737 PMDG or IFly?

[Seat* 53]

I'm thinking of getting a 737 for P3D v5.3. Should I go with PMDG or IFly? I feel uncertain with PMDG and their lack of clarity on further updates for P3D. At the same time I have a feeling , right or wrong, that PMDG would be ahead of IFly in terms of system depth.
Thankful for tips.

/Thomas

[Gazzareth 912]

25 minutes ago, Seat* said:

I'm thinking of getting a 737 for P3D v5.3. Should I go with PMDG or IFly? I feel uncertain with PMDG and their lack of clarity on further updates for P3D. At the same time I have a feeling , right or wrong, that PMDG would be ahead of IFly in terms of system depth.
Thankful for tips.

/Thomas

 

Possibly a bad time to ask, given feelings posted here with regard to PMDG..... but......

 

In my case I've got the PMDG - fantastic model, I have zero regrets in getting it. That said I've never heard anything serious said against the iFly - if I was looking at it right now I'd probably get the iFly based on the fact that if it isn't "good enough" for any reason you can get it credited back through Flight One and have lost nothing. 

 

G

[jlohrenz 133]

I can tell you that the iFly system is very in-depth.  it even comes with its own cockpit builders edition.  Very well modeled, with systems appropriately simulated.  PMDG may be the more popular one, but iFly is used by a lot of businesses and full-scale simulator builders.  You wouldn't go wrong with it, especially with their most recent update and compatibility with v5.

[Patco Lch 1,530]

Each has certain small advantages but both are very good addons. The IFly 737 advanced is to be updated soon to correct some small things like oversized fonts which I don’t even notice. IMO the IFly engines seem to spool too fast and the throttles are too sensitive. I believe the NGXu has better taxi model as well. Also the IFly advanced being new doesn’t have many paints available yet.

All that being said I think the IFly is a bit cheaper and you get another 20% discount if you own a previous version. Also IMO IFly has committed to further P3DV5 development while PMDG chases the golden goose so IFly might be the better  company to watch if P3D is your platform of choice.

[rickgo 64]

Does the Ifly 737 adv have rain effects?

[Iadbound 218]

Patco and jlohrenz -- seems like each of you has both versions.  Is there one you fly more?  I have the PMDG and I'm considering the iFly because the new version likes very well done, and sometimes it fun to try a different version.  I also don't mind supporting another P3D developer.

[out 769]

I haven't bought iFly 737NG Advanced (yet), but I remember from my previous sim times I had both PMDG and iFly 737s and I definitely prefered and used the latter.
Plus I guess PMDG being more advanced might be a repeated myth, due to its huge popularity and being some kind of a religion-like cult (something like Flytampa in the scenery department). 😉

[Iadbound 218]

1 minute ago, Rafal said:

I remember from my previous sim times I had both PMDG and iFly 737s and I definitely prefered and used the latter.

Thanks.  Very helpful.  I am a FlyTampa fan though (ducks).  However, FlightBeam has become my favorite.  I've picked up all of their airports.  

Ok, back to the actual topic of the thread!

I think I'm going to give the iFly a try in near future.

[Patco Lch 1,530]

1 hour ago, Iadbound said:

Patco and jlohrenz -- seems like each of you has both versions.  Is there one you fly more?  I have the PMDG and I'm considering the iFly because the new version likes very well done, and sometimes it fun to try a different version.  I also don't mind supporting another P3D developer.

Since I bought IFly I’m getting familiar with their configuration methods. Like you say a different version brings some spice to life. One other point, I think the IFly has sharper VC textures, and a little smoother performance but these may be subjective. The IF has a great sound package that absolutely does not need an extra cockpit or engine sound enhancement which I purchased for the NGXu.

[LRBS 1,027]

I just got it today (Ifly 737NG) and my first impressions after 2 Hrs of flying the airplane.

Something very important to be noticed is the LNAV/VNAV and APFD, it works very well in respect to following magenta line, it does fly-by or fly-over very well, IAN approaches work well, level offs at low altitudes, are precise and on speed, no chasing up-down for altitude and smooth level-offs.

Unfortunately, On PMDG aircraft (FMS equipped), these items are still not fixed for such a long time, and who really knows when will get addressed.

To get an idea about study level, I didn't have time to check, and I'm not qualified (type-rated) in this airplane, I cannot make a fair assessment.

All I can say is that I simulated an engine failure at V1 and it did nicely as I expected.

On my system, I find throttle response quite alright and taxing right on the money, maybe "Vic greens" needs to re-calibrate his hardware?

I would like to touch this "study level", I don't think that it would be possible to have a perfect simulation or 100% systems accuracy plus that is impossible to know it all. As a true fact, when we do our check-rides and orals we miss stuff, or simply put we don't know.

Anyhow, back to the subject, I don't think that you would regret purchasing this aircraft.

Fly safe!

[Wise87 1,360]

If I had to buy today I would go with iFly. I also like the fact that iFly announced the 737Max and PMDG hasn't even gone to beta with the Max according to one of their beta testers. I lost faith in PMDG, especially after they announced that P3D development is somewhat on hold as we wait for 2020 which is also delayed. 

[RichieFly 766]

I have both. I have flown the iFly version just a bit, so far. Both are good and comparable, it seems. The iFly relies on a external tool to set fuel and load values (I don't like this), but otherwise is very nice; good sounds and modeling. VC looks great. I'll be keeping the iFly on my top shelf of aircraft.

 

[Iadbound 218]

24 minutes ago, RichieFly said:

The iFly relies on a external tool to set fuel and load values (I don't like this)

I'm sort of used to this with the Majestic and the Leonardo (if you want) and the Leonardo instructor panel, but I can understand that it gives something up on immersion.  

I just bought the iFly.  Not going to fly until tomorrow though.

[Seat* 53]

Thanks for all ansvars. I go for the IFly,

/Thomas

 

 

[threexgreen 3,315]

Personally, I believe the virtual cockpit model is a lot better and more realistic in the NGXu to the point it looks exactly like the real one. Proportions of individual panels (for example the MCP) and especially the screen design seem off and slightly cartoonish to me in the iFly version. This might not be important to everyone, but for me it's a major drawback since the NGXu cockpit gives me much more the feeling of it being an actual 737 to the point you can't tell the difference between the NGXu screens and the real Boeing screens whereas you can see the screens don't entirely match in the iFly. Also, the background color of the iFly looks too bright, e. g. the grey is too light for a 737, it should be quite a lot darker in tone and more anthracite-like.