I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the Kodiak... it's handling with any kind of weight on-board is way too knife-edge to be realistic when you see how Ryan pilots that thing in Missionary Bush Pilot. I mean, in the sim, if your torque drops below 800 it literally falls out of the sky. If the real plane was as unstable as the SWS version, it would never be used.

Anyway, I read a previous thread complaining that the Caravan in 2024 has horrible handling as well and was buggy, but that was back in February.

Has it improved at all?  Is it worth trying?

I want a STOL workhorse with a turboprop and high wings and it seems the Caravan and Kodiak are my only real choices. But maybe I'm overlooking something?

12 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the Kodiak... it's handling with any kind of weight on-board is way too knife-edge to be realistic when you see how Ryan pilots that thing in Missionary Bush Pilot. I mean, in the sim, if your torque drops below 800 it literally falls out of the sky. If the real plane was as unstable as the SWS version, it would never be used.

Anyway, I read a previous thread complaining that the Caravan in 2024 has horrible handling as well and was buggy, but that was back in February.

Has it improved at all?  Is it worth trying?

I want a STOL workhorse with a turboprop and high wings and it seems the Caravan and Kodiak are my only real choices. But maybe I'm overlooking something?

The Kodiak has had flight model issues since its release in 2020.  Canadian CPT Mustache released a flight model mod that was much better if you can find it, but it's gone off .to as far as I know. 

I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Blackbird (Milviz) PC-6 Porter if you're willing to look at different airplanes though.  It was the first flight model I really fell in love with in 2020 and it's great in 2024.  I'm not certain it's being sold for 2024 yet but if you just copy the folder from the 2020 Community folder to the 2024 one, it's solid.  There's no better platform for flying in Papua, from performance to visibility.  It was designed in real life specifically for this mission after all.  Nosewheel aircraft simply aren't as capable at this kind of flying.

Edited July 18, 2025Jul 18 by Stearmandriver

8 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

I want a STOL workhorse with a turboprop and high wings and it seems the Caravan and Kodiak are my only real choices. But maybe I'm overlooking something?

How about a low-wing alternative, which is a well-known workhorse, the Pilatus PC12?

2020 or 2024?

If 2020 is OK, check out the Blackbird PC-6. One of the best sounding turboprops in MSFS, flies great, and the immersion is there too. And it's a taildragger, so you can snub your nose at those hamfisted beginners that can only fly Caravans or Kodiaks. 😉

I'm not sure if a 2024 version has been announced, but I'm hoping there will be one soon.

The PC-12 isn't really suitable as a bush workhorse, it was built for a different mission.  It's fast though.

1 minute ago, Flyfox said:

How about a low-wing alternative, which is a well-known workhorse, the Pilatus PC12?

I haven't considered it, but maybe I should... who makes a good PC12 for 2024?

1 minute ago, martinboehme said:

2020 or 2024?

If 2020 is OK, check out the Blackbird PC-6. One of the best sounding turboprops in MSFS, flies great, and the immersion is there too. And it's a taildragger, so you can snub your nose at those hamfisted beginners that can only fly Caravans or Kodiaks. 😉

I'm not sure if a 2024 version has been announced, but I'm hoping there will be one soon.

If you just copy the folder from the 2020 Community to 2024 Community, it works great.  Oh, and the clean glass mod on .to is effective as well, so sightseeing is spectacular.

19 minutes ago, Stearmandriver said:

The Kodiak has had flight model issues since its release in 2020.  Canadian CPT Mustache released a flight model mod that was much better if you can find it, but it's gone off .to as far as I know. 

I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Blackbird (Milviz) PC-6 Porter if you're willing to look at different airplanes though.  It was the first flight model I really fell in love with in 2020 and it's great in 2024.  I'm not certain it's being sold for 2024 yet but if you just copy the folder from the 2020 Community folder to the 2024 one, it's solid.  There's no better platform for flying in Papua, from performance to visibility.  It was designed in real life specifically for this mission after all.  Nosewheel aircraft simply aren't as capable at this kind of flying.

This is the plane I fly in Papua as well. Great fun! And the PNG 4 pack just launched on Orbx this week. Those four packs plus the Porter are some of the best bush flying. 

3 minutes ago, Gulf76 said:

This is the plane I fly in Papua as well. Great fun! And the PNG 4 pack just launched on Orbx this week. Those four packs plus the Porter are some of the best bush flying. 

Oh?  I'll have to look that up.

hmm that might be my round up as well. Comming from the A2A Comanche i was pretty amazed to see my self stalling and crashing this bird. 

On long terms  ? - i hope i will be doing a PAJN-SCEL later on (any use of the TDS in the A2A btw - or just the PMS ?)

 

Michael Moe

31 minutes ago, Stearmandriver said:

If you just copy the folder from the 2020 Community to 2024 Community, it works great.  Oh, and the clean glass mod on .to is effective as well, so sightseeing is spectacular.

That's great to know!

I got the PC-6 not long before MSFS 2024 came out. I then drifted away from the PC-6 as I went off exploring 2024 for a while - but this thread has reminded me how much I enjoyed flying it, and I can't wait to get back into it!

Good to know you rate it highly. I hear you know a thing or two about taildraggers? 😉

1 hour ago, Flyfox said:

How about a low-wing alternative, which is a well-known workhorse, the Pilatus PC12?

The SWS PC12 seems to have its own share of FM issues, as well (tho it’s getting steadily better). 
which is a shame, as I really enjoy both types over in X-Plane (esp with the REP upgrade).

but for what they do, MSFS is where I want to fly those sorts of aircraft, especially with 2024’s improved rough field experience. so I look to other Hi Fi aircraft, even if they’re not cargo haulers IRL. 

Get the Blacksquare TBM 850. You will love it. 

Agree on any Blacksquare. 

And talking about Caravans, how about the Blacksquare analog one? it is very nice. 

52 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

The SWS PC12 seems to have its own share of FM issues, as well (tho it’s getting steadily better). 
which is a shame, as I really enjoy both types over in X-Plane (esp with the REP upgrade).

but for what they do, MSFS is where I want to fly those sorts of aircraft, especially with 2024’s improved rough field experience. so I look to other Hi Fi aircraft, even if they’re not cargo haulers IRL. 

What is wrong with the SWS PC12 FM, I fly it all the time, and it flies fine?