I just got a sudden urge to fly a turboprop aircraft :)What's the best freeware or payware commuter turboprop? Should be in the livery of UK or Swiss airline.

Hi Jimmi,For freeware the Dante's Twin Otter is superb. Not sure if it comes in the liveries specified, but for just sheer fun it's hard to beat.Cheers,Todd

For freeware dh8-1004.zip plus update dh831004b.zip bit of a learning curve, but fun.For payware there are a few - FSD Cheyenne, Pss Dash8, PMD Beech 1900, and some I am missing.All the payware are good. Of course the is only my opinion--everbody has one.Farmer

NAMC YS-11.A fabulous freeware aircraft that rivals the Fanda Dash 8-300 mentioned above for complexity.

If you like to fly from the cockpit and love reality, Fanda's Dash 8 is the plane you're looking for.AFAIK no other turboprop is modeled as realistically as this one, sounds are amazing, flight dynamics perfectly match the supplied documents and the turboprop simulation has never been seen in FS before -as far as I know-, systems simulation exceeds payware quality, BUT visual model is poor -nothing too important for those looking to fly not to snap pictures-.Go here http://fandafans.fscentre.com/ for more info.I suggest you to also download the Hotspots add-on file, that package also includes -I think- a resized version of the panels for easier reading.Steep learning curve, but rewarding at the end, have fun.Carlos.

Agreed on the post regarding the Dash-8 above. I should add that the visual model used is MSFS own visual model, although the aircraft appears listed as an "original aircraft" in many file libraries--and essentially it is given the panel, FDE, etc....Dreamwings Design is working on a new visual model for the DASH8-400.... If you just want a nice visual model, Nick Botamer's EMB-120 is also a good choice... -John

>Agreed on the post regarding the Dash-8 above. I should add>that the visual model used is MSFS own visual model, although>the aircraft appears listed as an "original aircraft" in many>file libraries--and essentially it is given the panel, FDE,>etc....>>Dreamwings Design is working on a new visual model for the>DASH8-400.... >>If you just want a nice visual model, Nick Botamer's EMB-120>is also a good choice... >>-JohnI agree!Also, the AFG YS-11 is EXCELLENT!I personally don't like Fanda's Dash 8 but to each his own. :)

Fanda's dash 8 for sure.

"I personally don't like Fanda's Dash 8 but to each his own. :)"Really?, WOW, its not just because of the external model is it Shane? :-lolThe Fanda Dash is one of, if not the, best "systems" freeware planes out there, the systems are so realistic that it has been used to train real life Dash pilots.Also, for an extremely realistic Twin turbo, check out Matthias Lieberecht's Jetstream 31 panel, its has the most realistic turboprop startup system I have ever seen.CheersDan.

Dan, After reading this thread I downloaded this panel/airplane. I'm impressed with the amount of realism, but do you know of a way to magnify it, or are these eyes of mine to old for the panel. I had a hard time reading the gauges and labels. Dave Vega

Hi Dave,You can do it one of two ways, but only with the pop up panels.You can either drag the corners of the pop up windows to make them bigger or edit the panel.cfg file to make them bigger.But this does not solve the smallness of the main panel, the only soloution for this is the run 1280x1024 res.CheersDan.

If you want a commuter that is great to fly, go for the PMDG B1900D.For realism, add the JetLine2 gauges. (See recent avsim review of B1900).Lots of liveries available..

PMDG Beechcraft 1900

I will try that so much praised Fanta! I really like small turboprop commuters, such as the ATR.Regards,

Go to the Fanda web site...http://fandafans.fscentre.com/In the Freeware Dash8-300 section you will find the HotSpots panel. The "jumbo" version will give you larger versions of all the sub-panels, but not the main panel. You should also run FS in the highest resolution you can.Sidney Schwartz KPDX