With the release of the G3X by Working Title, I think it's time to crown MSFS as having the best default GA avionics for a flight simulator used at home.  Nothing comes close to MSFS at this point when it comes to default GA avionics. From my understanding, you can't even buy better payware GA avionics add-ons than the ones that Working Title did in the list below:

1. Working Title G1000 (NXi) is the best G1000 add-on for any flight simulator period.
2. Working Title G3000 is the best add-on for a flight simulator period.
3. Working Title G5000 is the best add-on for a flight simulator period.
4. Working Title G3X is the best add-on for a flight simulator period.

Just for clarification, when I say "add-on," I am referring to software avionics add-ons that can be integrated with the plane inside the simulator. I am not referring to external hardware avionics.  As for the Working Title GNS 430/530, I am not sure how does Working Title's compare to Reality XP GNS 430/530. However, Matt from Working Title did say this in Discord about the Working Title GNS 430/530 vs the Reality XP GNS 430/530:

Quote

Even for the GNS, ours is based on a later software version than the RealityXP, and can easily have updated navdata, unlike that version. It might not have a few small things, like the reminders and checklists pages, but it has some big stuff the RealityXP one doesn't, like ADS-B traffic avoidance system and NEXRAD.

I remember when much of the flight sim community was mocking MSFS for the poor avionics when it was released in 2020. I think now we have come a full circle, and MSFS is the de facto standard for GA avionics in flight simulation now. Not to mention that Working Title has done other good work in MSFS, including the default CJ4, default SR22, default 787, default 747, and more.

I wonder what is the next GA avionics that Working Title will work on. I see some people are speculating the G5?

Anyways, if you would like to show your appreciation for Working Title's work on the avionics, or their other work on other parts of MSFS, feel free to leave your feedback here!

Edited May 29, 20242 yr by abrams_tank

Agree with most of that.  Much of that is now integrated into MSFS 2020 itself as a result of AAUI 1 & 2.  So I believe the label of "add-on" can go away.

Working Title has been a godsend. MS and Asobo should open the doors to more elements based on that success, and the acclaim that followed.

1 hour ago, abrams_tank said:

I think it's time to crown MSFS

100% agreed. the crown is shared equally between Joerg Neumann for understanding the need for top notch avionics for this clientele and for spending MSFS's budget to improve the overall platform so no aircraft developer has to reinvent the garmin wheel for each and every airplane from scratch ever again. the other half of the crown goes to the men-at-work-ingtitle for implementing these advanced instruments. I think quite a few users would otherwise not be here anymore flying MSFS.

I second abrams's remark!

Indeed !!!

 

1 hour ago, fppilot said:

Agree with most of that.  Much of that is now integrated into MSFS 2020 itself as a result of AAUI 1 & 2.  So I believe the label of "add-on" can go away.

Working Title has been a godsend. MS and Asobo should open the doors to more elements based on that success, and the acclaim that followed.

Definitely, Working Title was the best hire by Jorge.

I was really happy to learn they were going to upgrade the G3X, because the Cub is such a beautiful and crafty plane, but the original default avionics were…painful. Now, it’s a work of art and it’s a blast to use. 

Definitely, the stuff in GA aircraft is absolutely great, not seen any payware that is better either.

Even stepping up to the FMS based systems you really have to look at top tier addons to beat them.

Completely changed the sim for me.

G

I’ve been flying the Piper M500 (FSR500) a lot lately, and I’ve got to say the WT G1000 is a beast.  The larger screen size is a godsend in VR.  And hats off to Navigraph for their charts integration.

I only recently starting gaming again after building a new PC. As 2024 was on the horizon I thought I'd stick to FSX until it was released.

Researching what database was available for the Reality XP GNS in FSX, I realised that MSFS 2020 had an almost fully functional GNS that uses Navigraph data so I bought 2020 straight away.

So Working Title gained Microsoft at least one additional Premium sale.

You all are much too kind, truly!

10 minutes ago, flyingscampi said:

Researching what database was available for the Reality XP GNS in FSX, I realised that MSFS 2020 had an almost fully functional GNS that uses Navigraph data so I bought 2020 straight away.

Has anybody used the RealityXP GNS 430/530? I really wonder how the Reality XP GNS 430/530 compare to the Working Title GNS 430/530.

Edited May 29, 20242 yr by abrams_tank

11 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

Has anybody used the RealityXP GNS 430/530? I really wonder how the Reality XP GNS 430/530 compare to the Working Title GNS 430/530.

I've never used a real one, but I used the RXP GNS a lot in FSX and the WT unit has everything (relevant to simulation) that the Garmin trainer used by RXP has. The old database used by the trainer means it is almost useless with current charts.

Very hard to disagree 🙂, we've gotten so much in terms of deeply simulated avionics in MSFS that it's an embarrassment of riches really, thanks to Working Title. And something we tend to take for granted now I think.

And not only avionics, but the amount of work they've put into various default aircraft to increase fidelity in systems, flight model, etc is also unprecedented for default aircraft, especially when considering something like the Citation Longitude, SR22, CJ4, 787, etc. Worth pointing out Matt's recent post on just how much work went into the 787 as an example to improve its fidelity by orders of magnitude (all of which other add-ons developers like Horizons Simulations and Kuro have used as a foundation):
 

 

Edited May 29, 20242 yr by lwt1971

1 hour ago, MattNischan said:

You all are much too kind, truly!

sometimes. 😄

1 hour ago, flyingscampi said:

I've never used a real one, but I used the RXP GNS a lot in FSX and the WT unit has everything (relevant to simulation) that the Garmin trainer used by RXP has. The old database used by the trainer means it is almost useless with current charts.

The current state of the RXP database is a compound situation.  First, each time Garmin updated the GNS trainer the RXP was quickly updated and as a result the database was updated. That occurred about once a year.  Second, with RXP and others left out the cold regarding MSFS, the active user base for RXP must have greatly diminished.  That has resulted in a now aged situation.  Had the full Garmin trainer been implemented at the onset of MSFS the story would logically be much different.