It's as well to be aware of how long these things took to make before, and to realistically recall what has gone prior to this without any rose-tinted aviators colouring your memory of the availability of stuff for FSX et all, before complaining about how long it is taking for stuff to arrive, because compared to previous flight simulators, MSFS releases are going at a positively ballistic rate...

By way of example, FSX came out in 2006 but it was over a year until it saw the service packs released for it, followed by the Acceleration pack, and even then this also required some corrections to be made to it. Aces closed in 2009 three years after FSX was released, but by that point we still did not have a PMDG Boeing 737 and would not have one until 2011, which was five years after the release of the host sim, and even the ported over FS9 B-747 from PMDG was not available for FSX until a year after FSX had been released. iFly got their B737 NG out for FSX about 2-3 months prior to PMDG, but this was still five years after the release of the main program. Toward the end of 2010, the first version of P3D was released, and even this was really not much more than a slightly patched up version of FSX, it still took a further five years for there to be a PMDG B737 NG available for P3D, since that add-on came out in 2015. The PMDG DC-6 for FSX came out eleven years after the release of FSX.

When you consider that the PMDG DC-6 was out for MSFS after less than a year of the main sim being available, that beats the timeline for the FSX version by literally a decade.

This is no less true for XPlane, the first version of XPlane came out 26 years ago, but it wasn't until version 10, which was 19 years after the first version of XPlane, that it really started seeing some half-decent airliners for it, because the host sim was notable for moving the goalposts around so much that most developers wouldn't dare go near the thing with a long term project such as an add-on airliner until it calmed down a bit. And whilst PMDG had a stab at it with their DC-6, largely as a result of seeking a new outlet with the closure of Aces, they went on record as saying that following their developmental experiences with making their DC-6 for the platform, their NG and 747 would not be produced for XPlane because the platform wasn't capable of supporting the features they wanted to add for their 747, and by extension, their souped-up NG.

So if anyone thinks that getting a DC-6, two A320 variants, a 737 NG and four CRJ variants all in the space of what looks like it will be less than two years following the release of MSFS, is slow progress compared to what has gone before, they need to step away from the crack pipe, because that just is not so. MSFS and its TPD development is going along at a proper rate of knots, big time, and that's not even taking into account how it is revolutionising and democratising flight simming by looking as good as it does and running as well as it does on machines which are well below the £500 quid price point, when such a notion with previous platforms was in the realms of fantasy. And none of this is a mere opinion, everything stated above is a fact.

Now it's also true that there has been some absolute carpet-bagger trash released for MSFS, especially all those cack city lights add-ons on Simmarket which take about ten minutes to make yourself (literally), but there is quality there too, and it's coming a lot quicker than it did with previous sims. We already have quite a few good GA aeroplanes although some developers seriously need to knock it off with making endless variations of the taildragger prop planes. But Aeroplane Heaven will have its DC-3 out soon for MSFS, as will Wing 42 with their Boeing 247, and as noted we already have a stand-out DC6, so that's three classic old propliners for a kick off to go with the several jetliners, several of which are freebies. Even before choppers are properly supported we still have a fantastic payware Bell-47G as well as a standout freebie chopper too. You can't move for decent freebie airports to go with the many payware efforts, and some great freebie aeroplanes as well, including a jet combat aeroplane to compliment some of the payware ones which are available, not least of which is the recent F-14A/B Tomcat from DC Designs, which is just really good fun.

Would I like all the forthcoming stuff now rather than in 12 months? Sure, but waiting 12 months will be nothing compared to how long we've had to wait in the past, and most stuff is cheaper than it was for P3D as well owing to the bigger market place. Don't get me wrong, it's not all sunshine and tequila slammers with MSFS, but compared to previous sims, it's a vast improvement in almost every respect. Install the default P3D minus the 600 quid's worth of add-ons you have to throw at it to get realistic weather, scenery etc, crank that up and take a look at it as you fly one of the default aeroplanes around if you don't think MSFS is an major improvement, Now of course you can at least have an A2A GA aeroplane in there, but those are on the way too for MSFS, and when they arrive they will make the ones in P3D look like a joke.

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Chock

Except for the DC-6 not much has come along in the payware ac add-on department that has gotten me excited. But i feel like in 6 months the options will be really solid. I just don’t want to buy a bunch of 7/10 planes. I want a hanger full of 9s and 10s, but that is going to take time. 

1 hour ago, himmelhorse said:

Has anyone thought of doing a turbo mod for the default Baron 58?

That was a lovely aircraft in FS2004 LOL

Tony

Not default it is Premium/Deluxe and encrypted.

SO whilst possible - very tricky.

 

As for the OP - I do like the pay-ware I own.  The standouts have been the Bleriot XI just because,  the P149 and c140 though I use both for VFR only,  and of course the Just Flight PA28s in particular the Warrior II (I own all four and would buy the Archer as well if they ever release it). Honourable mentions would be the Mooney (though broken since SU5) the Stearman and the great value for money Jabiru package.

3 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

would buy the Archer as well if they ever release it

I'm with you there.  The Archer III was my favourite of their PA28s in X-Plane.  I love the old PA28 cockpits that JF do so well, but preferred the slightly more modern (90s) rendition of the PA28-181. 👍   I'm sure we'll get it in MSFS soon (most likely along with their PA28 LX/TX; the Archer with the G1000).

1 hour ago, Greazer said:

False.

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/75469-30jul20-pmdg-s-view-of-msfs-and-the-future-of-simming

Quote

 The PMDG 737NG3 will be our first release for MSFS, and we are not yet beginning to consider when it will release. It might be late 4Q20. It might be out as far as late 2Q21. It is very hard to tell at this juncture, but it will 

And then...

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/84814-26sep20-let-s-get-down-to-business-shall-we

Quote

You will recall that I have been fairly upbeat on our expectation that we might see rapid acceleration of our NG3 development process during 4Q20, and I have even gambled that we *might* see a release for this product in very late 2020.

Randazzo said maybe 4Q20, or 2Q21. I misremembered it as 4Q20 or 1Q21. Sorry.

In any case, that was my expectation. I admit I was naive, but then so was Captain Randazzo.

 

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by WestAir

51 minutes ago, Chock said:

 

Tell us how you really feel!  C'mon now, don't hold back.

Could NOT have said that any better myself.  Great history lesson.

1 hour ago, Chock said:

their NG and 747 would not be produced for XPlane because the platform wasn't capable of supporting the features they wanted to add for their 747, and by extension, their souped-up NG.

This is incorrect, and there are many in the XP corner of flight simming who know exactly what happened.  It is not the reason PMDG left.  But that's another forum post.  

(For those who are contemplating calling me a troll for this 1, small correction in someones post, don't bother.  You will be added to my ignore list without reply.)

The aircraft so far for me that I rate as paid addons are

PMDG DC-6, it’s really like a big twin GA. lol.

The FI Spitfire and the Milviz FD are both stunning 

JF PA27 is also done well, I like the Turbo.

The CRJ is perfectly fine if you take it for what it is. So is the M20. The Ryan is very simple but done very well.

I am yet to find a good reviewer that tells thing how they are. Some are like paid adds for something that has so many glaring faults it’s untrue and are never pointed out or just bruised aside because it does not cost much. Into the blue always makes a point of calling things out like a review should so then we can figure out if they bother us or not. Even he sometimes holds back when he should not. But most want likes and not upset the makers so we end up with it’s fun! Or it’s good for the price! I don’t care how much it is, everyone has a different opinion on what’s a lot of money to them and what’s  cheap, I simply want to know what I might be getting, I would sooner watch or read reviews that go to great lengths in pointing out what its like versus the real thing. I am perfectly capable of deciding what suits my own needs just give me all the facts please.

When I look into anything I want to buy I read all the negative things about a product first to see what’s “bad” then read all the “good” then make an informed judgment what suits my needs. YouTube is all about likes and subs. Perhaps good old writer reviews is were I should go.

Am sure people buy from these “reviews “ and think…..default aircraft can be better and for what they are, are just as good if not better in some cases.

So what I think we will have incoming that will be top of the line is the PMDG NG and Fenix A320. Both should be stunning. A2A, but anything else is a bit of a minefield.

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Nyxx

1 hour ago, RobJC said:

Except for the DC-6 not much has come along in the payware ac add-on department that has gotten me excited.

The Piaggio P149 and the the Aviat Husky (Amphibian) are both well made, distinctive airplanes that I fly a lot.

http://atsimulations.com/focke-wulf-149-msfs

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

They are all bad. Every single of them. My overall impression after conducting a lot of testing, research, survey and talking to real world pilots and flight model programmers is that the code for the flight model and avionics was most probably copied from a cheap micky mouse video game and then pasted into this garbage that they dare to charge $60 for. This doesn't mean the 3rd party developers did a bad job. They did their best. But an environment with inaccurate, gamey flight model will only generate inaccurate results regardless of whether you put a PMDG, ProSim, Fenix, FsLabs or NASA-made aircraft addon in it. For example, Just Flight's Piper flight models in MSFS 2020 are wrong most of the times (This is not my opinion. Their own developers said it in public), whereas the flight models of the same products in other real aviation simulators perform highly accurately and convincingly. PMDGs only addon for MSFS 2020, the DC-6, has the exact same type of issue and they are not too happy either. Again, this is not the 3rd party's fault. 

 

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by EvidencePlz

7 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

The Piaggio P149 and the the Aviat Husky are both well made, distinctive airplanes that I fly a lot.

The Grob 115 from Iris is similar in many ways to the P149.   Bubble canopy you can fly when open, aerobatic rated, CSU prop  (but fixed gear) slightly more modern radios.  OK on short strips but not really a bush plane etc etc

So far I really like it. However I have only had it for a day-  so I am reserving any recommendations till I have at least 10 or 20 hours in it.

2 minutes ago, EvidencePlz said:

 whereas the flight models of the same products in other real aviation simulators perform highly accurately and convincingly

 

This is nonsense. No current or historical PC flight simulator comes even close to simulating actual accurate flight especially on the edge of the envelope. They are all approximations.  You have been conned by marketing propaganda.

 

 

2 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

This is nonsense. No current or historical PC flight simulator comes even close to simulating actual accurate flight especially on the edge of the envelope. They are all approximations.  You have been conned by marketing propaganda.

 

 

Don’t feed him, he bangs that same drum all the time.

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Nyxx

10 minutes ago, EvidencePlz said:

They are all bad. Every single of them. My overall impression after conducting a lot of testing, research, survey and talking to real world pilots and flight model programmers is that the code for the flight model and avionics was most probably copied from a cheap micky mouse video game and then pasted into this garbage that they dare to charge $60 for. This doesn't mean the 3rd party developers did a bad job. They did their best. But an environment with inaccurate, gamey flight model will only generate inaccurate results regardless of whether you put a PMDG, ProSim, Fenix, FsLabs or NASA-made aircraft addon in it. For example, Just Flight's Piper flight models in MSFS 2020 are wrong most of the times (This is not my opinion. Their own developers said it in public), whereas the flight models of the same products in other real aviation simulators perform highly accurately and convincingly. PMDGs only addon for MSFS 2020, the DC-6, has the exact same type of issue and they are not too happy either. Again, this is not the 3rd party's fault. 

 

LOL...you did 'research'?  Dare I ask.....where's the Evidenzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....paaaaleeeeeeeeezzzzzzzz.  You did surveys also?

Sorry, this is the funniest reply I've seen in a while.  You don't actually sim do you?

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Jeff Nielsen

Just now, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

especially on the edge of the envelope

I wasn't referring to edge cases but just the normal, basic scenarios. I also didn't claim that any flight simulator can simulate a real world flight 1:1.