Yep, I have the Carenado F-33 Bonanza and have enjoyed it a lot, but it's getting a little long in the tooth and there's no comparison to the Dreamfleet Bonanza.Jim

>The singles I've narrowed down to Carenado's Beechcraft>Bonanza F33A and FSD's Commander 115 TC. Any comments on>these last two are really appreciated.I think you should not dismiss RealAir SF260. It has the smoothest gauges and a heck of a flight model!Marco

HelloI have both the Carenado and the C115, out of the two the Commander 115TC is the nicest, If you want a nice beechcraft single then the Dreamfleet A36 is more up to date than the Carenado althought if you are getting the Dreamfleet baron 58 then the panel and systems may be too similar.The realair SF260 is a classic with the smoothest gauges around and a really great FDE.I have never regretted getting the FSD commander 115TC and still fly it a lot so if you are not a fan of the SF260 then this is the one i would recommend.At the moment i can't get enought of the Freeware Socata TBM700 in the library, this is a great aircraft to fly and will keep a lot of my freeware in the hanger over christmas.

In my opinion regarding payware quality and value nothing comes close right now to the Dreamfleet Beech A36. Look on the front page and you will see the newest model even incorporates more RealityXP goodies. My oh my the new XP gauge sure is smooth, the weather radar is neat, and the 430 aint too bad. Sure, these XP features can only be used for this aircraft but it sure is a nice package that displays the leading edge technology for FS2004. On the bad or good side; the aircraft will seem very slow compared to jets or turboprops, so I mainly use it for the shorter flights.Matt

I concur with everything he's said. I've recently upgraded the DF Bonanza to the RealityXP FlightLine T gauges throughout, and it has given me, by far, the most fluid flight simming experience I've ever had. I have a number of hours recently in a Debonair, which is essentially an old Bonanza, and DF has nailed everything except perhaps the ground effect (a touch too little - the Deb will float a bit more).Tied for that (if you don't want the GPS or plan on adding one later) is the F1 172. Really great product.Also give props to the Aeroworx B200. It taxes my system a bit too much, but is a pleasure to fly (I think it might float a bit too much on final!).Best,

I purchased the DF Baron 58... very nice. It's #### good to get away from the jets and fly into smaller airports... it sounds cheesy but it opens up a whole nother world in FS9.

Thanks for the link Barry. I somehow missed this one but I'm signed up now. What a hoot...I've even reinstalled some GA add-ons that I haven't flown for over a year. Great stuff.Doug

It's a great product, I'm sure you will enjoy it.Now you get to have fun stitting behind those big jets waiting in line to take-off at the busy airports feeling very very small ;)Seriously, look for places to fly that you would not in the 'heavies' flying lower, (although the Baron will get you to pretty high altitudes), is great with good mesh, landclass, and sceneries....somewhere between 4-8,000 feet. Unfortunately, as I fly in 'real weather/seasons/date', it is pretty cloudy everywhere I'm flying these days, and still find myself having to go to 10-11,000 to get out of the 'soup'.I used to fly 'the big jets' some years ago, and never went back yet, as the GA stuff for me is more 'tangible' to where I'm flying 'at'. I also try going back and only flying those VOR/NBD low routes with the NAV1 like I used to *without* the GPS (only using it for reference); And as last night with the new Stationair 'test flight', without autopilot too.Shoot some visual landings using VOR/NBD approaches...It gets so easy to hit the autopilot functions with GPS and you loose touch with 'hands-on' flying which most of us would do in real life.Have fun... ;)

I agree that GPS should be avoided, if possible. You'll know why, once you actually start utilizing eg. landmarks or rivers (with good landclass and mesh) in combination with VOR and NDB and all of a sudden the scenery becomes as integrated a part of your flying as in RW GA. It just feels like real flying.Usually, though, I'll create a flightplan and set the GPS on the "flightplan" page, simply to act as a reminder, yet only use it if I need to check.-dasher7

have to concur with almost all of the above. In rough order of increasing pleasure, weight, and complexity:F1 Cessna 172FSD Commander 115TCDreamFleet A36 BonanzaDreamFleet Baron 58Aeroworx B200plan to start using the AOPA Commander 112 soon. I have it but have never flown it. we'll see

I know something that comes close: the DreamFleet Baron 58! :-)

Carenado offers a free Piper Tomahawk and a free Cessna 152 II. there is also a good freeware Socata TBM 700 here is the library.tbm700_a.ziphttp://www.carenado.com/html/freeairplanes.php3

Another is a big favorite of mine; the Eaglesoft Cirrus. That plane really is incredible in it's own right. Much different than the DF Beechcrafts or Carenado 182 and Stationair (I have the Stationair and A36), but everytime I get in that plane it just seems to 'fit like a glove', and has really good performance. It's just 'different'...but 'different' in a very postive and surprising way.Well worth the monry IMO.

Just one more, I can beleive it hasn't been mentioned yet- the Veneaviones Turbo Commander 690B - Freeware here in the AVSIM library. Excellent aircraft!

I was just reading through this interesting thread. Here is the cheap-but-great solution: Payware: FFS RV-7 ($7.50) Freeware: The Maule package. They are both simple and excellent models.