Ok, hear me out...

Speaking strictly about he Microsoft Flight Sim saga (yes P3D, that includes you too), the freeware community was nowhere near as active. Yes, there were AI traffic liveries, plane liveries, POSKY, and some sceneries, but they were mostly from reputable developers (Orbx). I can't think of a single freeware project that aimed to create such high fidelity planes. And when we got a freeware item, there were very few updates, if any at all. This has been so incredible for the flight sim community, and has allowed folks from all walks of life to dip their toes into experiencing flight...BUT...

It feels like we've been trapped in Beta world when it comes to payware. This could also be due to the gaming industry as a whole. There are now hundreds of early access games on Steam and other similar platforms. I've come to expect a certain standard of development from payware, because we have experienced such a high level of development from freeware developers. In a vacuum, PMDG creates a beautifully modeled project. But when you compare it to some freeware projects, it makes you scratch your head. Paying $70+ for a pretend plane, I know it's not going to be perfect...even though I wish it was....but the freeware community has shown me a proverbial 'line in the sand' when it comes to which products I'm willing to support, and which products I'm reluctant to give my money to.

Some of the projects I'm loosely speaking about are the MD11, E175, iniBuilds planes and scenery, the FENIX, and a few others. It seems like devs are just releasing things and fixing/adding to their products along the way. Now, I do appreciate that these products are being updated for free, however some of this is too little too late. I absolutely love the FENIX, even though I'm soooooo incredibly bored with Airbus. It's a fantastic plane, and you can feel the love and dedication they've put into it. But you can't successfully do a V1 cut. Most circuit breakers are modeled....but one of the most basic maneuvers we have to do in flight training can't be practiced. I could go on and on about other devs too, that was just an example that popped into my head. Not targeting any one developer specifically.

The reason freeware comes into play is, when comparing the payware from older generations of flight sim, we just "got what we got" and were generally happy with it. No EFB's, no Simbrief integration, no CPDLC, no extremely shiny high def models, didn't expect everything to work flawlessly, etc. Yeah there were some bad apples too, but far fewer, it seems like. We were generally contented with what we had, and most of our problems revolved around "affinity mask" and "bufferpools". Now that freeware has all of this stuff, personally I've come to expect this level of integration and fidelity from payware, as a base.

This got me thinking...what is the most feature complete payware airplane available in this context? Feature complete (to me) means not having to open any FS windows, not having to ALT+TAB, just being able to sit in the flight deck and have everything available to you through the plane itself, keeping you totally immersed all the while simulating the aircraft correctly. In my opinion, the PMDG 737 is now the most feature complete aircraft in MSFS, and here's why. Doors, chocks, aircraft options changeable on the fly, EFB (Navigraph integration, weather, & performance calculator), systems modeled (mostly) correctly, random and programmable failures, good handling, engine model, 3D model, realistic payload and fuel distribution, good performance...and the list goes on. Does it have everything? No, of course not, but it does touch everything that one could need during a flight. One could argue, that the Fenix is on par with the 737...but until the engine modeling is complete, (for me) it's just no there yet...

In MSFS yeah likely the 737 or Fenix A320

In XP the Hot Start challenger probably wins out for all sims.

As of last week PMDG 737 series.

PMDG has managed to release 4 variants in less time than Fenix has had to work on one engine variant.  I just don't get it.  What because of engine development we can't even get a sharklets CFM version.  geeze.

I do believe we have become extremely entitled since the launch of MSFS.  I bet if you flew some of your favorite old FSX or P3D planes youd be shocked at how archaic and terrible they were compared to MSFS.

 

 

I have to agree I am all in on PMDG, I have owned versions of their plane back to FSX, through to P3D (All Versions) now I am  on MSFS 98% of the time.

As a platform MSFS play with PMDG is brilliant.  Not to leave out the great freeware Airbus's from Horizon are they PMDG quality no, similar to Aerosoft 320 Pro series but it is FREE.   Thank you to all the freeware, vendors contributors on this platform that make our hobby as exciting as it is!

 

Some could argue (and they do) that freeware Zibo in Xplane in on par or even better than PMDG in P3D surely better than the MSFS version as far as a complete 737. A2A comanche and Leonardo MD82 are the best in MSFS as far as complete systems. FS Labs has the best Airliner of any sim but it's pricey.

Edited November 2, 20232 yr by JBDB-MD80

A2A Comanche.

There's your answer. Nothing else at this moment in time comes close. All the airliners have elements missing.

Yes, we're spoiled with a plethora of add-ons. I'd argue that it's about time. Flight simming was in the doldrums for at least10 years, so it's great the hobby has finally been dragged into the third decade of this century.

Not only airliners can be "feature complete", but so can GA aircraft.

Thanks to Working Title, the Garmin avionics are now better than they have ever been, and so are the avionics in the CJ4 and B787.

I find that recent payware GA aircraft: C414, Comanche, A36, TBM850 are all superior to what we had in earlier sims.

And even default aircraft like the G36, CJ4, and Longitude are quite "feature complete".

Edited November 2, 20232 yr by Bert Pieke

37 minutes ago, F737MAX said:

A2A Comanche.

There's your answer. Nothing else at this moment in time comes close. All the airliners have elements missing.

Yes, we're spoiled with a plethora of add-ons. I'd argue that it's about time. Flight simming was in the doldrums for at least10 years, so it's great the hobby has finally been dragged into the third decade of this century.

If you like slow and boring aircraft. Go for it.

2 minutes ago, YukonPete said:

If you like slow and boring aircraft. Go for it.

I ferried  Comanche once from CA to TX it wasn't  boring at all. Flying back in Southwest 737 sure was boring as hell LOL

FSR M500 is one of these feature complete addons. 

I have bought several payware planes. I don't regret buying any of them except one. I just avoid what I don't like. There's a couple things I check before purchase which rules out a lot of them and I don't buy them and therefore don't have to experience buyer regrets.

Everybody has their likes and dislikes. Make a short list of things that aren't acceptable in any plane and then wait for the youtube video reviews and check on those specific things. I find this has almost always prevented disappointment. YT allows trying before buying. You can watch long flights in most any plane before purchase. There should not then be any nasty surprises, you know what you're getting in advance.

Graphics. FPS Performance. How well the systems work. Nice little extras. Absence of any pet peeves (with me it's modern radios in old planes, I hate that. But most people don't.).

 

 

Hot Start challenguer 650 for any simulator.

For MFS Leonardo md82 and a2a

PMDG 737-700 and the Fenix  are the only reason I use MFS from time to time....

In P3D v5.4 it's their 777 and the FSLabs A319/20/21SL...

Other than that, maybe a bit Fenix too in MFS...

It depends a lot on how you define feature complete. Imho an airliner in sim will never be feature complete as they are more than highly complex and the devs have to abstract to some level. If you think of feature complete like in a real owner or pilot meets his sim aircraft and really all is working like you would expect in real world including correct wear and tear, then at least I would say there are only two planes in the msfs world  giving you this full 100% enjoyment. And these are the a2a Comanche and FSReborns Sting S4. The latter you even can pull the BRS system in case of emergency. Treat both well and you have a nice flight. Otherwise you fail. Modern tubeliners are nice - and I fly them , too - but you are just managing their limited feature set. 

Highly subjective as always and not the category the OP was aiming for me think but thats the interesting part of simming. Different angles and points of view 😉

Cheers and happy flying whatever you like

T.

4 hours ago, aniiran said:

PMDG has managed to release 4 variants in less time than Fenix has had to work on one engine variant. 

To be fair, this is something which is overlooked.  However, PMDG had the previous version's data to work with