The only default plane I use is the F 18, it is the best way to get a quick look around new scenery add ons. Other than that, well, I never use any and have not used it since 2008.

 

TheFrog had a good comment about payware snobs, I am one of them, PMDG or nothing lol. But I remember the endless fun I had with a freeware range of Airbus A330's and A340's. Prior to getting the PMDG 747, I flew those Airbuses more than anything else, since SAA ditched 747 on their longhaul flights. For FS9 I remember that I had a decent freeware MD-11 as well. There are some real gems out there in freeware. For anyone who doesn't care about it being the real plane to within 95% of the actual thing, freeware planes can be more fun than the default ones. That is certainly true for some helicopters that I have come across.

Lots of great mods for the default aircraft that improve both sound, realism and flight model. Metzger and Stolle has done lots of them. I also use the FS2004 aircraft on occasion. I like old aircraft, and there is hardly any good payware out there.

 

 

I think the stock Maule is one of the best VFR airplanes in the sim

 

I agree.  Often I'll take the Maule when I take a sightseeing trip in the PNW or Alaskan mountains.  Great frame rates as well.

 

 

I think the 'Payware only' snobs are missing out on a lot of stuff.

 

It's really not a matter of being a snob or of missing out.  I've flown all of the default planes that I'm interested in flying, and have quite a few hours in several of them, but I've found better planes of the types I enjoy and see no reason to use any of the defaults anymore.  I'm always open to good freeware as well, but I don't fly "everything", so many of the freeware planes I see recommended just aren't types that I enjoy flying.

 

Scott

Or it could be an indicator of just how lacking in detail and realism the default A/C are.

 

Regards,

 

Oh no doubt, huge details, but it still just boogles my mind that the complexity of the  737 is so vast that it brings a nearly 5.0ghz 6 core i7 to it's knees.  

I very rarely use the default planes. As many have mentioned I use one or two for testing a new setup in FSX. I lie some freeware (non-default), but lately I haver not been using those too much either...

I only fly default aircraft because I don't have any add-ons.

I load the default Cessna 172 first if I'm having trouble initializing a payware aircraft, technically I'm not flying it but is gets used.

Oh no doubt, huge details, but it still just boogles my mind that the complexity of the  737 is so vast that it brings a nearly 5.0ghz 6 core i7 to it's knees.  

I hear what you are saying. Really this whole problem is caused because our friends at MS walked away from FSX.

 

Regards,

Not too often.

 

But I would fly at least one if MS had not in its 'wisdom' decided not to include the Ford Trimotor in FSX. Dinosaurs like me will remember it was a default aircraft in FS2004. 

I don't know how well the pic will render the exquisite aluminium detailing on the fuselage and wings, not to mention the polished aluminium on those radials.

 

John

 

Have you tried this one?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzj2BVdabDo

I use the default 172 as my 'base' plane instead of the kite because I set it to how I want the plane to load and the trike does not have all the options.  Beats me why MS decided to make the trike the initial default for a primarily PLANE sim.

 

The other times I use default planes is for something no one has mentioned yet... multiplayer /  shared cockpit.  That is especially usefull for training, although now that we got screwed with Gamespy shutting MSFS off, setting up a working LAN connection to use shared cockpit is a bit of a hassel.

I fly the default trike once in awhile but that's it, I did have a ton of fun with the DC-3 back in FS9 though. 

Never fly them, never flew them, never will fly them.

Never. Why would I?

Great topic..my answer, never. I have actually removed most of the default aircraft. I have a lot of payware and never flew the defaults so they are gone. Any glitches, ie. from shared sound files etc.., have been replaced. The only one left is the Maule. All my AI traffic comes from a traffic addon.