26 minutes ago, jon b said:

On a new aircraft I’ve not flown before I employ the H.M “ howling mad” Murdock technique of spending 5 seconds looking around the flight deck pointing at things I’ll need then just blasting off.

Ha - YES!!

I have to believe Eric Brown might’ve done somewhat the same to get through all those IRL warbirds!

I mean, just imagine trying to figure out how to fly all the captured Axis birds! 😎

40 minutes ago, cowpatz said:

The first time I have 'heard' the Aerostar being referred to as ugly 🙂

Well, all planes are beautiful in their own way of course, as are ships, but it’s not my thing looks-wise for whatever reason, and I usually like funky 1970s anything. But I love it anyway because of its speed and great visibility and (of course) A2A quality.

1 minute ago, Republic DC9 said:

Well, all planes are beautiful in their own way of course, as are ships, but it’s not my thing looks-wise for whatever reason, and I usually like funky 1970s anything. But I love it anyway because of its speed and great visibility and (of course) A2A quality.

I only have a few hours logged in the real thing but a few things that stand out, were the speed, handling and the sound of those electric crossfeed valves. When operated during preflight they make the most wonderful whirring sound which I hope A2A have faithfully captured in the sim model.
The aircraft I flew at the time did not have a particular mod installed which required the addition of an extra dorsal type fin or strakes? (I can't recall exactly). From my fuzzy memory, this mod was required to enhance certain engine out conditions. It had to be operated flapless until the mod was installed. I can recall my first night landing (not that long after checkout), was into a small GA airfield where the runway lighting had a partial failure and only the centre third was operational. It was then that the aircraft became GA's equivalent off the F104 Starfighter ! Stuff you only do when you're young, or stupid, or both.

Edited July 24Jul 24 by cowpatz

Yep. I brought the TFDI MD11 day one. Yet to fly it. Same for the PMDG 737, and I've only flown the Ifly Max once. I've learned my lesson, and will only purchase an aircraft that means something personal to me now.

I've only flown three airliner flights since last December as I simply lost the motivation, after 25 years of simming. I sold most of my Airbus hardware, apart from the mcdu, flew nothing for a couple of months then re-discovered Ant's Tiger Moth. I now happily potter around the UK in that, with the occasional A2A Comanche.
I've never really got on with glass cockpits and much prefer the clockwork variety. Sometimes I even revert to paper charts, chinagraph pencil and a ruler for flight planning, just as I did when I first started.
I think one reason for this is age related (79 next week) as I no longer have the patience to go through the complicated stuff, and staring at tiny numbers on a screen is a challenge.
I'll still buy the Fenix neo when comes out though...

5 hours ago, Chobble said:

flew nothing for a couple of months then re-discovered Ant's Tiger Moth. I now happily potter around the UK in that

I’d recommend the new Burning blue designs Netherthorpe EGNF grass airfield as a day out destination for your moth.

There’s a Tigermoth based there in the real world doing pleasure flights over the Peak District, I had a go a few years ago.

Compared to the dark ages of P3D, when quality addons were so few and far between, this era is unlike anything I have experienced in flight sim in 35 years, there is such a flow of aircraft, even more than the FSX days. And some days it makes deciding what to fly quite challenging and I admit a few times I have lost enough time trying to make a decision that I end up not flying at all. And I tend to concentrate on high-fidelity, commonly in service aircraft so it is not like I have dozens and dozens of them. It really is at the point now where I am just not interested in buying many aircraft; there has to be something different and engaging about them. I do not sim for variety. My motivation comes from flying realistic, modern operations and there need to be a believable underlying narrative, at least for a period of time. So, right now I am a corporate pilot and spending a good deal of time in the new Sovereign and the Phenom. That will keep me occupied for the next while. I do not jump around from aircraft to aircraft or place to place and that has kept me motivated and engaged for all these years.

I will skip the Commander, while it has some unique features is it is just another single engine piston of which I have several high quality, high fidelity ones to choose from. I will hold off on the 757 until it is 2024 native and then consider it but even then I am on the fence as it is a plane heading out of service and for the operations I do I would prefer a 777 or 787. I am interested in the 220 because there is a lot of operations I could do with it -- Air Canada has nearly 50 of them in service now -- and it is an interesting new plane that looks like it will give me a good number of hours of learning, and that is something I appreciate in an aircraft. But again I will hold off for a while to see how the aircraft is received and read and watch a good set of reviews - unfortunately, I have felt burned by a number of releases that initially hyped up only to be quite a let down. I am careful and deliberate in my choices now.

For scenery I do not buy much anymore. That said I have around 200 pay ware airports acquired over the pat 6 years, mostly in eastern North America but a good number around the world and virtually any operation I would want to do I have a pay ware airport for it now. Sometimes something like Chicago pops up but otherwise there is very little I feel I need.

I am happy now that I feel I have a good set up with the aircraft, airports and tools that I want and am focused on flying and carrying out missions.

One thing I have noticed is that a good departure + arrival airport is really important for me. There are some absolute stunners out there for free (like Gatwick) and payware like RW Profiles EGNT or Luton EGGW (I forget who made it) that transform the simulator.

I like to fly into places I've not flown before and if there's no decent freeware available it can get expensive quick on MSFS - X-Plane, not so much because the default airports are so good with accurate ground markings etc.

It seems silly to me to spend all that money on high fidelity aircraft while chasing realism and not have decent airports to fly into - the only drawback of course is buying an airport for a flight and then not going back there very often.

16 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Ha - YES!!

I have to believe Eric Brown might’ve done somewhat the same to get through all those IRL warbirds!

I mean, just imagine trying to figure out how to fly all the captured Axis birds! 😎

He spoke fluent German and interviewed pilots and ground crew beforehand.

Slightly bizarrely for a test pilot, they even had him interview Goering....

2 hours ago, jon b said:

I’d recommend the new Burning blue designs Netherthorpe EGNF grass airfield as a day out destination for your moth.

There’s a Tigermoth based there in the real world doing pleasure flights over the Peak District, I had a go a few years ago.

Just bought it, thank you. Did a couple of circuits, a little misty. I'll try the Peaks tomorrow. The Moth with Beam Eye Tracker is about as good as it gets I think.

I am more interested in the "interim" style cockpits than ultra modern ones. This is why I am more interested in the 757, 747-400, and Fokker 70/100 than I am in the likes of the 787, A350 or A220. The bigger the screens get, the less I like the look of the office!

I also prefer doing everything in the FMS rather than on an EFB.

Edited July 25Jul 25 by Christopher Low

9 minutes ago, Chobble said:

Just bought it, thank you. Did a couple of circuits, a little misty. I'll try the Peaks tomorrow. The Moth with Beam Eye Tracker is about as good as it gets I think.

Oh Brilliant, I hope you enjoy it, I’ve flown out of there a few times IRL and BB designs captured it really well, there’s not a lot there but what there is has been modelled very well.

Yes I live out in the Peaks and it’s just got misty and started drizzling. I often see the tiger moth going over on a summers evening.

Edited July 25Jul 25 by jon b

Like many, I'm also guilty of buying more aircraft addons than I have time to fly.

I suspect part of the reason is that I'm holding on to the habits I developed in the FS9 and FSX days. There were fewer quality addons then -- still a fair number, but not the glut we have now -- plus I had more time, so it was a no-brainer to buy everything that was good.

I've been getting better about this -- I don't have a single PMDG aircraft for MSFS, for example. (I know, shoot me -- I did a ton of PMDG flying in FS9 / FSX, so the absolute urge isn't there any more.) Didn't get the Tristar or the Fokker 70/100 because I know I don't have the time, even though I adore both aircraft. But I still regularly buy aircraft that I only end up flying a few times.

Part of it is that I simply don't know which addon I'll end up flying a lot. When I got the Piston and Turbine Duke, I suspected they'd be hangar queens that I'd drag out maybe once a year -- then I ended up flying almost nothing but the Dukes for a while. Conversely, I was super excited about the Starship, but then only did a few shakedown flights. I do want to get back to it eventually, but it will take a lot of time to learn to fly it properly.

But then -- is it really so bad to fly an addon just a few times? If the enjoyment I get out of it is worth the money to me, then I'd say it's perfectly justifiable. And then there's the idea of "supporting the developers". A hoary old chestnut maybe, but if my compulsive addon buying habit means that all of these wonderful aircraft are being recreated in digital form, allowing all those who could never dream of flying them in real life to enjoy them, then I know there are many other things I spend my money on that are a lot less worthy.

1 hour ago, weaklink said:

But then -- is it really so bad to fly an addon just a few times? If the enjoyment I get out of it is worth the money to me, then I'd say it's perfectly justifiable.

It’s certainly cheaper than a dinner out or a frequent happy hour habit.

And flight sims won’t make you fat or get you a DUI! 😎

4 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

He spoke fluent German and interviewed pilots and ground crew beforehand.

Slightly bizarrely for a test pilot, they even had him interview Goering....

I’m exaggerating to make the point 😉🤙