Hi allCan anyone recommend a good (payware or freeware) Dash8-Q300? Air Nelson (DBA Air NZ Link) have recently introduced them and its time I did too.. Criteria (for me) are:Preferably with a decent vc. Good handflyer. Aaccurate systems if possible. My rig is a xp3400 with 1Gig ram, with 9600xt 128 meg video. Therefore, not too punishing on frames if possible..Any suggestions gratefully receieved.ThanksJames

I just finished reviewing the Majestic Dash 8 Q300. I can honestly say it is a keeper, great hand flyer, great VC, very accurate systems modeling. You should see the review up probably after the weekend... maybe sooner ;).Zane

That`s great news, Zane. I'll check it out a soon as its posted.ThanksJames

Not in the same league as the Majestic and a bit long in the tooth, but cheaper, is PSS's Dash 8. I bought it at half price several months ago and it's not a bad rendition. I enjoy flying it.

Hi!I do own the PSS Dash but I don't have the Majestic Software version. This way I'm not really entitled to criticize on the second one. However, having my own opinion is allowed, I guess. ;)PSS is relatively good, especially if you calculate the price, which now is really low. Majestic Software is a definitely more advanced product, so seeking something of the PIC level, it seems to hit the right place. However, looking for a good dash 8-300 I did not decide to purchase it, after seeing screenshots, reading details and forum opinions. My reasons were: the outstandingly high price and poor visual quality of the panel (not the model, it does look convinving). Something like FS98/2000 style, I'd say. Not being an owner, I'll tell you nothing about the FDE, FPS or general handling. Just my two cents I think you should take into concideration before spending your money.The PSS flies well (although I happen to have a strange problem of dropping FPS after about 30-60 mins of flying), but unfortunately will not offer you a good operative VC (which I do not care about usually) and the systems functionality is reduced, compared to the Majectic. So, a hard choice I guess. No other option on the market. I wish there was at least one more. I would also love to fly Dash-8-40XQ, which is a beautiful aircraft but quite different (glass cockpit). I hope someone will make it one day.Hope I helped a bit.Best regards,Rafal

Yes the Majestic Dash 8 is expensive and the 2d cockpit is pretty ordinary but other features are outstanding, particularly the soundset and systems modelling It has to have the most realistic soundset of any FS aircraft I have and there are quite a few of them. I have probably flown in the RW dash 8 more times than any other aircraft and the Magestic Dash 8 sounds exactly like the real thing. I have the PSS version too and it just isn't in the same league - I only bought it a couple of years ago to get a VC to merge with the earlier freeware Fanda Dash 8 (predecessor of the Majestic Dash 8) which by the way is still around and worth considering.Bruceb

If you don't want to pay for the Majestic Dash-8 right away then I concur with Bruce, have a look at the freeware Dash-8 which lead to the Majestic aircraft.I was blown away with the sounds and throttle modeling of the freeware one but because I don't fly props very often I have not got the Majestic one.BTW The freeware version is the Dash 8-300 not the Dash 8-Q300.If you get on with the freeware version then I'm sure you will want to check out the aadvances the Majestic model offers over the freeware one.http://bathursted.ccnb.nb.ca/fanda/http://majesticsoftware.com/c/portal_publi...yout?p_l_id=1.1Have fun ;-)

Hi allSorry I was away for a bit and this thread had dropped to page three before I noticed all the replies. Thanks for the additional info.I will definitely try the freeware version tonight and report back. I tried the Fanda one a long time back but am keen to try it again, now that I have decent pedals, yoke & quadrant..CheersJames