Favorite Payware Airports

[CFIJose 5,485]

I know many of you have been reluctant to buy payware airports, it's understandable, but if you could take a chance or have taken a chance on payware, which are your favorite?

I'm leaning toward taking a chance on Sierrasim's SKPS & SKMZ.

Both look outstanding. They are also my kind of airports; In the mountains with challenging approaches.

[FilbertFlies 980]

I've bought EGLC, EKCH, LOWI, LOWW, LFTZ, KDEN. KORD and KSBA. There's honestly not a single one I regret having purchased (though it's definitely time to put my credit card away for a bit now!). I think my favourite US airport so far is KORD and my favourite European airport is LOWI, followed by EKCH. 

Those Sierrasim airports do look really nice. If you like tricky approaches, LOWI is obviously a great one, but LFTZ (St. Tropez) has its challenges as well. I've made a video review of it which includes a circuit if you're interested: 

 

Edited September 14, 2020 by mrfilbert

[MOD71 175]

19 hours ago, DJJose said:

I know many of you have been reluctant to buy payware airports, it's understandable, but if you could take a chance or have taken a chance on payware, which are your favorite?

I'm leaning toward taking a chance on Sierrasim's SKPS & SKMZ.

Both look outstanding. They are also my kind of airports; In the mountains with challenging approaches.

I have them in P3D V4.5 and they are great for the price. I've hesitated purchasing them for MSFS because the screenshots on the product pages left me under whelmed. They don't look like they ported well into the new sim with very poor textures. I hope to hear from those that do have them though and hope I'm proven wrong.

My favorite payware is Orbx's KSBA. It looks stunning and has a great feel. 

 

Edited September 14, 2020 by mdreyer

[jzimmermann 238]

2 hours ago, mrfilbert said:

I've bought EGLC, EKCH, LOWI, LOWW, LFTZ, KDEN. KORD and KSBA. There's honestly not a single one I regret having purchased (though it's definitely time to put my credit card away for a bit now!). I think my favourite US airport so far is KORD and my favourite European airport is LOWI, followed by EKCH. 

Those Sierrasim airports do look really nice. If you like tricky approaches, LOWI is obviously a great one, but LFTZ (St. Tropez) has its challenges as well. I've made a video review of it which includes a circuit if you're interested: 

 

Hi Filbert,

Great video, and as to the point you made in the video about the airport being very dark at night with no runway or taxiway lighting, this is how it is in real life. Official info for the airport:

The main working hours are from 0700h to 1900 and on request from sunrise to sunset. It is not equipped to operate at night due to the lack of runway lights. (Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Môle_–_Saint-Tropez_Airport)

This is by far one of my favourite airports in MSFS, the developers really have done a great job at capturing the immersion that the hilly surroundings bring to the approach into the airport.

There are a few great videos online showing real approaches into LFTZ, see links below.

Cheers,

Jerome

 

 

 

 

Edited September 14, 2020 by jzimmermann

[CFIJose 5,485]

2 hours ago, mrfilbert said:

I've bought EGLC, EKCH, LOWI, LOWW, LFTZ, KDEN. KORD and KSBA. There's honestly not a single one I regret having purchased (though it's definitely time to put my credit card away for a bit now!). I think my favourite US airport so far is KORD and my favourite European airport is LOWI, followed by EKCH. 

Those Sierrasim airports do look really nice. If you like tricky approaches, LOWI is obviously a great one, but LFTZ (St. Tropez) has its challenges as well. I've made a video review of it which includes a circuit if you're interested: 

 

Thanks! I have LOWI for P3D & XP11. I think that the default (enhanced)  is good enough for now. I'll add LFTZ to my wish list.

 

1 hour ago, mdreyer said:

My favorite payware is Orbx's KSBA. It looks stunning and has a great feel. 

ORBX KSBA, 1S2, & KORS, will be added to cart since they are all nicely discounted. DONE!

Keep them coming. Black Friday is right around the corner.

This will become my wish list.

Thanks!

Edited September 14, 2020 by DJJose

[CFIJose 5,485]

ORBX KSBA received a 6 out of 10 score by this reviewer. Thankfully, I don't trust everyone is an expert.

 

[CFIJose 5,485]

2 hours ago, mrfilbert said:

 

 

Very nice and well done video. I'm actually a fan of your videos. Good sound and visuals.

[SirKibble 16]

When the SDK is fully developed, I can’t wait to see what these guys will pull up their sleeves. Deep down I just know they’ll find a way to wow the community like they did in the Fsx and then later the 64-bit P3D days.

[AviationEnthusiast 63]

EKCH is simply amazing. I highly recommend it.

[Der Zeitgeist 1,575]

23 hours ago, DJJose said:

I know many of you have been reluctant to buy payware airports, it's understandable, but if you could take a chance or have taken a chance on payware, which are your favorite?

I would probably get some smaller, regional or local airports like Tacoma Narrows or Orcas Island.

I'm currently not buying any airports, though. It seems that most payware airports are still not feature-complete because of the SDK problems with missing approach procedures, ATC and ground services.

[Ricardo41 5,949]

Why the need to buy things IMMEDIATELY. Wait 6 months to a year until the market sorts itself out and quality rises and the quicky money graps fall to the bottom. 

[Baber20 1,438]

EKCH by flytampa is a work of art.

[airlinejets 709]

3 hours ago, DJJose said:

ORBX KSBA received a 6 out of 10 score by this reviewer.

He's absolutely right. It's certainly not worth a higher score. ORBX can do better.

[hanhamreds 592]

So far have Tacoma and London City from Orbx, but my favourite if Bristol from UK2000 - only because it's my home airport.

all of them are pretty ordinary when looking at them objectively

[canadiantree 233]

I will definitely be getting Vienna as it looks absolutely gorgeous & I go there several times a year.