6 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Yeah - it'd be great to flex a Mach 2 STOL plane that can legit operate on 1500ft runways 😁

Yes, I am looking forward to try some road bases! 🙂

I would buy a nice fighter jet for MSFS 2024, if the price is right (probably no more than $30 USD), provided it performs quite realistically compared to the real thing.  People say the default F-18 in MSFS flies nothing like the real thing.  So if a company made a very high fidelity fighter jet that has a very good flight model, and has decent ground handling too (especially because ground handling has improved immensely in MSFS 2024), that's something I would consider.  Sounds like Heatblur makes very high fidelity aircraft for DCS World, so if they could repeat their feat in MSFS 2024, that's something I would be interested in.

It's fun to take a fighter jet and fly around MSFS 2024, turn on the afterburners for the extra speed, etc.  It's especially fun to fly low to the ground, like it's Top Gun 2 🤣. 

It doesn't have to be Heatblur though, it can be another company that has made a high fidelity fighter jet.  As long as the price is reasonable (no more than $30 USD), it's something I would consider.  I can also wait for it to go on sale, so if the initial release is above $30 USD, I would wait for a sale and hopefully the price drops down to around $30 USD during the sale.

I see the price of Heatblur's F4E for DCS World is $68 USD though at their website: https://store.heatblur.com/products/dcs-f-4-phantom-1.  That's a bit too steep for me if they price it at $68 USD for MSFS 2024, since I think I would only fly it around maybe about 10 times. 

Edited March 17, 20251 yr by abrams_tank

I really enjoy the IndiaFoxtEcho's F-35, been using it since P3D

8 hours ago, Tuskin38 said:

I really enjoy the IndiaFoxtEcho's F-35, been using it since P3D

I really like the fact that it's 3 aircraft in one (Air Force, STOVL, and carrier capable).

Good nav systems, too 😁

9 hours ago, abrams_tank said:

I would buy a nice fighter jet for MSFS 2024, if the price is right (probably no more than $30 USD), provided it performs quite realistically compared to the real thing.  People say the default F-18 in MSFS flies nothing like the real thing.  So if a company made a very high fidelity fighter jet that has a very good flight model, and has decent ground handling too (especially because ground handling has improved immensely in MSFS 2024), that's something I would consider.  Sounds like Heatblur makes very high fidelity aircraft for DCS World, so if they could repeat their feat in MSFS 2024, that's something I would be interested in.

It's fun to take a fighter jet and fly around MSFS 2024, turn on the afterburners for the extra speed, etc.  It's especially fun to fly low to the ground, like it's Top Gun 2 🤣. 

It doesn't have to be Heatblur though, it can be another company that has made a high fidelity fighter jet.  As long as the price is reasonable (no more than $30 USD), it's something I would consider.  I can also wait for it to go on sale, so if the initial release is above $30 USD, I would wait for a sale and hopefully the price drops down to around $30 USD during the sale.

I see the price of Heatblur's F4E for DCS World is $68 USD though at their website: https://store.heatblur.com/products/dcs-f-4-phantom-1.  That's a bit too steep for me if they price it at $68 USD for MSFS 2024, since I think I would only fly it around maybe about 10 times. 

Well, the good news is that the HB's Tomcat for MSFS is just $35! They don't make you pay for the radar and weapons in MSFS 😁

But really, it all depends on what kind of experience you're seeking and what compromises you're willing to make.

India Foxt Echo makes decent stuff, but I've never loved their flight models (too mechanical and "twitchy" for my taste). That said, the F-35 has a lot going for it in terms of systems and capabilities. The ability to hover like a helicopter in the B model, or do legit aircraft carrier ops in the C model provides a great amount of variety. $28

And of course, it has what must be pretty much the penultimate glass cockpit 😎

I lean a bit more towards their M-346 jet trainer, tho. It's much more like a 4th Gen jet than the F-35 (obvs!), and the systems are more comfortable for my particular tastes. $28

The TMS F-22 is very nicely done, and you can make good use of it. Systems are not as in depth as the F-35 due to its still tight secrecy. But it has a full nav suite, and it's as comfortable cruising supersonic at 60,000ft like the Concorde, as it is tearing around the Mach Loop or Star Wars Canyon. $36

Also keep an eye out for the brand new TMS T-7A Redtail jet trainer. Looks sharp but due to v2024 MP, I haven't been able to get at it yet.

IMHO, one of the best MSFS .mil experiences is the recently updated for v2024 Just Flight Hawk T1/a.

Superb attention to detail, what even I consider to be a good flight model, it's as fast as a jetliner, and has a steam gauge cockpit with a basic GPS.

Great for cruising and sight seeing, and just like the IRL bird, it will make you a better pilot. $38.

Most of these are significantly discounted during the major holiday sales, and I've generally found the best prices thru MS MP or SimMarket.

P.s., if you like airliner style flying, the TMS B-2 Spirit is literally a work of art ❤️

19 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

If that's the way you think, I hope you don't own a firearm...

I live in a place where I see a broad spectrum of military aircraft on nearly a daily basis.

None of them are running combat sorties (thankfully).

I can see them on adsb exchange and the vast majority are doing what are obviously VFR cross country, IFR navigation exercises, and a heckuva lot of cargo ops.

And when's the last time you tried carrier operations? If you think you're a crack pilot, give that a try. I hope you like the taste of humble pie, 'couse you'll be eating a LOT of it.

Military aircraft are a LOT of fun to fly because they're high performance aircraft that have flight envelopes well in excess of anything civilian.

But one of my favorite features of .mil aircraft is simply that they offer an excellent view out of their canopies. E.g., there is no better sightseeing aircraft than the F-16 with its frameless bubble canopy and ultra low cockpit rails, with the possible exception of the F-22 due to its super cruise and literally Care Free Handling qualities (yeah, that's a quote from IRL official USAF sources).

Oh, and didja know they're all IFR qualified and have really nice nav systems...

You should give it a try - you might be surprised. 😎

Been flying the DCS Hornet since 2018 and DCS Phantom since release.   And yeah I can trap on the supercarrier.

15 hours ago, Boomer said:

Been flying the DCS Hornet since 2018 and DCS Phantom since release.   And yeah I can trap on the supercarrier.

Me, too!

Which makes your "ridiculous" comment seem even more ridiculous and uninformed.

I’m also looking forward to the azur poly Jaguar which should be out pretty soon, that one really looks like a nice cockpit.

20 hours ago, jon b said:

I’m also looking forward to the azur poly Jaguar which should be out pretty soon, that one really looks like a nice cockpit.

Oh, yeah - that video by CGAviator made it look rather nice!