advice requested

[leftydad 0]

I’d like to ask advice on the following:  which would be the best PMDG plane to start off with, in term of learning, documents, tutorials?  For FSX SE.

 

Actually, back around 10 years or so ago, I had purchased all the PMDG products and I have a fairly good knowledge of these types of flight sims, but I’m a little bit out of touch on which PMDG product currently would be best for somebody like me for reentering this hobby with FSX SE?  737?  747?

 

I have a powerful computer and FS controls, etc.

 

I greatly appreciate any advice you can give.

[icemarkom 59]

Do you prefer more automated flights, or more manual knobs, or a fine balance of the two?

Most automated: 777

Fine balance: 747

More knobs to turn: 737

 

Otherwise, they're just about "there" in terms of complexity, each with their own set of quirks :-)

 

flame > /dev/null

[himmelhorse 1,276]

Leftydad,

I believe that if you already have all the PMDG aircraft for FSX, they are, or will be usable for FSX-SE which is essentially exactly the same platform. If however, you were using FS9 or 2004, you will have to purchase the aircraft again. 

If you are familiar with PMDG products then you obviously know the answer to your question and I really cannot see the point of asking it. Even if you were contemplating moving up to P3Dv4, the answers would be the same.  It could well be that I have misinterpreted what you actually meant to say though and if I have, then I apologise.

Also, please be aware that full names are required in this forum either in the signature or just as part of your post.

Regards

Tony Chilcott

[Captain Kevin 586]

53 minutes ago, himmelhorse said:

I believe that if you already have all the PMDG aircraft for FSX, they are, or will be usable for FSX-SE which is essentially exactly the same platform. If however, you were using FS9 or 2004, you will have to purchase the aircraft again. 

10 years or so ago would have been 2007 or earlier, and with FSX being released in 2006, I'd be surprised if there were very many add-ons available for FSX. Of course, I could be wrong, as I don't know when the Boeing 747-400 V2 got released. For FS9, his choices would have been the Boeing 747-400 V1 and possibly the Boeing 737NG. The 777 was not available back then.

[dgeddesjr 4]

My advice?  Move to Prepar3D v4 where soon all of those aircraft will be available.  FSX is essentially a dead platform now that both LM and Dovetail games have released 64-bit sims based on the older FSX code.

If you can live without PMDG aircraft you can also try AeroFly 2 and XP11, although PMDG is developing aircraft for XPlane now.  

[himmelhorse 1,276]

Hello all,

Captain Kevin,

I based my comments on the fact that he already had the PMDG products and that he was familiar with them. Also, as he stated that he was using FSX-SE and was familiar with these sims. Frankly, I was somewhat confused with his question and did not really grasp what he was trying to find out.

I freely admit, further, that I, personally, am unfamiliar with PMDG release timings for individual products and the products themselves  This will be rectified (product wise at least) at my next pension payday, when I plan to purchase my first PMDG aircraft.

None of this, however, address his question and I remain unsure of just what information it is, that he requires.

Icemarkom  probably offers the best advice, but based on what the OP has stated he does or should realize that whatever aircraft he has or has to purchase again, he is going to be happy with his ultimate decision.

Dgeddesjr also offers great advice. I cannot understand  why anybody would want to start or restart simming with a largely obsolete platform. This is NOT a criticism and only an expression of what I find is illogical. There are many of us still operating with FSX, FSX-SE and even FS2004, myself included. However, whilst restarting with a platform one already has is a sound decision during re-familiarisation, UPGRADING to a platform that add-on developers are already abandoning does not make any sense to me.

Again, however, I go back to what the OP is really asking for and unless I am the only one confused here, it may be worthwhile asking for some clarification.

Thank you all for your forbearance and I genuinely hope we can sort it all out for the OP

Regards

Tony 

[pracines 823]

The best plane to start off with is the one you are most likely to enjoy the most. You know the drill, 737 normally shorter runways/routes, 747 normally longer runways/routes. 

[leftydad 0]

Thanks for all the info.  I had used my previous PMDG purchases on FS9, so I was wondering if one plane/sim had been drastically improved over the others for FSX, since I would then want to start re-purchasing the PMDG products with the most "improvements" for FSX, so it speak.  But it sounds like Prepar3D is the way to go (which I know nothing about).  I have seen that website, so I'll investigate further.

James Larson

[scandinavian13 5,192]

8 minutes ago, leftydad said:

Thanks for all the info.  I had used my previous PMDG purchases on FS9, so I was wondering if one plane/sim had been drastically improved over the others for FSX, since I would then want to start re-purchasing the PMDG products with the most "improvements" for FSX, so it speak.  But it sounds like Prepar3D is the way to go (which I know nothing about).  I have seen that website, so I'll investigate further.

Welcome to the forum. Please note that full names - first and last - are required to be in your posts.

Also, contrary to what was written above, P3D is a simulator that has licenses for very specific purposes. Not everyone fits into those specific purposes. This is a determination that you, yourself, will have to make. There is a clear outline here:

http://www.prepar3d.com/product-overview/prepar3d-license-comparison/

If you don't feel that you fit into any of those options, there's FSX:SE.

[leftydad 0]

So, in my rapid, brief research of Prepar3D v.4, it’s FSX modernized?  Do most people who just want to use a flight sim for a time-consuming hobby do the $199 license or the $59.95 license?

It says the ACADEMIC license ($59.95) is for high school students and undergrad students????  I’m 64 and have a Ph.D.!  But I’m not interested in developing software nor am I a professional.  I’m just looking for the Prepar3D license that will allow me to do what I had hoped to do with FSX SE.  Would the $59.95 be best?  I’m not concerned about cost—I just want to get the right license.  I realize there is a money back guarantee.

I can research all this and contact Prepar3D/LM, but maybe somebody on this forum has a quick answer to my question about licenses.

thanks, James Larson

[mtrainer 136]

If you fit the license requirements for the Academic version of Prepar3D, it seems to me the way to go as it has longer legs (meaning it is an active, continuing product and not dead like FSX:SE).

As for PDMG aircraft, most of us seem to be quite partial to the NGX 737....it strikes a nice balance between automation and hands-on control.

Mark Trainer

 

 

[PMDG777 231]

25 minutes ago, leftydad said:

So, in my rapid, brief research of Prepar3D v.4, it’s FSX modernized?  Do most people who just want to use a flight sim for a time-consuming hobby do the $199 license or the $59.95 license?

No. Prepar3d is ESP modernised. Prepar3d is a commercial, academic and training platform. It is not a consumer entertainment platform.

Quote

It says the ACADEMIC license ($59.95) is for high school students and undergrad students????  I’m 64 and have a Ph.D.!  But I’m not interested in developing software nor am I a professional.  I’m just looking for the Prepar3D license that will allow me to do what I had hoped to do with FSX SE.  Would the $59.95 be best?  I’m not concerned about cost—I just want to get the right license.  I realize there is a money back guarantee.

You're not a student, you're not a professional, and you're not a developer. It's your decision if you meet any of those three categories. If you're using it for entertainment purposes only, then FSX:SE.

21 minutes ago, mtrainer said:

If you fit the license requirements for the Academic version of Prepar3D, it seems to me the way to go as it has longer legs (meaning it is an active, continuing product and not dead like FSX:SE).

As for PDMG aircraft, most of us seem to be quite partial to the NGX 737....it strikes a nice balance between automation and hands-on control.

Mark Trainer

I'm glad that you're so fond of the NGX that you haven't realised it's PMDG, not PDMG.

[mtrainer 136]

I actually make that mistake a lot, apologies.  It always helps when I write it out to think about what it stands for!  PMDG is the correct acronym.

Mark Trainer