I've been using the Meridian for over a year now for IFR activity. Got it based on recommendations and needing something with very fluid, smooth instrument action. It's great. However, what do you recommend from Flight 1 that is as good as the Meridian(smooth instrument action) and is a more basic GA aircraft (single engine, recip)? Thanks.

Their Commander 112A should fit the bill ;). I'd also recommend Dreamfleet's Bonanza. Both have very smooth instrument movement in VC and are state of the art everywhere else.

There are so many option, it depends a bit on your likings...Check at least a few reviews here and on other sites.- Dreamfleet has a few good GA's, like the Baron and Beech A36, - Flight1 Cessna 172R and Pilatus PC12- Carenado's Cessna U206G and 182RG are also very good.Be advised: All of the above aircraft have a 'classic' instrument panel, i.e. no glass cockpitFor very fluid gauges you definately need to consider the Reality-XP Flight Line T gauges and the Flight Line N gauges (last under development)These can be fitted in any GA aircraft and are the most fluid gauges on the market, both in 2D and VC.http://www.reality-xp.com/products/FLT/index.htm

Answer's simple: Dreamfleet A36 ; Not only it's an excellent and realistic single piston engine low wing plane (that comes with three models - plain, w/wingtips & float) but it also has got installed by default otherwise high quality payware addons:1) Garmin 430: http://www.reality-xp.com/products/GNS/index.htm2) Weather radar: http://www.reality-xp.com/products/WX5/index.htm3) SN3308: http://www.reality-xp.com/products/SN3308/index.htm& what you specifically asked for: 4) - http://www.reality-xp.com/products/FLT/index.htm;)http://www.fspassengers.com/images/banner/sig/sdc8.jpg

Dreamfleet A36Carmine http://forums.avsim.net/images/wave.gifhttp://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7118/phoenixtp8mg.jpg

Best basic GA aircraft in my opinion are the FSD Commander 115, the Dreamfleet A36, or if you want a twin the FSD Navajo or Seneca or the Dreamfleet Baron 58.

For IFR smooth guages.. its Real Air's SIAI-Marchetti SF260 no contest. The smoothest guages there is. Aircraft performance numbers are almost similar to the Mooney.Here are the Mooney numbers that would work for the SF260 for IFR flying."ttp://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9531/mooneygait4fe.jpg" Cut paste to your browser and Add a "H" to the ttp:Manny

Gotta second the SF260 recommendation. Imho, it's the best sim plane I've ever flown (followed closely by the other RealAir packages). And yes, the gauges (in the VC - theres no 2D panel needed) are buttery smooth...

I have the DF Bonanza also, great plane. One correction about the instruments, the Sandel included with the Bonanza is the EagleSoft version, not the RXP. I have replaced mine with the RXP one which has a lot more features. The DF Baron does come with the RXP Sandel.Bud

Yeah... Real air has a monopoly on the smooth guages. They have figured something out that no one else have.Only wish they would do a regular twin.. like a Piper Seminole or a Seneca or something.Manny

>Yeah... Real air has a monopoly on the smooth guages. They>have figured something out that no one else have.>>Only wish they would do a regular twin.. like a Piper Seminole>or a Seneca or something.>>MannyThe Cessna T-37 Tweet simulation has this type of gauge programmed into the VC in v1.04 and is a very impressive addon aircraft for the sim.

I agree Real Air has a smooth VC (I have the SF260, great flyer), the only issue is if you want to customize the panel it is impossible with the exception of some of the radio stack.Bud

Doesn't quite fit your specs but I absolutely love their 441 Conquest II. Since I bought it a month and a half ago, I haven't flown much else. I too enjoy the Meridian.Noel

>Yeah... Real air has a monopoly on the smooth guages. They>have figured something out that no one else have.>>Only wish they would do a regular twin.. like a Piper Seminole>or a Seneca or something.The reason the gauges are so smooth in this plane is because of the level of complexity of the model, VC, and the number of gauges. That's not a slam on RealAir. I like the plane too. But the plane itself is quite simple. That makes a differentce. Introduce a more complex model and 4 times as many gauges into the mix and it is a whole new ballgame.

Thanks everybody for all the good ideas. Roger