"However, what do you recommend from Flight 1 that is as good as the Meridian"Based on the Meridian your best options are the 'Aeroworx KingAir' or the 'FSD Cheyenne'.I don't know why others here are suggesting aircraft like the 'DF A36' or the 'Realair SF260'. :-hmmm Those aircraft are lite years away from the Meridian in every way not to mention their piston engine aircraft. To be more correct the Meridian is in a class by itself but if you wanted something to move you along on the same line, the options I gave you above are the best FS has for that class of aircraft. Remember you preferably want a turboprop not a piston if you want a comparible aircraft... :-)

Hello rogerHave a look at the Flight1 Pilatus PC12 for a good turbo prop

From the OP's post:"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."Sounds like the A36 or Real Air would fit the bill just fine, althought I would lean towards the A36 simply for the more advanced avionics.

Incorrect. The reason the gauges are so smooth is becuase they are literally built a different way than has been done previously (they are actually built from polygons and are part of the 3D model as I understand it). It's true the planes are relatively simple (although theres a fair number of gauges in the SF260) but the fact is that the RA gauges are considerably more smooth than the VC gauges in pretty much ANY other planes, simple or not. Even compared to the defualt Piper or any of the planes whose VC gauges have reasonably smooth updates, the ones in the RA planes are smoother. They are literally as smooth as any good 2D panels. And the VC's themselves are very attractive and detailed as well - at least as much so as most VCs in other similar planes.

If you read his post you would see he asked for a single engine recip GA aircraft which excludes the King Air and Cheyenne on both counts :)Bud

Gotta say DF Bonanza A36 with Full RXP mods. Also the Carenado C-182 is excellent with RXP mods. Specifically the Sandel 3308, Twin GNS430's, Pro upgrade and Flight Line T gauges. Throw in the WXP if you like it. (or use the one that comes with the Bonanza). Winds up being a 100 dollar kit or thereabouts, but I see no need for any other IFR kit once purchased, plus with the RXP stuff you can refit almost every airplane you own. I have created panel configs for RXP for the default cessnas and the Mooney at the RXP site as well.Eric

Hi Dillon,"I don't know why others here are suggesting aircraft like the 'DF A36' or the 'Realair SF260'. Those aircraft are lite years away from the Meridian in every way not to mention their piston engine aircraft."Next time, read the ENTIRE post right to the end, not just the part you wish to read. ;-)The gentleman stated at the end: "and is a more basic GA aircraft (single engine, recip)?I think both the DF and RA aircraft, plus other SELs mentioned would fill that bill, don't ya' think? And you're a beta tester for us??? :-eekRegards,http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...R_FORUM_LOU.jpg

>Incorrect. The reason the gauges are so smooth is becuase>they are literally built a different way than has been done>previously (they are actually built from polygons and are part>of the 3D model as I understand it). No I rely dont think I agree with that. The difference is there is just not as many parts in the airplane, VC and gauge elements to begin with. Using XML sim elements in the VC is basicaly the same as calling XML gauges. Its the number of them (low) and size of the whole plane (small) that makes it perform so well. Its a simple matter of how much resources it uses up. A simple plane with few gauges uses few resources.

O.K. guys I misunderstood him, sorry... :-)I thought he was looking for a turboprop...

I'm sorry, but you are mistaken. Like I said, the gauges in the RA planes are considerably smoother than virtually any other planes I've tried (and we're talking pretty much everything available including 15 or more payware planes and dozens and dozens of freeware ones). There are some add-on planes that have decent gauge smoothness in the VC, but none that are like the RA stuff - including the two or three freeware planes I've tried that actually use the same gauge design technique (I find that the gauges in those do update nice and smoothly, but they aren't nearly as sharp and crisp as the RA gauges) I know what you're saying and you are correct that the number of gauges and overall complexity does impact performance. However, in the case of the RA planes, the gauges themselves truly work differently than the standard gauges used in VCs previously. They are updating at exactly the same rate as whatever the framerate you are getting in the sim is. If you are flying at 25fps, the VC gauges are updating 25 times per second. They are exceptionally smooth - in fact, the VC gauges in the SF260 update considerably more smoothly than the VC gauges in much less complex planes using standard gauge designs.Also, I suspect the guys at RealAir might soon put paid to the notion that these design techniques can't be applied to more complex panels. I have no inside info, just a suspicion on my part. :)

>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. Nobody mentioned the Eaglesoft cirrus SR/22. VERY NICE!!! All glass panel. Highly recommended!!happy landings allFlygirl

>Also, I suspect the guys at RealAir might soon put paid to the>notion that these design techniques can't be applied to more>complex panels. Thats the whole point. It's got nothing to do with alledged magic technicques. It has to do with complexity. Dont get me wrong, I have the plane and I like it. But I dont find the smoothness of the gauges particularly extraordinary compared to other simple designs. Its apples and oranges comparing it to any of the other planes mentioned in this thread that are much more complex.

You have the recently (about 6 months ago) updated version of it? If so, I find it hard to believe you don't find the gauges significantly smoother than other similar planes (frankly, you're the only person who owns the add-on who I've heard say that). Even though I've got lots of similarly complex planes that have ok gauge update rates, none of them really compare to the 260, Spitfire or Scout/Deke package. Anyway, it's not magic, but its a fact that the gauges are designed in a totally different manner than standard gauges. BTW, by "putting paid to the notion," I meant I suspect they are going to prove that the technique will work on complex panels as well...

This is an interresting discussion that comes back to the forum once in a while. The last time, it has been lenghtly discussed in the Aircraft and Panel Design forum, where the general idea is that:1) there is no magic in these gauges and no secret technique. I can even tell you that prior FS2004 released, this has been discussed (the possibility to do this in a simulator) in other forums, and it is well known by most vendors2) no other vendor really implemented this for many reasons, one of the most significant is that a significant number of customers are asking for 2D panels as well in the aircraft, and when offering an aircraft with both a VC and a 2D panel, you then have to do twice as much work (3D polygons for needles and gauges in the VC, bitmap based for the 2D panel).3) there are a number of shortcomings to the 3D polygon modeling of the gauges: a) they always refresh at the speed of the FPS counter in the VC view. For most customers, the 2D panel refreshes faster, and with gauges like Reality XP's the 2D panel experience is better then, when compared to the VC experience. :( the gauges are literaly and strongly dependant of the FS SDK variables, that do not refresh more than once per second for some. Last time I've been told about, the 3D VOR in this aircraft can not refresh the needles more than once per second. This makes the SF260 useless to follow a VLOC/GS from the VC with precision. The same applies to the RMI and the ADF in the aircraft. When I read sometimes comments like "serious aircraft for IFR too", this makes me wonder how.Nevertheless, Real Air has to be commended for having been the first to try this 3D polygon only approach of the gauges.Hope this helps!

Personally, I never said anything about "magic or secret" techniques. All I said was they are designed differently than traditional gauges in VCs...BTW, it seems to me that if there are variables in the SDK which only refresh at a certain very low rate, theres nothing much that can be done about that - 2D or VC. I'm no expert by any means of course, but I'll take a panel where 80% of the gauges update at 25fps and the rest at whatever rate FS will allow over one where all the gauges update 6 times per second anyday. Anyway, the thread starter asked for suggestions for a simpler GA add-on than the Meridian and I can think of no finer add-on to own for the sim than the 260 so thats my recommendation...