Friendlypanel Navajo - I forgot it could be like this!

Over the years I have tricked out FS with just about everything that came down the pike. I did it so gradually that until just recently I didn't realize how much my modest PC's performance had degraded. I've learned to live with the micro and macro stutters, the more than occasional blurry texture, and having to adjust AI depending on how many clouds were in the sky (both take up a lot of PC power).I have a fairly complete home cockpit with Project Magenta software on flat panel monitors and pretty much everything controlled with GoFlight hardware. I'm a private pilot who doesn't get to fly much so I use the sim almost daily to stay current (if not legally, at least in my mind).The Friendlypanel Navajo came out at a good time for me. I've been flying the FSD Aerostar almost exclusively because it is one of the few complex models that doesn't bring my system to its needs. Most other new releases, including the great Aeroworx B200, required me to strip their VCs of everything just to be able to run them smoothly (again, not a big problem because I have the gauges on the flat panels).I downloaded it and flew it up and down Colorado's Front Range tonight and it was a really nice change. Many of you are going to hate this thing. No question the outside is butt ugly. Not just the model but the colors too. The 2D panel looks right out of FS98 (well, maybe 2000). Very simple gauges and bitmaps but everything you need is indeed there (well, actually I haven't found the starter yet). The VC is minimalistic too but it really is all I need. I just want enough of a reference so when I turn my head with TrackIR, I know where I am looking.You won't need a checklist for this baby! No cabin pressure controls or hydraulic systems (no idea if the real one has them anyway!). What is extraordinary IMO is how smooth the sim can be when it isn't overburdened with eye candy. I can crank everything up again - AI, clouds, autogen - and it is still silky smooth. The plane seems to fly very well. No 'sticky runway' syndrome on takeoff (if you know what I mean). It behaves like a plane, stalls like a plane, even yaws with an engine out. It lands well and taxis fine. The engines sound fine but they must be the default Baron sounds - resonance and all.Again, those of you who count the number of rivets in the model to see how realistic it is will hate this. If the voyeur in you has you flying from the external view most of the time, keep your money. If you really long to be a flight engineer on a 727 and just can't live without an accurately modeled galley bus, then don't bother. But, if you want a good flier that won't tax your system while you showoff your tricked out sim to friends, this might be for you.Honestly, I didn't even look to see how much 17Eur is these days. It feels just a bit pricey because there are some great planes out there in that price range (or free!) that probably had more time put into them. If you are price sensitive and happy with freeware then you might want to save your money. I expect I will be flying this a lot though especially when the clouds are building or I'm going into LAX.David