An FSX NOOB here but if you enjoy fighter jets, I would recommend the MilViz F-86-30 Sabre. The VC detail is excellent and I'm told the flight model is remarkably accurate.

I'm also enjoying the Coolsky DC-9 classic. (As you might be able to tell, I've got a thing for steam gauges and old school navigation).

If the FS development world is a pyramid, I would put A2A at the top. They have essentially provided the Cessna 172 model for Redbird simulations. Redbird builds software/hardware specifically for flight training, used at flight schools. That is a testament to A2A's attention to detail with systems, FDE, fluid dynamics, proceedures, wear and tear...etc.

 

After A2A followed very closely by PMDG, then followed closely by RealAir, Baytower, Classics Hangar, VRS, Milviz, Aerosoft, Sibwings, Dodosim...etc, these guys all find great innovative ways to simulate things. For the most part these developers all build 'complete' airplanes, with good systems, FDE, vissuals and so on.

 

Alabeo makes some nice innovative planes that are pretty to look at with pretty good FDEs...tho they tend to lack some system depth. Likewise Carenado, Iris, Capt Sim...etc have made some nice planes but have been hit and miss.

 

This all highly subjective of course, and we all have different backgrounds as a base for our judgment

 

Cheers

TJ

Leonardo Software House MD82: great systems realism, great features, not so good graphics. Awesome plane tho, I love that thing

 

Majestic Software Q400: great systems, great graphics, amazing framerate. Really really good plane.

 

FSLabs Concorde X: awesome systems, mediocre graphics. Very unique experience, highly recommended

Carenado for general aviation and a2a for warbirds!

 

How many times are you going to repeat yourself? And Carenado is not high quality in anything except texture modeling. Zero system modeling and a realistic fde in only a few of their airplanes. Not even close to PMDG quality. They are the Captain Sim of general aviation.

Zero system modelling is something of an exaggeration. The only thing that I can find in their C-152 that doesn't work is the fuel on/off switch - and that was something I never used in the 50some rw hours I had in them...

Zero system modelling is something of an exaggeration. The only thing that I can find in their C-152 that doesn't work is the fuel on/off switch - and that was something I never used in the 50some rw hours I had in them...

 

They don't even model the engines right. I don't know any of their addons that have actual realistic temperature, torque, fuel systems, their new glass panels don't have proper modeling nor the ability to update navdata. A couple addons have updated FDE's to make them fly nice but you still can't really fly them by the numbers. RealAir, Eaglesoft and Milviz have better realistic GA and corporate aircraft.

Hmm, I thought the guy who did the recent Carenado FDEs is the same guy who do the FDE for Milviz

I have quite a range of add on aircraft. In Tier 1 I'd put:

 

 - Realair Turbo Duke

- FSL Concorde X (That thing is almost too realistic!)

- Majestic Q400

- PMDG JS4100

- PMDG 737 NGX

- PMDG MD-11

- PMDG 747

- Flight1 ATR72

- Level D 767 (Starting to age but systems simulation is still top notch)

- Coolsky/McPhat DC-9 (This is amazing also very fun navigating the "proper way" by Radio Navigation)

- Simcheck A300 

Hmm, I thought the guy who did the recent Carenado FDEs is the same guy who do the FDE for Milviz

Yes.... Except their latest TBM. From the mix master to the king air 200 I think. Those are the ones to get. Most have RXP gauges too.