OK, I'm mainly a low and slow GA flyer, but I've got the PMDG737 and F1 ATR-72 and every now and then I do like to fly the more complex airliners and work the flight management systems. I've just never really gotten in to it.I'm ready to try something new and maybe get a little more hardcore, and was waiting for the PMDG release of their 747 to decide what to buy. Forgetting about price, which airliner would you recommend for realism and quality, the LDS767 or PMDG747?I'm not looking for a laundry list of the good and bad points for each, just a general recommendation for someone like me who doesn't normally fly airliners but wants to get more into it with one of the newer aircraft. Thanks.

Neil:Comparing the LDS 763 to the PMDG 744 would be like comparing a BMW to a Mercedes-Benz. They BOTH are of the utmost quality and realism that FS has to offer. They BOTH push the envelope to new heights, they BOTH offer a total immersive environment in which to fly and a huge sense of personal satisfaction. They BOTH also require dedication and the willingness to RTFM to be flown properly. That said, The PMDG 744 is probably the most complex AC simulation for MSFS to date and the VC smoothness blows every other add-on out of the water. Imagine, 2D panel smoothness and crispness in a total 3D environment with no need for cardboard cutout popups! It is very close to the holy grail of VCs that not even the LDS 767 can match.The LDS on the other hand is more mature, and is about to be patched for the second time whereas the 744 is still cutting its teeth and bugs being uncovered...albeit, the vast majority of bugs are user generated and the aircraft is extremely flyable as it is!The Queen has a virtual cabin, the 767 does not. The 767 has wing views, the Queen does not. The Queen has a more immersive VC than the 767 but both 2D panels are lackluster (thank God I don't use the 2D panel). Both fly like a dream, offer extremely complex flight deck functionality but the Queen's VC has no 2D Popups whereas the 767 has FMC, Radio, AFDS and Overhead popups.So, I am afraid, this is not much help. Flip a coin or spin a wheel, they are 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other. I own both and love both and couldn't think of MSFS without out both. If "BOTH" is an option for you, then I highly recommend both!Regards,Mike T.

Neil:I'll second what Mike says. Both are wonderful products and represent the very latest is pushing the envelope with FS. The ATR is also a great product in the turbo-prop variety. I'm sure these products do things with FS9 that more than a few developers at MS didn't quite imagine possible. Some of the features common to both:- custom avionics including sophisticated CDU/FMS and autopilot logic- custom modeling of most systems beyond what FS provides internally (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc)- detailed models including the now mandatory flex wings- virtual cockpits that push the limitBoth development teams have a prior succesful product under their belts, and the expertise and experience shows. The PMDG being just released is later in the development cycle than the 767, and as such includes a few more ooh-ahs than the LevelD just because the technology progressed this much. PMDG certainly had the advantage of having a LevelD for 6 months (telltale sign - screenshots of the 747 showing the LevelD menu), which probably gives them a leg up in terms of late development cycle feature changes.I only have a few hours with the Queen (I was unable to download the product at all because it appears that PMDG and a few other sites got into a bit of a bandwidth bind because of this product release) - I finally got it last night and didn't get much sleep).I'm still stunned by the virtual cockpit and the immersion.An example of detail: I was taxiing the Queen, and the wings oscillated up and down. If only we had heat blur, we'd have it made.You can't go wrong with either birds, these represent the very latest in high end PC based simulation. Based on what I've seen from the "commercial" simulators, aside from the actual replica of the real cockpits, the motion and the projection systems, the folks at PMDG and LevelD are showing commercial simulation companies how it's done.

Thanks guys. That's exactly what I was looking for. Since I'm a VC junkie with my TrackIR, it sounds like the 747 might be the slightly better option. It also sounds like a huge challenge just to get her pushed back from the gate, so I'm sure it will be worth it. :-)

A huge challenge? No way, a huge challenge is getting the Ready for Pushback 747-200 aircraft started and pushed back from a cold and dark cockpit. After that, these computer driven airplanes are pieces of cake! I too think the PMDG offering is the best, and after a patch and the Freighter model it will be perfect

LevelD, Value for the money. And since your a VC Junkie, you'll love the LevelD's VC.55 Bucks is too much for a "Comparable AC" as you guys have put it.You can get better value with the LevelD's more competative pricing.

Go for the PMDG 747!Ulf B

For the size of the airplane, it is priced accordingly.

>For the size of the airplane, it is priced accordingly.You`r kidding right??You can`t judge the price on the aircraft size. If a developer released a small GA plane like a C182 with G1000 avionics and all bells and whistles, do you think they should price the product by it`s size compared to the PMDG 744 or the LDS 767? I really would like that since i`m a GA flyer, but that would be a weird logic.Just my humble opinion.regardsBj

Do you have the PMDG?Tony

Hahah, I think you missed the Sarcasm.

Both!Your only here for a little while, enjoy it to the full.Dave T. .........On the lovely warm Devon Riviera and active 'FlightSim User's Group' member at http://www.flightsimgrpuk.free-online.co.uk/

>LevelD, Value for the money. And since your a VC Junkie,>you'll love the LevelD's VC.>>55 Bucks is too much for a "Comparable AC" as you guys have>put it.>>You can get better value with the LevelD's more competative>pricing.>Exactly. They both offer the same immersion and systems modelling. But the 767 is cheaper. Therefore it's superior because the value-expanse rate is better.

The RFP 747-200 is a more complex sim than the PMDG 744 in terms of actual procedures. It's just not as pretty.RH

Hmm, no comments on sound? LD767 rules in this department. PMDG 747 doesn't sound very much different from the NG in terms of quality. Keith