After taking a break from simming for most of the year I decided to jump back in with MSFS 2024. I guess I’ve been one of the lucky ones as it’s worked pretty well for me, maybe because I’ve stuck to mainly trying the stock planes.
Since launch I’ve been focusing on exploring the NEW-for-2024 planes. There are a number of disappointments (e.g. PC-24, ES-30) that I hope will get fixed at some point, but are these are the new ones I’ve enjoyed the most so far in each edition and seem to have the least number of issues. I’m glad I went with premium deluxe edition (even though I had PD edition of 2020). What are your favorite planes that are new for 2024?
Standard:
Airbus A330 (and Beluga XL)
Airbus A400M
Draco X
Cirrus Vision SF50 (Vision Jet)
Draco and Optica are very solid and a blast to fly. Not a coincidence that Got Friends are behind both. A400 was a welcome surprise, as soon as I just figure out how to execute a DIR TO on the MCDU I’ll be golden. Well, that and all Inibuilds airliners CTDing Xbox Series S either on startup, takeoff or final approach.
I’m having a lot of fun with the little Joby. Personally I’m staying away from the more complex stuff until there’s less bugs and issues. I think thats why I’ve been having a better time with the sim since launch than a lot of others.
The Albatross is wonderful. I made a 4+ hour flight yesterday from PAKT to KSEA along the Alaska/Canadian coast in realtime/real weather. I hand-flew it for about the first hour just to get a really good feel for it before engaging the AP and enjoying the world go by. Just a wonderful experience. The developer is very engaged and has already posted an updated manual here in the forums, and a list of bug fixes and tweaks to expect in the first patch whenever MS/Asobo gets it out to us.
I haven’t yet flown the C-17 but I did get as far as spawning in C&D and getting the electrical system up. Seems like a very nicely-modeled and complex aircraft. I’m looking forward to flying it for real soon-ish.
I’ve watched a couple streamers fly, admire and struggle with the A400M. That thing looks like a beast but seems to have some lingering sometimes-show stopping bugs. Fortunately iniBuilds seem pretty committed to improving their aircraft over time, so hopefully those bugs get ironed out over time. I’ll give it a try soon as wel.
I question the accuracy of the Draco X. I mean obviously I’ve never flown it, but can it really fly essentially at idle throttle? I kind of don’t want to believe someone made a plane that is so difficult to land for the reason that it is difficult to bleed speed because it will fly with no throttle lol.
With no throttle it will fly and BARELY dip into flap speed. You then put down one notch and wait to bleed of more etc etc. It’s a very tedious process that takes much longer than a normal prop plane. It is possible to land, but it is an epic PITA.
It’s got a 1,000+ hp engine, so yeah, especially if lightly loaded and you haven’t brought the prop pitch down. It’s an extreme STOL project, after all.
Of the ones I’ve tried so far, the Albatross is an absolute winner. Just a great, great piece of work.
The iniBuilds tubeliners are also quite good; I’d say they’re roughly at a quality level just a little below the FlyByWire A320 standard, the difference being mainly w/r/t systems simulation. “Regular” flights with Simbrief work very well.
I tried the A400, had issues, and haven’t returned to it.
I tried a couple of the new Carenado-built planes, but before I had fully figured out the control binding structure, so I can’t really judge yet. They look great, though (of course).
Tying into the disappointment about the lack of ability to mod, I’ve found very few planes I’d call exceptional and only a few more that at almost at that point. So many feel super light, particularly in pitch, are grossly overpowered, or have other glaring bugs. Here’s a snippet from the Delightful list I keep
Granted I haven’t flown 100% of the planes but probably 85% with only a few left
edit: I should add that so far most of my evaluation has been done with as little as a circuit on the worst planes or a bit more on the good ones. This isn’t a comment on systems but simply how they are to hand fly
The Albatross and the Norden are amazing.
Try watching the Albatross from the outside when powering up - it goes on the step like it is supposed to do. I believe that’s a first in MSFS.
Also the Norden is such an incredible plane. Try mapping spoilers and you got control of the leading edge slats. Fully deployed it almost behaves like a glider with the throttle closed.
This is the future of aviation. The flight control concepts in these are the solution to FAA’s woes of not having enough qualified pilots in 20 yrs. Grandma will be able to fly one in 30 minutes or less.
They need to go with gas or a hybrid though.
These aircraft should also have come with training missions in the sim or training videos by the devs on YouTube. C’mon now.
The manuals are a bit…confusing.
Most people do not have two joysticks.
What’s with the constant engine failures? What are we doing wrong?
Dialing in your speed is not intuitive.
Why create the greatest aircraft of the modern world and then not go out of your way to teach everyone how to use it? Right now everyone should be raving about them!
They should be yelling from rooftops about these aircraft to get new users interested in 2024.
ASIDE: We are going to need high fidelity avionics for inner city navigation. We need BING MAPS AVIONICS and a ‘send to avionics’ options.
Without high fidelity/micro navigation avionics it kind of throws the efficiency of these aircraft out the window.
You’ll have to use some kind of interface to track your aircraft in BING or GOOGLE to find and navigate to anything.
I’ve only flown about a third of the new standard edition aircraft so far, but of the new aircraft I’ve flown, I really enjoy these:
Draco X
Magni M-24 Orion
Powrachute
Hawk Arrow II
I’ve also flown the Jetson One a few times. It’s fun, but seems like an aircraft type that I wont necessarily go back to a lot. We’ll see.
I’m looking forward to trying both the AT-802 and the CL-415 but considering they haven’t wound up on anyone’s lists yet I’m guessing there’s a reason for that. I’d be curious to know the comparison between the AT-802 and the 188 Agtruck. If the 188 is good I may end up buying it eventually.
