What would you recommend? Caravan? Kodiak? Something else? I prefer a glass cockpit. Playing MSFS 2024.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Virtual-Chris

The SWS Kodiak 100 seems perfect for your needs. They just came out with a 2024 Amphib version. I think their Kodiak 900 is supposed to come out this year? Hopefully. That one is quite a bit faster than the 100, but maybe a little less "bush" equipped.

I own the 2020 and 24 native versions... great sounds, flight model, a solid addon. It's not pressurized though, so you're limited to 12,500 (USA regs with some caveats).

I guess the recently released Carenado Dornier might fit your bill... it's partial glass if you fly the Aspen and some GPS units. It's not super bush though.

The default C208 is not as nice as the Black Square... but it's G1000 as well. There is a decent mod for the default one though. (I would highly recommend the Black Square too)

https://flightsim.to/addon/104577/msfs-2024-c208b-ex-caravan-improvement-mod

Echo 19 also made a sound pack for the default C208 (and it works with this mod)

Edited July 23Jul 23 by ryanbatc

+1 on that.

58 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

The SWS Kodiak 100 seems perfect for your needs. They just came out with a 2024 Amphib version. I think their Kodiak 900 is supposed to come out this year? Hopefully. That one is quite a bit faster than the 100, but maybe a little less "bush" equipped.

I own the 2020 and 24 native versions... great sounds, flight model, a solid addon. It's not pressurized though, so you're limited to 12,500 (USA regs with some caveats).

I guess the recently released Carenado Dornier might fit your bill... it's partial glass if you fly the Aspen and some GPS units. It's not super bush though.

The default C208 is not as nice as the Black Square... but it's G1000 as well. There is a decent mod for the default one though. (I would highly recommend the Black Square too)

https://flightsim.to/addon/104577/msfs-2024-c208b-ex-caravan-improvement-mod

Echo 19 also made a sound pack for the default C208 (and it works with this mod)

I flew the Kodiak back in 2020 and found it very difficult to land on a short strip as at low torque it had a tendency to drop out of the sky. It was also extremely unstable on takeoff with any kind of load (even with rudder pegged). I think the prevailing theory at the time was that they modelled too much drag on the prop and flaps so that it fell like a brick at low torque/speed. Did they address that? I'm very reluctant to fork over more money for the same issues.

49 minutes ago, Fielder said:

+1 on that.

Please see my comment/question above to ryanbatc. I'd love your thoughts on it. I watched a lot of the Missionary Bush Pilot and the real life plane just seems way more stable than the SWS version. I've seen him land it with like 300-400 torque. In the sim, with the 2020 version of the plane, if you were not over 800 torque you were likely to fall out of the sky.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Virtual-Chris

SWS Pilatus PC12, you have it all, bush, short field TO and landing, cargo and passenger, sturdy, reliable, classic avionics with 3 different GPS options.

Kodiak for me.

@Virtual-Chris Yes, that is sorted out in the MSFS2024 version.

1 hour ago, Paul K said:

Kodiak for me.

@Virtual-Chris Yes, that is sorted out in the MSFS2024 version.

That’s great. Thanks.

12 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

The default C208 is not as nice as the Black Square... but it's G1000 as well. There is a decent mod for the default one though. (I would highly recommend the Black Square too)

See I find the default 208 to be quite stable, I used it a lot in 2020, the 2024 version seems to work just fine as well (I've probably only got 8-10 hours in the '24 version however); @ryanbatc What's the main differences between the paid version, the mod, and the default? I assume the paid version would matter more if you've flown the real one IRL?

5 hours ago, Kristofski said:

See I find the default 208 to be quite stable, I used it a lot in 2020, the 2024 version seems to work just fine as well (I've probably only got 8-10 hours in the '24 version however); @ryanbatc What's the main differences between the paid version, the mod, and the default? I assume the paid version would matter more if you've flown the real one IRL?

I also enjoyed the C208 - especially compared to the Kodiak - as it was a lot more stable. But hopefully the Kodiak is more stable now.

As for the key difference between the Asobo and Black Square Caravan, the Asobo uses a glass G1000 cockpit vs steam gauges for the Black Square. I’m not sure if the flight model is any better/different.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Virtual-Chris

The best sim bush plane out there is still the Milviz PC-6. A taildragger is always going to outperform a nosedragger on sloping or unimproved strips.

I'm not sure it can be purchased for 2024 though. I dropped the 2020 version in community folder and it works great and is so much fun in Papua. It's still got one of the best stick and rudder flight models in the sim. But, may not be for you if you want native 2024.

11 hours ago, Virtual-Chris said:

G1000 cockpit vs steam gauges

I bet this would be a good poll question - I'm on team G1000 lol give me all the bells and whistles

11 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

The best sim bush plane out there is still the Milviz PC-6. A taildragger is always going to outperform a nosedragger on sloping or unimproved strips.

I'm not sure it can be purchased for 2024 though. I dropped the 2020 version in community folder and it works great and is so much fun in Papua. It's still got one of the best stick and rudder flight models in the sim. But, may not be for you if you want native 2024.

It’s a bit small for the jobs I want to do.

9 hours ago, Kristofski said:

I bet this would be a good poll question - I'm on team G1000 lol give me all the bells and whistles

Yeah. In my case I’ve invested in home cockpit controls for it and time spent learning it so it’s kinda mandatory for me now. I’m actually considering the Moza panels to make it more immersive which would make me completely committed.

On 7/22/2026 at 7:31 PM, Virtual-Chris said:

I flew the Kodiak back in 2020 and found it very difficult to land on a short strip as at low torque it had a tendency to drop out of the sky. It was also extremely unstable on takeoff with any kind of load (even with rudder pegged). I think the prevailing theory at the time was that they modelled too much drag on the prop and flaps so that it fell like a brick at low torque/speed. Did they address that? I'm very reluctant to fork over more money for the same issues.

It handles great now, whether at MTOW or lightly loaded. No issues with heavily sloped dirt strips. 👍

Now - throttle/torque settings and drag index seem to be mismatched to IRL (too much drag when configured for landing), but it doesn’t interfere with operating the aircraft at all

And while the BS Caravan is extremely well simulated in terms of systems, it still suffers from being too tame/easy to fly vs conditions. This is just how BS models things - highly focused on matching Book Numbers

So, you have to choose whether you want livelier handling and a glass cockpit or the precisely simulated engine, avionics, etc

For me, I fly the Kodiak for all bush flights, and the Caravan for regular commuter ops. It’s a great way to enjoy both