Hi all,

I am looking to purchase a new small /medium sized aircraft to use with Air Hauler 2. I have been using the default Cessna Caravan, but would like to add a new one to my fleet that is perhaps a bit more in-depth and different to fly. I know the new Fenix and 737 aircraft are popular, but I am nowhere near close to affording those in the game so thought I would start smaller. I also fly mainly in the UK airspace, so it would be good to find an aircraft that suits, although I am prepared to push the boundaries of realism for the right purchase...

I have found 3 that I think fit the bill, but feedback would be good.

1. Twin Otter - in real money this looks very affordable and looks like a great little plane learn some more systems, but not sure this would fit with the UK?

2. Kodiak 100 - This looks a bit more complicated than the Twin Otter but I dont think this is a UK based plane either? As a single prop, is this too similar to the Caravan?

3. BN-2 Islander - I think this operates in Scotland but I am not sure if the MSFS model is a step up in terms of complexity? I think this may be the most suitable in terms of my UK location, but sim-wise, there doesn't seem to be so much chatter about this one compared to the other two and Im not so excited by this one?

Your feedback would be great or any other suggestions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAE 146?, in short runways flaps 30, brakes, power to 96% and go.

BN-2 Islander looks like a FSXaircraft, the simulation depth is rather shallow.

It flies great though and sounds great. And they are planning an update for it (Who knows when)

 

Twin Otter looks 'hmm...alright', sound is bad imo.

I don't like flying it it at all, others do.

Kodiak, I do not have. I use the Improvement and No Pod Mod for the 208 and the Kodiak is too similar to justify buying it.

Two other paid ones: The Trislander is said to have more system depth than the Islander, same developer. 
The Hondajet is tons of fun and affordable.


I am also not in the position to spend much on payware aircraft.
There are great Mods avalable for Asobo Aircraft....Working Title CJ4 for example. Or the G36 Improvement Project.

DA40 NGX or DA62X , JPLogistics C152.....for free airliners, look into the FlyByWire A320 or the Headwind A330-900.

Mods are currently becoming very good.

 

 

Have a look at the Wing 42 Boeing 247, which has a lot of realism in regards to systems simulation and is very inexpensive (i.e. you can start the engines realistically and you have to manage them properly to avoid them overheating), so there is 'stuff to do' whilst you fly it. This is a vintage aeroplane of course, and in reality there are no flying examples of 247s these days, but it was literally the first ever modern airliner, the one which inspired the DC-3 amongst other things, and it is a really beautiful aeroplane. It's a real bargain considering what you get for the money, probably the most bang for your bucks out of any add-on aeroplane for MSFS. Thoroughly recommended and quite affordable and useful in Air Hauler so long as you don't mind cruising at a relatively sedate pace.

thanks for the replies so far.

1. I have considered the BAE 146 and it is an aircraft I would like to get, but its £50 versus around £30 for the others, so a bit outside of my budget this month.

2. Wings 42 Boeing 247 - an interesting suggestion that i had not seen before, but shes a bit too vintage for my fleet 🙂

7 minutes ago, Chock said:

Have a look at the Wing 42 Boeing 247, which has a lot of realism in regards to systems simulation and is very inexpensive

Can it be fitted with a GPS?

58 minutes ago, chickster25 said:

Twin Otter - in real money this looks very affordable and looks like a great little plane learn some more systems, but not sure this would fit with the UK?

Loganair use Twotters up in Scotland, and I think there are a few down in the Scilly Isles.

there is also now the trislander, more depth than the islander.

btw, i do like the islander, its uncomplicated to fly, great for the caribbean,, can do very small fields.

2 hours ago, chickster25 said:

thanks for the replies so far.

 Wings 42 Boeing 247 - an interesting suggestion that i had not seen before, but shes a bit too vintage for my fleet 🙂

1.  I have been doing a 1930's/1940's "Golden Age"  career in Neofly using:

• Stearman*
• Staggerwing*
• Grumman Widgeon
• Grumman Goose*
• C140*
• c170

* = recommended

... I am working my way up to the 247D and eventually the DC6 and potentially the Connie if it shapes up OK. I have the ju52 but have not used it in Neofly yet.  I was tempted to get the Electra but the reviews were pretty ordinary.  It has been quite a rort flying an old school career and I am enjoying it immensely.

 

2.  With regard to the Kodiak, it is a much better aircraft than the default Caravan with more system depth, especially with the new added failures such as hot starts, and the Kodiak is well worth having,  There appear to be at least some Kodiaks operating in the UK:

https://private-jets.co.uk/aircraft/quest-kodiak-100.html

However you are correct in terms of Air Hauler it fills the same niche as the Caravan and would not add much to your career. Note there is apparently a "Floatiak" version in the works which would give a few interesting career options.

 

 

Edited June 14, 20223 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

Haven't tried the islander, I have the other two.

Twin Otter is iconic, it's not as well done as the Kodiak though. Aerosoft cut some corners, the sound notably but also modelization of the cockpit is not as good as top tier add ons.

Kodiak is really well done, model, awesome liveries, small details, passengers/cargo that display, however it's a Kodiak so quite similar to flying the base game Caravan in a way! Flying the Kodiak is way more challenging than the Otter.

 

They both make sense of the UK airspace if going for islands (Hebrides, Shetlands, Orkney, ...)

 

In the end, it's a toss. Kodiak is better, the dev care a lot more about the aircraft, but the Twin Otter is the Twin Otter.

21 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

1.  I have been doing a 1930's/1940's "Golden Age"  career in Neofly using:

 

Do get the S.55 that released recently, it's excellent.

42 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

1.  I have been doing a 1930's/1940's "Golden Age"  career in Neofly using:

• Stearman*
• Staggerwing*
• Grumman Widgeon
• Grumman Goose*
• C140*
• c170

* = recommended

... I am working my way up to the 247D and eventually the DC6 and potentially the Connie if it shapes up OK. I have the ju52 but have not used it in Neofly yet.  I was tempted to get the Electra but the reviews were pretty ordinary.  It has been quite a rort flying an old school career and I am enjoying it immensely.

2.  With regard to the Kodiak, it is a much better aircraft than the default Caravan with more system depth, especially with the new added failures such as hot starts, and the Kodiak is well worth having,  There appear to be at least some Kodiaks operating in the UK:

https://private-jets.co.uk/aircraft/quest-kodiak-100.html

However you are correct in terms of Air Hauler it fills the same niche as the Caravan and would not add much to your career. Note there is apparently a "Floatiak" version in the works which would give a few interesting career options.

The JU52 would fit nicely in that "Golden Age" list, just before the 247D IMO (it flew 3 years earlier). It's not as complex as the Boeing but better than default aircraft. It flies nicely and can haul ~14 passengers and still have room for cargo. I prefer the 1939 version since it has a working autopilot. It's seems to be a bit overpowered but that might be realistic for all I know.

As for the Kodiak, It's indeed much better (=complex) than the default Caravan but I would have prefered a complex Caravan instead of a Kodiak.

Of the three the OP listed, I'd vote for the Kodiak, hands down.

Just gone through the same thing in AH2, my choice was C208 > CJ4. Easily get into 4000ft strips, and doesn't look out of place in the islands etc, great systems in the WT version so it's actually fun in bad weather.

They did use Twin Otters up here, not checked to see if anyone still uses them though...

 

G

 

What is a midsized aircraft hehe?  To me that's like a Saab 340 or DC3 hehe.  

We don't really have any of those so I'd just recommend the C414 from FSW or Kodiak from SWS.