The Greener

Are you serious my friend from Norway? You set up a long haul flight, slap on the autopilot then go to bed and wake up to land??!! Wow! That's serious dedication!!

For me its all about immersion and reality. My environment (cockpit / scenery / airports) have to be as realistic as possible. I fly the NGX on routes taking no more than 1 hour. I use EZDoc for realism and camera views. I have no "cold and dark" desires whatsoever. Can't imagine why you would want to flick a series of switches and knobs in the correct sequence to hear an engine start up! I jump into a "ready to taxi" office, I plan my route, I prep my FMC, I download or set tasty weather, I take off from and land at a high quality payware airport. Job done. I fly for a UK VA and a USA VA. Sometimes I will drop the commercial big stuff and spend time flying my RealAir Lanc around some beautiful mountains or Caribbean islands. The PMDG 777 will be fully utilised in the same way performing maximum one hour routes for very fictional cargo purposes! Addicted to this daft hobby, but I love it. 2013 will be the year for investment in ORBX. Can't wait!!

I love this community. Nice people taking time to help others they have never met (and probably never will!) by offering genuine help and opinions. Thank you all!

Thanks guys for your views - much appreciated. I do own the RealAir Legacy and the Duke and I really love these products. What's your feelings regarding the "graphic" quality of the cockpits? It seems that A2A have produced a more accurate model in terms of mechanical/electrical systems but I wondered which one has the more realistic/immersive cockpit? Stupid question I guess because unless you own both then how can you compare?!!

I am keen to buy the best Spitfire but would appreciate other members views on the models currently available. I only know of A2A and RealAir offering quality payware versions and both seem highly praised. Any thoughts please before I leap in and invest?

Oh dear. I thought it was really poor. Best way I can describe it is "milking the Bond brand". Good 2 hours of action but absolutely no plot and old icons (such as the DB5) thrown in for good measure without any real explanation. Making Daniel do the cheezy one-liners was terrible, they simply don't fit with his Bond. Sorry!

I am unable to compare them as I only own the RealAir version. However, I can say that the RealAir is an absolute joy to fly. The PMDG NGX of the GA world. Please don't hesitate to buy it.

Can someone kindly advise what lighting procedures pilots use on the flightdeck during all phases of night flying? Obviously whilst prepping the aircraft they flood the main panel but whilst taxiiing and taking off would they knock out the main flood to leave just the key instruments illuminated? How about the cruise and descent/landing at night? I guess they can use flood lighting at anytime to carry out important work but bright lights for take off / landing would be very distracting? Thanks!

Thank you Benniehanas! Time to invest!

Just bought EZDok and so impressed by the realism it provides. Really adds to the experience. Guys is it possible to install an ORBX airport without the land textures that they say you must have first?

The new Aerosoft Helsinki is a beauty although the OOM problem is annoying. Still occurs despite the fix they offer. I love the ORBX stuff but can someone tell me if I need to install their underlying ground textures to use their airports, or can I install an airport without them? Fly Tampa Kai Tak is a masterpiece and lets not forget Gary here in the UK who produces some awesome FPS friendly stuff.

Each to their own lads! The Airbus X is actually very good and "crap" is a little strong. They have made it clear that you won't pay twice for the same data. Airbus X owners will get a discounted deal for the Extended version. I'm a great Aerosoft fan, particularly for airports which are mostly outstanding. All these things are subjective so one man's meat.................