I have bought two payware addon planes, Meridian and PMDG Express B1900D. Know I'm interested to get at least one more twin prop.After asking before here and read other threads my impression isthat the Dreamworld Cessna 310 and FDF Panther Navajo and the new The Aeroworx Beechcraft Super King Air is the best options (do you agree?)But should I buy one or two (and if so which?) or all? Of course I don't wan't two planes that are very similar and offers the same thing. The plan I choose should offer new features and strong points like the 'best of all' in some regard.Also it's not only a question about money but also time. I don't have unlimitid time for flysim and reading documentation. I'm still not through the Meridian documentation. I won't at any rate buy all at once so even planes that are not ready yet could be considered.Regarding the two planes I already have there is one thing I didn't like. The panel in B1900D. The gauges are small and difficult (sometimes even impossible) to read. Also the text in the Meridian annunciator panel is small and difficult to read.I wan't my next planes to be devoid of these disadvantages.

I have all three twins you mentioned and they are all excellent. The Cessna 310 is the smallest and is typical of a privately owned GA twin. It has a somewhat "vintage" feel to it, the gauges and cockpit being from the 60's.The Panther is a step up in size, is often used as a commercial or private business aircraft. Like the 310, it is not pressurized, but can fly above 10,000 with use of oxygen. It has a very stable flight model and makes an excellent IFR aircraft. The Panther has damage modeling, so you have to pay attention to the aircraft and engine limitations (This can be switched off, if desired)The B200 is a completely different type - it is a fairly complex turboprop with no less than 11 pop up screens. It has damage modeling, cabin pressurization, and is more demanding to fly. It has an extensive pilot operating handbook (POH) that really needs to be studied. It is visually stunning, but also a bit tough on frame rates. Of the 3, the B200 is the most capable, in terms of speed, altitude, and range.All three have excellent flight models, great customer support, and are fun to fly. Hope this helps a bit to sort out their characteristics. Dale

>The Panther is a step up in size, is often used as a>commercial or private business aircraft. Like the 310, it is>not pressurized, but can fly above 10,000 with use of oxygen.Is this in any way simulated in FS?>The B200 is a completely different type - it is a fairly>complex turboprop with no less than 11 pop up screens. It has>damage modeling, cabin pressurization, and is more demanding>to fly. It has an extensive pilot operating handbook (POH)What do you mean with more demanding to fly? Difficult to handfly?Extensive documentation reading needed? More complex and therefore more things that has to be done in the plane?>that really needs to be studied. It is visually stunning, but>also a bit tough on frame rates. Of the 3, the B200 is the>most capable, in terms of speed, altitude, and range.>The most significant thing that bogs down for example the Meridian for me is a lot of harddrive accesss. Is it CPU power it needs or memory?I haveAthlon XP 2400+512 M PC333 RAM (consider to upgrade to 1024 M)Geforce4 MMX 440 64 M DDR graphics card (consider upgrading to ATI 9800 PRO 128M)Do I need to make the considered upgrade for the B200?>All three have excellent flight models, great customer>support, and are fun to fly. Hope this helps a bit to sort out>their characteristics. >It did

jfri: Here are my opinions on what I would get, but as this is free advice, take it for what it's worth! I too enjoy flying the twins, from pistons to turboprops, and occasionally ( don't tell anyone! ) the odd twin jet. Like you, my flying time is limited to short flights, but I love those big manuals! When not able to fly, what better way to spend a few minutes here and there than take that freshly printed 50, 100, or more page manual and try to gleen a few snippets of info for the next flight? I have the B1900, and as you have found out it is a wonderful plane, and not too much involved to get her flying right. I purchased the Reality XP Jetline2 gauges, which was a good investment, and they work great in it, along with numerous other planes. Well worth the money in lieu of another aircraft.I still enjoy flying Flight1's Cessna 421. Easy to hand fly and trim, but the state of the art has advanced vis a vis the vc regarding the gauge updating. I would gladly pay a reasonable price for an upgrade, but unfortunately I do not think it is possible.Now for something you may not have considered. The MAAM DC-3 is now shipping! I have mine on order, along with many others. I purchased their previous version and was extremely pleased. I also have their B-25. Nothing like the great rumble of a radial engine! Until the Flight Factory Simulations Saab 340 comes out, this will be my last purchase for quite some time. Just my 2 cents, good luck with your next flightsim purchase!

The Panther is great up to 12,000', where oxygen masks must then be donned. This isn't modeled in FS, but in keeping with the most reality one would certainly want to be sucking on a bottle of O2 above that altitude. As I've done that alot in RW, and don't like it, I'll stay with a pressurized aircraft in my simming.The 310 is very much the same, but doesn't have as many virtual amenities as the Panther. As tanker stated, the 310 is more of a GA aircraft.The B200 is not a simple aircraft to fly. It handflies wonderfully, but it is a complex challenge. Bottom line... you'll not just jump in and crank the thing up to go fly. It requires that the checklist be followed (which is a huge part of the fun in flying the airplane). The B200 isn't for those who like to start their flight by pressing CTRL+E. It begs the attention of the pilot that any RW airplane does.Hope this helps,Greg

>>The Panther is a step up in size, is often used as a>>commercial or private business aircraft. Like the 310, it is>>not pressurized, but can fly above 10,000 with use of>oxygen.>>Is this in any way simulated in FS?The aircraft is capable of flying much higher (I have done FL240). It has an oxygen switch, but I doubt it does anything>>>The B200 is a completely different type - it is a fairly>>complex turboprop with no less than 11 pop up screens. It>has>>damage modeling, cabin pressurization, and is more demanding>>to fly. It has an extensive pilot operating handbook (POH)>>What do you mean with more demanding to fly? Difficult to>handfly?>Extensive documentation reading needed? More complex and>therefore more things that has to be done in the plane?I think the plane flies very well, but it is a heavy aircraft and will not respond to roll inputs like an F-16 fighter. You have to "stay ahead" of this aircraft and keep the controls in trim. It is definitely more challenging to land, especally on a short runway, than the default 172.>>>that really needs to be studied. It is visually stunning,>but>>also a bit tough on frame rates. Of the 3, the B200 is the>>most capable, in terms of speed, altitude, and range.>>>The most significant thing that bogs down for example the>Meridian for me is a lot of harddrive accesss. Is it CPU power>it needs or memory?>I have>Athlon XP 2400+>512 M PC333 RAM (consider to upgrade to 1024 M)>Geforce4 MMX 440 64 M DDR graphics card (consider upgrading to>ATI 9800 PRO 128M)>Do I need to make the considered upgrade for the B200?I would think your processor and memory are sufficient for the B-200. I don't get any hard drive access during flight, so I assume it is CPU intensive. Your graphics card, however, may not be up to the task - you may want to consult with the experts over at FFSDale

So the Panther and 310 are similar. Then maybe it's no good idea to get both. That leads to the question of which to choose.The B200 obviuosly is different and offer new challanges compared to what I already have.

Hey man,As explained, your system seems fine, minus your video card. Not that it can't handle it, it will, but the frames will suffer. The ATI would obviously bring you to a "No problems" status ;).

Hello,I have also all of the mentioned planes and I must say that Kingair 200 is really the best addon. It is realistic and fun to fly. Though it requires a bit higher resources than others. I also like the C310, but its a bit old addon now and it doesn't have all the FS2004 VC effects simulated.

Just to add to the mix, there is one twin you haven't mentioned, the F1 Cessna 441. Have a look and see if its worth considering !Alastair

I have the 310 and spend a lot of time in it. It is a challenging aircraft to fly - very nimble and a tad unsteady with all that weight out on the end of the wings in the aux. tanks. It is a real handful in cross winds with that big tail. Love the night lighting in the 2d panels - you can turn off the dome light in this plane. And with the Garmin from Reality XP, it is a blast to go off exploring less populated areas. I fly mine out of Orcas Island, where it shares tie-down space with the F-1 Conquest and the new MAAM DC-3. You won't go wrong with the DF product.Colin

>Just to add to the mix, there is one twin you haven't>mentioned, the F1 Cessna 441. Have a look and see if its worth>considering !>The reason for the included plane wasB200 , has been described as being of samw quality as the PMDG 700NG which are supposed to be extremely good.CM310, described as the most complete packageThe Panther, described in the Avsim review as having the best flightmodel of any planeI pay attention to 'best of' in some regard. Can the F1 Cessna 441show any reviews stating it's best of all in some regard?

>The Panther has damage modeling, so you have to pay>attention to the aircraft and engine limitations (This can be>switched off, if desired)>>. >>DaleHow do you switch of this damage modeling thing?

I owned a C310 ITRW and had quite a few hours in a Navajo Chiefton...similar to the Panter. These add-ons are about as good as they get.I also agree that the MAAM DC3 is a GREAT add-on.The Aeroworx King Air should be very seriously considered since it gives you a turbo-prob machine that is totally outstanding from virtually every point of view.Regards,Jim

"It has an oxygen switch, but I doubt it does anything"Hmm, has anyone done this gauge yet? I'm imagining a sensor that recognizes when you've been flying higher than X number of feet for X number of hours, and, if you haven't flipped the oxygen switch, it starts to make the screen get blurry or darker, and eventually crashes you. Also, it keeps track of the amount of oxygen, and, if you don't recharge the tanks, you eventually run out with the applicable consequences.Thomas