I personally enjoy Airbus (Fenix) with a stick (WinWing).  Just feels more modern to me plus more versatile with other aircraft (small planes and helos)

23 hours ago, martinboehme said:

Given your username, I'm sure you'll also agree that a real airplane is controlled with a stick, not a yoke? 😁

In an aircraft that requires finesse, absolutely.  In something heavy like an airliner, I'll take a yoke - the extra leverage makes precise control easier in something with heavier controls. 

In an airliner where I'm just talking to a computer, I guess I'd still prefer a yoke - it would at least give me the illusion that I was still being a pilot.  😁

From a sim perspective, I do totally agree that it's a matter of preference.  If only getting one controller, I guess I'd prefer a stick just because it seems more flexible - it seems less wrong to fly a yoke aircraft with a stick than vice versa, but see, that's totally subjective too.  I think the main thing is, whatever kind of controller the OP opts for, just try to get the best quality you can.  You should really try to prefer hall sensors over potentiometers, and get something nice and smooth.  

For several years after I started simming, I made do with the cheapest plastic-on-plastic thrustmaster stick.  My rationale was pretty dismissive towards the feel of "flying" that desktop sims could provide; I expected it wouldn't be very good so I didn't see any reason to spend more money to chase a feel that wouldn't be very good .. so, self-fullfilling prophecy, my feel of flying wasn't very good.  I finally broke down and got a Warthog stick for more hands-on buttons in DCS than for any other reason... But my goodness that was eye opening.  Every aircraft in every sim was suddenly brand new and SO MUCH BETTER! 

So, TL;DR, yeah - my advice is fly any sim aircraft you like with any type of controller you like... But make sure you get the best quality of that type of controller you can.  It really DOES make a large difference.  👍

Both really, although if I had to pick, I'd have to slightly favour Airbus.

I switched my CH HOTAS and pedals to VKB and the difference was night and day. Not needing dead zones for twitchy controllers improves the precision of your flying. I also got loads more buttons and the programming software is very powerful.

The VKB Gladiator is great value for a gimballed joystick.

Here is another vote for either the PMDG 737 or the Fenix A320. I tend to fly the Fenix more just because it is so well polished, but I enjoy both aircraft (although I am flying more helicopters and GA right now). 

Also, I fully concur with all those recommending QUALITY controls. In addition to all the good quality controls already mentioned, I would also check out Virpil controls and also the TM TPR pedals. Those are some of the very best flight sim pedals I have ever used. The TM HOTAS sticks are also top notch.

Lots of nice and expert suggestions for start-up hardware etc. to fly one or both of these two fine (domestic) airliner SIMs we have today in the SIM…for someone starting fresh, and returning after a break of decades…

To OP:

Whichever one (A- or B-), you choose to get started, will not hurt our feelings here…hopefully…🙂…

You are a former PPL, so, with the abundant on-line resources available these days, compared to what you might recall from your FS9 days, it will not be difficult for you at all to get flying…

All I had for the FS2004 737 NG, was the PMDG Tutorial, and that was enough for me, myself never been in the cockpit of an aircraft, except in static exhibits in the museums..🙂…

On 1/11/2026 at 12:53 PM, BarryEIDW said:

Do I invest in an Airbus sidestick and the Fenix A320, or a Boeing yoke and the PMDG 737?

I use the TM Boeing Pendulum Yoke and TQ and fly both planes mentioned, except use I-Fly's MAX 8 instead of PMDG's 737 in MSFS 2024.  I was new to Airbus as of about 2y ago and Fenix's A320 is nothing short of wonderful in all areas, especially integration with both GSX Pro as well as Self Loading Cargo all three of which work perfectly together.  I used flight sticks in decades past playing w/ military jets but the is no need, barring dedication to trying to match what's used in Airbus.  IOW, the Boeing Pendulum yoke works fabulously not only in Airbus but also rotor craft which I've recently gotten into, and of course everything in between.  It helps with that yoke to have a concave edge on the desk it's mounted on which helps with ergonomics.  It's my favorite piece of sim hardware.

Some believe Airbus 'flies itself...' a little too much and prefer Boeing in that area.  However I hand fly both to 10K feet and so think that issue is purely up to the pilot in command.   I think the layout and built-in 'safety' features in Airbus are superior to what the 737 or MAX 8 offer.  

 

Hi All..
OP here again.
Firstly.. a very big thank you to all who replied. Delighted that my first post has generated such good discussion!
I have decided to go with Airbus for now.
A lot of you have suggested I try both however I want to make the most of my limited time on the sim so I'll focus on Airbus for now.  Life is busy and I want to make the most of the few hours per week I get to enjoy the hobby.

Study time will also be limited therefore I hope the automation of Airbus will allow me to become proficent for a greater level of enjoyment in the shorter time.

Two more questions..

Should I jump righ in and purchase Fenix or is the default A320 a good starting point?
Also, can you recommend any good online tutorial or payware courses available to help get started on the aircraft?

 

Thanks again for all your contributions and looking forward to flying the Shamrock in the virtual skies!

 

Barry

 

Go for the Fenix off the bat. 320simpilot is one of my preferred YouTubers. Unaware of any paid course with the 320, but for future reference I did enjoy “airlinepilotperformance” for the 737.

depends wether you want to busy or not 

I'm a big Boeing fan... I like the FMC system much more then the Airbus system so my vote is PMDG 737, 777 and iFly MAX.

Most of my real world hours is in the DA20 Katana which uses a control stick.  I had a yoke many years ago but it got in my wife and kids way when they wanted to use the computer so I purchased a Logitech 3d extreme stick.  I still use it to this day even though they now have their own computers.  I lucked out and acquired a second control stick so my kids and I can share the odd flight together when the planets align.  I appreciate having the desk space and the flexibility to move the stick out of of the way.  Besides, it brings back fond memories from my real flying days.  Having the Winwing hardware peripherals is a huge game changer!

Long story short - Boeing and control stick here.

Most importantly... have fun with the hobby!  There are so many incredible addons out now compared to the early sim days.  It's incredible how far it has come along.

24 minutes ago, BarryEIDW said:

Hi All..
OP here again.
Firstly.. a very big thank you to all who replied. Delighted that my first post has generated such good discussion!
I have decided to go with Airbus for now.
A lot of you have suggested I try both however I want to make the most of my limited time on the sim so I'll focus on Airbus for now.  Life is busy and I want to make the most of the few hours per week I get to enjoy the hobby.

Study time will also be limited therefore I hope the automation of Airbus will allow me to become proficent for a greater level of enjoyment in the shorter time.

Two more questions..

Should I jump righ in and purchase Fenix or is the default A320 a good starting point?
Also, can you recommend any good online tutorial or payware courses available to help get started on the aircraft?

 

Thanks again for all your contributions and looking forward to flying the Shamrock in the virtual skies!

 

Barry

 

Glad for your decision. You’re now on your way…
I totally understand the limited time aspect of the simulation…especially for those of us for whom this is not our day job…🙂…

Fenix has been a pioneer in the new MSFS Airbus simulation and sets the standard. You cannot go wrong with the choice…

Have fun…!

For a normal flight, 737 and 320 isn't really that different, you need to be more involved in switching electric and bleed etc before start taxi and after landed in 737, but once you are moving, there really isn't much difference.

If you just enjoy flight from point A to point B, that's it.

If you plan to fly the full drill. including all initial and recurrent training course, the difference is more significant:

737 is dumb, when things fail, she'll tell you "I have pain here, here and here" it's up to you to figure out what's wrong with her and take appropriate action referring the non-normal checklist.

320 will show you "Here is my problem and here is how you should do to isolate or solve it" on ECAM. 

Of course things can and do get out of the computers ability and pilots need to have full picture of the system working condition based on all the knowledge and training, but in general, Airbus, or Any currently in production airliner (777, 787, Ejet,919 what not...) is much earlier than 737.

On that, don't just confine to 737 vs 320, you got choice of PMDG777, basically an Airbus build by Boeing, or iniBuild A306, the Best Boeing build by Airbus. And Leonardo Maddog, a even wilder dog than 737...

14 hours ago, BarryEIDW said:

Should I jump righ in and purchase Fenix or is the default A320 a good starting point?

I'm not an Airbus expert but since no one else has answered this yet - the Fenix is probably worth buying off the bat, as it is universally praised.  However if you do decide to try a free Airbus at first to see if you like it, it's worth checking out the Fly By Wire A320.  (On forums it's the FBW).  I believe it's a mod for the default 320 that's supposed to be very good.  

16 hours ago, BarryEIDW said:

Should I jump righ in and purchase Fenix or is the default A320 a good starting point?

The default IS a good starting point. But the Fenix of course, being payware, comes with all the bells and whistles and after quite a few iterations is now a mature and very polished product that stands head and shoulders above the competition.