Hey Everyone,Just wondering what everyone's BEST pick is free/share/payware MD80 series? I prefer 2D over VC. Anyone?Gary Hawk

Gary,This is the best free one I know:http://efis.altervista.org/Samuli%20MD80.htmno fmc but it's no 'jump in and fly' deal either.regards,MarkXPHomeSP2/FS9.1/3.2HT/1GIG/X700pro256

Any repaints available for this model? Specifically thinking of AA Mike

These guys make the best DC-9s and MD80s IMHO.http://www.jetcityaircraft.com/home/index.htmlLee

Hi,I am personally waiting for this jewel from Flight 1. It looks very promising.

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_post...?TID=12413&PN=1Unfortunately the other MD80 systems from Lago & MD Max,which looked promising earlier, have unfortunately become a non or very poor support issue. So IMO they fall under the "no interest" segment for now. ;-)http://www.scandicair.com/images/Banner_douglas2.jpg

Mike,The included model is by SGA/FFX, but not the latest version (I think)You can just d'load the later md8x from the library here - look for a great AA from Corey Ford.regards,MarkXPHomeSP2/FS9.1/3.2HT/1GIG/X700pro256

checking daily at flight1 for news of the md80.........it's been 2 months since the announcement........could be any moment now.....I hope

First of all, forget about getting the Lago. It is a big piece of garbage.I have it and I ended up using the SGA newest model working together with Aldus MD-80 panel (all freeware). You can get the whole pack with sounds and everything here (even the AAL repaint you are looking for).http://efis.altervista.org/Samuli%20MD80.htmIt will need you to understand exactly what you want as it is in Italian.If by any chance you have Reality-XP GNS and JL4, I have a cfg for that panel to use the GNS as a FMC.Just drop me an e-mail to [email protected] and I will send the cfg (same if anyone else is interested).Leo

Leo,I was thinking about getting the Lago Maddog today. Please tell me why it's a piece of garbage, so I know for sure that I shouldn't get it.Thanks,Jeff

Lago suffers from the same illness as Captain Sim,..meaning that even as the product still needs more updates to be flyable as it should, they choose to stop all support for their products.If you check their forum,..you will have a hard time finding some answers from the Lago team the last two months or so. And if they try to make an effort in answering, the answers are arrogant and far from respect for their customers.So,..for me,..beeing a former Lago fan,...I have to say,...bye bye Lago !!! ;-)They really don

Staffan, So you're saying, it's not really flyable?Jeff

Jeff,Good you haven't done it yet. Simply don't do it.This my list after installing all available patches:VNAV: absolutely unusable at descent. I could give you many reasons why, but the final point is that it is unusable.Navigation: The approaches are totally bad configured. Normally the procedure will leave you at the last point before the final approach start. For example if you are coming to land in KDFW from the South, but you have to use any of the Rwys 17s or 18s, the last wp in the FP will be many miles to the South and you will have to figure yourself how to get to the North and do the approach. I always ended up using FSNAV and adding the wps by hand.Bad FDEs: If you have ASV with vertical winds enabled, the effect of an upwards or downwards current is totally irrealistic. If real ACs did like the Lago does, nobody would be able to leave the sits while flying or they would hit the ceiling with their heads ever time you have that type of turbulence.Autoland: unusableBugs that keep appearing: - A few times VNAV doesn't even work to climb- Sometimes the speed gets stuck at 220 Knots on final. When you disengage the AT and low down the speed to 140 Knts it becomes extremely difficult to control de elevator trim and you have to descend pulling the yoke to the max, and even in that case it is not unusual that you end up smashing yourself against the Rwy.To end, support is inexistent.So these things makes this AC a piece of garbage making any freeware superior in almost every aspect.Would you pay over $40 to get this AC?Use the Aldus model (link posted by me above) while you wait for F1 to release their MD80 (I just wonder how will that be), and you'll be a lot happier. The only thing it lacks is the FMC, but the rest looks as good as the Lago, the visual model is way superior, and it is better than the Lago in any other aspect too. It even Autolands pretty well.Leo

Hi Jeff,Staffan makes valid points regarding the lack of support by Lago, that can't be disputed.However, the product itself is very well done and has only minor bugs. For instance VNAV on descent tends to undershoot the VNAV PATH, but as in real life, ATC constraints usually preclude VNAV descents and the issue is easily avoided using a VS descent.Some things like the "Fuel Used" value in the FMC will be incorrect if you pause the sim for long periods of time, or fly at high sim rates, etc. There are no show-stopping bugs in the LAGO Maddog, and I love flying it. It has all the systems depth of LEVEL-D, albeit with an older airframe. Its not perfect, but then, LEVEL-D just released SP-2 so they must not have gotten it right the first time either... ;)I highly recommend the Maddog.Regards,Nick

Leo,Thanks for your detailed reply, I do have one question though when you were talking about navigation."Navigation: The approaches are totally bad configured. Normally the procedure will leave you at the last point before the final approach start. For example if you are coming to land in KDFW from the South, but you have to use any of the Rwys 17s or 18s, the last wp in the FP will be many miles to the South and you will have to figure yourself how to get to the North and do the approach. I always ended up using FSNAV and adding the wps by hand."I don't understand what you're saying here, but if you're talking about approaches, can't you just input the appropriate STAR?You know Lonny Payne is doing an MD80 panel, but I just found out it won't have a fully functioning FMC. This was the only reason I wanted to get the Lago Maddog, because it comes with an FMC. It's too bad, because there are a bunch of new MD80 types coming out and from what I understand, none of them will have an FMC.Jeff

Nick,This is interesting, I really don't know what to think now. You say it's fully modelled and others are saying it's garbage. Thank you for your reply although now I'm stuck wondering if I should get it after having read Staffan's and Leo's posts I wasn't going to get it, now you're saying it's as high fidelity as LDS 767, so i don't know.I may just get the SSW 310, like I wanted to originally a couple years ago.Jeff