Okay, okay, I know, I'm sure I'm not the first to ask this, but... there is just too much choice!!!I've flown with the PMDG 737 for a year now and I want to do something else. So I decided to get a nice small GA aircraft. But... which one to choose...? I want something with the same quality as the PMDG. I want it to be as real as possible. A cool virtual cockpit would be nice! I'm currently thinking about the Flight1 Cessna 172N Skyhawk or maybe the Carenado Cessna 210M (but maybe that one is too big already). I want to make small flights, hop from one airport to another. Maybe I should give the Carenado Piper Cherokee a try...? Or...?Problem is... I cannot buy them all and give them a try! I can only buy one! I read the reviews on Avsim and both were good. Are there any other good GA planes? With virtual cockpits that are just as good as the 2D ones? With all knobs working and so on? Photorealistic etc.?Before I forget: I also own the FSD Porter. Like it, loved it, but somehow it's too... weird... Just like it is in real life... ;) Don't know how to say it. Also, I really HATE FSD's online activation method... After a few re-installs of XP and few crashes of my hd, I already had to mail them 3 or 4 times in order to be able to install the plane again, which I BOUGHT! Very irritating having to wait a few days before someone was 'kind' enough te enable me to activate it once more... So I've had it with that plane, really...

Dreamfleet's Beechcraft Bonanza A36 is, in my opinion, probably the best simulated GA aircraft available at this time. Superb in every aspect.http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/Previews/A36/preview_home.html

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No doubt about it - RealAir's SF260. Super fun to fly and the best VC in the business...

I'd say the SF-260 is the best for pure flying, it's like a stripped down sportscar. But if you want to do cross-country flights the Bonanza is a better choice, with its advanced avionics and more comfortable flight behaviour it is comparable to a big luxury sedan. It certainly has an advanced panel, almost the PMDG of GA. It is also very good value for money at $25.-

I really like the flight1 421c.......

The Flight1 Bonanza is excellent but a bit tricked out compared to anything I might ever rent or afford to buy (I don't really need Darth Vader to tell me "gear is down for landing" ;-)) My "comfort" plane is Dreamfleet's Archer. It feels right in every way. It's a great platform for working on that virtual IFR certificate and I used it extensively during my private pilot training. The Dreamfleet 172 is very nicely done but I got bored of it quickly. I use it for pattern work once in awhile. The Cardinal is a lot of fun but you might find it "too weird" too. It grows on you and there is a great article on the real one in a current Plane and Pilot (I believe)When I feel like a twin - and who doesn't once in awhile ;-) - I regularly go back to the FSD Seneca, DF Cessna 310, or 421. If I had one GA plane in my hangar it would have to be the DF Archer though. IMO, if Dreamfleet and Carenado offer the same plane - pick Dreamfleet everytime.David

HEY, way cool, me too Spooky! One of my favs still, easy on he frames and a great VC.We should have a sticky that lists all the payware GA aircraft as this topic keeps coming up way to much lately (the search button is your friend!)Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

geerally i would say the most recent is the best. ohers may disagree but the later Coreado planes are better than the ealier DF ones. of those I have the DF bonanza is the best, but the then my DF archer is not quite as good as the later Cornado archer, but then their Cherokee s the best Piper (i have not tried the JF one yet). that said they are all pretty good whether they come from Corenado, DF, FSD, F1, JF, etc., etc. In the end it all depends on which plane you want. as an exeption to my rule that most recent is best i would say the Realair spitfire is better than the later JF spitfire, but then the RA only just beat the JF to the market, but to balence this out there are a lot more varients with the JF.

I'd say it depends on the type of flying you do.I've enjoyed these aircraft: Dehavilland DHC-2 Beaver by Aerosoft (payware) Piper PA28-161 Warrior II/III by Aussim (payware)* Piper J-3 Cub by Bill Lyons (freeware) Cessna 172 by Microsoft (default) Cessna 152 by Flight1 (payware)* Maule M-7-260 by Mikko Maliniemi (freeware) Beechcraft Baron 58TC by Siegfried Schaeffer (freeware) Howard 500 by Milton Shupe (freeware) Aero Commander 500 by Milton Shupe (freeware) Aero Commander 520 by Milton Shupe (freeware) Aero Commander 560A by Milton Shupe (freeware) Aero Commander 680 Super by Milton Shupe (freeware) Rockwell Turbo Commander 690B by Veneaviones Simulations Group (freeware) Rockwell Commander 500S Shrike by Milton Shupe (freeware) Note: * real-world flight-time logged in aircraft----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

The Flight1 C172R is one of the best small, modern GA planes out there. Definitely a good starting point. Their C152 is also very nice if you want something really basic as is the Aerosoft Katana (amazing VC!) and the Carenado Cherokee 180. The RealAir planes are also top-notch and very fun to fly. The Bonanza is maybe not quite what you're looking for (if you feel the C210 is too big) but it's also great.

My favorites single engine pistons in order of my esteem: F1 C172 DF A36 Bonanza Carenado Cherokee 180 and C210 Aussim Warrior

If you want realism, you can't go wrong with either the Flight 1 C172 or the Dreamfleet Bonanza.If you want to move up to something a little larger but equally as realistic and complex, take a look at the Aeroworx B200 King Air.Jim

The SF-260 is always a good choice. You can't go wrong with it. Also, the Conquest 441 (with the high res cockpit and 32-bit exterior textures. The 441 has one of the best VC's in regards to perspective...it just feels right. Enjoy your GA flights and take some time to do some site-seeing.

The Dreamfleet A36 is in my opinion the best GA aircraft in FS.