So I’ve been loving the sim and, like so many others, I’d like to try out an airliner. I’m not quite there yet; I want to finish my Around the World trip in the TBM 930 (or at least get halfway) and spend some time in the Citation.
When I do get there, however, which airliners would you recommend for starting out? Free or paid is fine. In-game or third party is OK. I have the Thrustmaster HOTAS One, which has worked out well so far but I’m not sure how well it would do with a plane that has dual throttles. Yes, I know there are setups that have the dual control, but that’s not really an option for me this year.
The one that I would recommend is the default inibuilds a320neo (v1). I think It is a good start point and a nice balance between systems and not overloading you with “too much” detail.
There are many tutorial videos on YouTube and I found FSAcadamy Jetliner (in SIM tutorial marketplace purchase) is also great.
“The developer is transparent about their approach: this is not a study-level simulation. Virtualcol positions its A220 as a low-cost option for beginners and casual enthusiasts who prioritize accessibility and enjoyment over detailed systems simulation.”
The E-jets are a fairly good lead in …not to complicted system wise …but have the feel of an airliner.
I know some people have issues with these (frame rates?)…but they are being constantly updated / improved.
I think IIRC I have the 190 / 195, and can recommend that!
Agreed that the default Asobo Neo is a good first step into the world of airliners without having to fork out any cash. I also have the HOTAS one and it has worked fine for me on a variety of airliners, from the default Neo to the PMDG 737. You don’t really need dual throttles to be honest as there are very limited instances where you would move one and not the other, even in the real world
Since you have a joystick I recommend an Airbus aircraft. They are also more intuitive than the Boeings and easier to start up because of more automation. The only thing I struggled with in the beginning is the autopilot logic which takes some getting used to but is very simple once you figured out how it works.
I’m a big Fenix guy so I would recommend their A320. It’s so versatile and it can be used for both short and medium hops. I haven’t used the FBW one for a long time but I’m sure it’s great too, just not as functional and refined. I wouldn’t worry about not having two throttle levers. Only times I use just one of the throttle levers are for tight turns on the ground or for long taxi routings after arriving at destination.
Flying airliners is mostly about being able to follow procedures and, if you use VATSIM, communicating with ATC and complying with instructions. The aircraft itself is the easy part.
Personally, if you start with Airliners, do it right. Get the best possible AddOn for the plane you like (FENIX Airbus Series/PMDG Boeings/ Asobo ATR, etc.).
Because, if you learn with a badly simulated “Frankenstein-Plane” that mixes default systems into an airliner, you might learn it wrong and have to relearn it later on when you go to an advanced simulation.
Even the FENIX and PMDG planes, you can just use the very basic A to B flying without going trough failures and all the systems.
But atleast you learn it the right way and you can expand from there.
You will enjoy it after getting your head around FMC and AP programming, way better that to deal with strange issues that most of the “cheap” or free planes have, like Virtualcol or even the LVFR Airbusses.
Start with default A320 v1 or v2 and don’t waste money on any PMDGs, Fenixes, ejets or whatever people recommend you to buy. Once you do 20-30 flights in one of the free airliners and you like this type of flying then buy something good.
I recommend the iniBuilds Airbus A320neo (v2). It’s both realistic, high fidelity enough and still automated enough that it’s quite easy to get into. It’s versatile, can go to surprisingly small airports and big international hubs alike so you have a lot of options. And it’s free. Don’t pay a fortune for an add-on you may not even end up using much.
The ATR is a good choice since its systems are similar to those found in the Airbus and Boeing jets, but it’s a lot slower which gives you more time to figure out what to do next when you are learning airliners.
But yeah, the Inibuilds A320 v2 is a great free option to get you started (or the FBW version of course). MSFS 2024 will reportedly include a fairly high fidelity 737 Max in the base game.
I’ve heard the PMDG 600 is a must have. After spending so much time in state of the art glass cockpits, almost everything else will be a step back in time. There are some good old-school airliners out there to explore as well.
In the end its all about having fun.
My opinion is that if you like something, you are willing to put some time and effort in.
So basically, if you are passionate about 1 particular airliner… just get that one.
If you are just exploring airline territory, just go for a free basic one, like the FBW A320 or the inibuilds, as mentioned above.
I had an airline phase that became a bit boring after many hours. So I levelled up to the fenix a320, PMDG 737 and lately the 777. it certainly gives you the “i belong to the big boys club now” feeling.
But after a while also these just become routine and you will end up rogram the FMC / MCDU, take off, cruise and land.
The take off and landing were the nice parts (just 5-10% of the flight) and the rest was just autopilot and adjust according ATC instructions. Flying on an Online network like VATSIM was quite a challenge in the beginning and added a nice touch and flavour to the boring parts.
But in the end its just pressing buttons, sit back, relax and enjoy the view from FL360
So long story short:
if you dont know for sure if airliners is your thing: start with a free one
if airliners will become your new favourite thing: buy a decent one like the fenx or the PMDG
I would recommend the ATR from Hans Hartmann / Microsoft (can be found on the Marketplace, nice price). It has enough manual flight elements to be usable if you do not want to go super deep into systems, but enough depth to provide long term pleasure.
If you need a little help there are a couple of programs that you can buy for about 20 bucks that provide you with a first officer.
One of these is FSFO (Flight Simulator First Officer). It runs outside the sim and communicates with your aircraft through FSUIPC. It is very easy to set up and in the default install the FO does nearly everything for you and you can literally sit there and watch him/her set the aircraft up from cold and dark. If you need to action something it even prompts you. i.e remove chocks etc.
After a bit of experience you can then progressively take tasks away from them as you learn what to do yourself.
I use it a lot mostly because I’m lazy.
I’m only a user of the software and have no connection with the developer.
Contrast to most opinions you’ll get, IMO - any of them. I personally don’t see a big issue if just wanting to “try it out” & hot start. Basically load and go. There’s no need one needs to limit themselves with a mindset of “I have to use a Cessna 172 before a 737 or 777”. It’s a game not real life. Have fun, check out cabins, sounds, handling etc. Ask yourself what plane do you see in real life often or have taken, etc. One does not need to spend a year “learning” a plane before trying others. Like me, I just have fun & rudimentary primarily chase view flying. Throttle, yaw, pitch & brakes are all I really use. Speed brakes at times of the handle isn’t a pain to interact with.
Now to go with the grain somewhat, sure you can pick an “easier” airliner like a erj170 or a220 vs PMDG 777, but again there’s no ranking. Pick what you want.
I personally started with the default A320, learning the basic controls and how to start it up. It wasn’t a difficult process, and there aren’t many things to memorize, so I’m confident that it’s a good starter airliner
If you are on PC then install freeware FBW A320 neo development version and then learn the basics first - different controls and cockpit layout.
Once you are comfortable with layout you can start with general handling - Try flying manually at various speeds, make some turns, climbs and descents. Do some visual circuits and practise manual landings. Once you happy with these you can move onto navigation, FMS (Flight management system) and auto flight system - For these there are various online tutorials and manuals available.
Once you are able to do these in FBW - you will be prepared to take on something more advanced like Fenix.
Could try learning and managing the CJ4 first. The TBM and small VLJ’s go toe to toe, the CJ4 gets you ‘up there’ and mange the FMS without the whiz-bang of the Longitudes systems-although those systems are more akin to the TBM.
Default 747 and 787 are good places to start as well Agree with some of the comments, if you go payware, get something good, not something cheap. ATR is good as is the PMDG 737-600. Both more than reasonably priced.