Memorable Aircraft

[Sean_TK]

Just thought of doing this post earlier today:

I was wondering if you guys are would be kind enough to perhaps name three of what you would consider to be your all time favorite aircraft addons. The ones that, throughout the months and years using FS, you keep coming back to. I'll start things off by saying that I always find myself downloading new aircraft, but there are three in my virtual hanger that have stood the test of time, and even after extended breaks from flying, I always find myself going back to.



1. Allied FS Group's NAMC YS-11A:
This aircraft has been around since the FS2002 days, and I have had it on my hard drive since the early days of FS2004. It has proven to be one of my favorite turboprop aircraft, and I continue to fly it quite often. It has a level of complexity which I enjoy, and the types of missions that it is designed to fly fits perfectly with the types of flights that I enjoy.

2. Project Tupolev's Tupolev Tu-154 series:
I have had some type of Tu-154 variation on my computer since the early days of FS2004 as well, and even though it is one of the most complex aircraft out there, free or pay, I keep finding myself coming back to it and learning something new each time. The first few years of FS2004 were spent with the venerable Tu-154B2, and I believe about a year ago, I made the full transition over to the Tu-154M, and have not stopped enjoying it!

3. POSKY's CRJ-200:
Another FS classic, and one that I believe can be found on most simmer's harddrives. I have used this aircraft since the early days of FS2002, and have continued to use it on occasion in the present time, with FS2004. It is a fast airplane, and nice for those days when I don't want to deal with the complexity of the Tu-154. And for being a 2002 aircraft, the model still looks pretty good!


And now for those reading this, if you could name either 2 or 3 aircraft that you always find yourself coming back to, freeware or payware, and perhaps a small explanation of your experience with it, as I have done above.

Thanks!
-Sean

[Nav]

Good question, SeanTK.

[Nessim]

The problem here, in my humble opinion, is that the taste change over the time. I used to flight big airliners, props or jets, but already now I tends to military fighters. But here goes my selection. All freeware.

1.- C-17 Globemaster II from Mike Stone. A very strange-looking heavy, no VC, simple but great, some good repaints over here, good animations (doors, reverse, spoilers)

[rpjkw11]

Tough to choose just three, however....

1. (Payware) A2A (WoP) B-17.  Great modeling and feels heavy. Well worth the money.

2. (Freeware) Any of the DC-9s & MD-8Xs from SGA. Again, good modeling and loads of repaints.  

3. (Freeware) Milton Shupe's Beech DS-18, for the same reasons as above.

Bob

[zacharace]

As I'm more of an air-transport guy, all three of my choices are Boeings, and two of them are heavies  8-) :
1. Level-D 767-300 (payware): Possibly one of the greatest and most realistic FS9 aircraft to date. A joy to fly, whether it be LHR-JFK or ATL-MCO.
2. Captain Sim 757 (payware): This is definitely debatable, but CS's model is simply beautiful. Full animations are also a plus. Throw in a great soundpack, good 2D panel, and PSS-quality avionics, this is one good plane. (And I got it for $15  ;D)
3. PMDG 747-400 (payware): Like the Level-D, PMDG has created a super-realistic, beautifully-modeled aircraft. 'Nuff said.
(In a close 4th: Leonardo's MadDog 2006)
All 3 (4) are definitely worth the money  ;)

[Sir_Crashalot]

1) Carenado's Cessna 182Q (payware). Excellent aircraft, great VC. I use it everytime I fly short hops.

2) MAAM DC-3 (payware). Same as above but for the longer hops.

3) Don't want to repeat the others here but definitely Milton Shupe's Aero Commander. The dirty Land's End Cargo repaint is still one of the best ever.

Crash

[Groundbound1]

It should be noted, that when I'm simming, I usually spend more time outside the aircraft than in. I've always been more of a spectator than a virtual pilot, in it more for the visual appeal than anything else.

Now, I have more than 30 GB of aircraft in my "hanger", but if I had to choose my favorite three, it would have to be as follows:

3) Any (and all) of Kirk Ollson's F-16 models. (and all available repaints.) Probably the first model I ever added to my sim, and for my freeware dollar, a quick view of the cocpit interior at night from the spot view is just about as good as it gets.

2) The Bellanca Decathlon by Long Island Classics. Visable ribbing and spars under a fabric covered airframe. Nuf said.

1) My favorite of all time, (and one of the newest in my hanger) the F-86 from SectionF8. I can sum this one up in one word, BEAUTIFUL!

(All freeware)

[MIKE JG]

Good topic especially since you can really feel the enthusiasm for FS9 fading these days.

1)  K.O.'s F-16 - probably more time on this one than anything else

2)  Traffic View Board

Yes I know it's not technically an aircraft but since I design so much and do so much with AI, it's been my default loadup "model" for years now, LOL..........

3)  This is a tossup as these two are too new to judge them against the others.  But for sure the SectionF8 F-86 Saber and just within the past week the payware VRS F/A-18E SuperHornet.

These two models have not just reset the bar for freeware and payware military models, they blew it off the map.

[Jet Black1]

Only three
I would have a hard time nameing only 30 :-/......LOL

1.MAAM sim DC-3,C-47 I fly it on most tours.

2.Aero Commander 500, 520, 680 by Milton Shupe

3.Beechcraft D18S by Milton Shupe

4.Twin Bonanza by Eric Dantes

5.FOUGA CM170 MAGISTER by Kari Virtanen and Mikko Maliniemi.

6.DHC-2 Beaver by Aerosoft

7.Carenado/ Beechcraft T-34, V-35, F-33, Cessna 182, 182RG, 206, 210, MOONEY M20J

8.WOP B-17, B-24, B-29

9.Eaglesoft Cessna Citation CJ1 & Citation IISP

10.De Havilland Dh.89a Dragon Rapide by David Garwood

11.Lockheed P-38F, P-38G, P-38H by David C. Copley

12.Waco UPF-7 By TIM PIGLET CONRAD

13.Vans RV3 By Gilles Arlove

14.Long Island Classics Christen Eagle II

15.ALPHA Cessna 170B, Cessna T-50 Bobcat, P-51D Mustang

16.Super King Air 300, Pilatus PC12L/PC12S by Allied FS Group

Well I know thats more then 3 and I could still keep going

Blue skies to all
Greg

[Fozzer]

My selection is quite simple..

(1) Freeware Cessna 150 Aerobat Trainer...(c150_v2).... http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/file?rk=hc ... search.htm

(2) Default Beech Baron 58.

These are the only aircraft I daily fly, both Solo and Multiplayer.

For my regular, General Aviation, Piston-prop, short-hop, touring requirements, these two aircraft fill the bill very nicely.....!

Some may find them boring, but at least they are practical!......!

Paul....G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Navigator...and a Carburettor Warmer... ...!

[microlight]

Categories rather than planes!

1) I've regressed to an earlier age of freeware (gave up on payware ages ago!) and tend to fly non-VC excellent model/panel combinations: the George Carty panel/HJG 707s, Richard Probst/Vistaliners 727s/Tinmouse II panel/Vistaliners 737-200 and the more recent Matthias Lieberecht panel/HJG BAe 146.

2) Freeware VC airliners: 737 Experience, Overland MD11; Posky 777s.

3) ... and for my pootling around; the Fravin VC Cessna C150 aerobat.

[Sir_Crashalot]

Can I update my list? Bought the Cessna 152 II from Carenado yesterday. Excellent stuff. Goes directly in my number one spot. So:

1) Cessna 152 (Carenado payware)
2) Cessna 182 (Carenado payware)
3) Aero Commander Cargo ( Milton Shupe freeware)

Crash

[Fozzer]

Do you know what...

.....I may be a bit of an odd-ball...

But the fancy external and internal views of my aircraft mean little to me compared to observing the amazing scenery that unfolds below me as I explore the ground at an average height of 500 Feet AGL..!

So, during flight, I spend most of my time just looking out of the windows, with an occasional glance at my 2D instrument panel to ensure everything is operating safely...

...and the couple of Freeware and Default aircraft I regularly fly, seem to meet my requirements very nicely...

It seems a waste of time me spending zillions of Pounds on a fancy aircraft, and Paint Job....when there's only me around to admire it... ... ... ...!

My tatty, weather-beaten, old (Freeware) Cessna 150, costs me very little to run, and maintain, and gives me great pleasure touring the hidden delights of the Countryside... ...!

Fun and exploration, is what its all about!... ..!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Navigator...some spare Sparking Plugs...a Pee Bottle...and a can, or three, of Shell Oil... 8-)...!

(I am the Flight-Sim Aircraft Designers nightmare!)... .... .. ... ...!

[Sir_Crashalot]

Nope, you're not an odd-ball Paul. I too like a lot of freeware aircraft. Point is that I like to fly using a virtual cockpit. And I'm sorry to say that most (freeware) VC's are not that good. At least not as good as payware. And if they are, they are in the aircraft I don't want (need) to fly.

Crash

[ShaneG_old]

Hey Paul, have you tried the flying Lazy Boy chair? Nice 2d panel on it, and you can just kick back, and enjoy the scenery!

If you like amazing VC's Crash, you should really talk to Sean, he's added about 30 or so new planes to my hanger, ALL with amazing, realistic, fully functioning VCs. And All of them Freeware. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]