft?

 

I haven't flown the default 737 in years but as I recall it was very docile and really shouldn't be giving you any issues like you've described.

 

What I can tell you is that the iFly 737 is rock solid when you disengage AP. If you are already flying a stable captured ILS approach, disengaging AP should hardly be noticeable and should require minimal control inputs to continue approach to the flare, unless you're dealing with severe weather. The key word is "stable" approach.

 

Someone else may have some better advice, but for now make sure it's not an issue with your controls

Good luck

Ian

I would have to agree with the above comments. The iFLY 737 is rock stable (possibly even too stable as the 737 is quite nimble in the real world). It seems more stable and easier to hand fly than the much earlier PMDG 737. The good thing is with iFLY you get all the 737 NG variants with different thrust options as well as options for wide screen panels and winglets. It is very well done and the recently released feature pack justs makes it even better..

Thanks for the input, especially on how the iFly handles. I would say that probably in about 7 out of 10 times, I don't have this issue, but when it does happen it really messes up the whole flight.

Steve - are you certain it only happens with the 737??? My advice is try to replicate the same situation in another default aircraft that uses the same AP logic - the default 747 or 777. I truly don't think it's anything to do with the aircraft per se - it's probably an issue with your controllers. From what you described, it sounds like a severe out of trim situation. (Nose rising rapidly after AP disconnect) That shouldn't happen if the AP has normal LOC and GS capture. If the approach has been stable up to the point you disconnect, the aircraft should be properly trimmed and hand flying should be an easy transition. But if your controller is the issue, then it would make sense that disconnecting AP would result in control issues...

iFly 737 for sure.

 

Imagining all aircrafts in Fs9 are the same level as the iFly 737. I'd be a dead-meat body in front of the computer.

What you intresting B-737 original, classic or NG? For FSX or FS9?

The only time this happens to me is if I take-off using the keyboard instead of the joystick to raise the nose and then switch straight to autopilot. The aircraft 'remembers' the initial pitch trim and reinstates it when the autopilot is disconnected - causing a severe nose-up pitch.