This is a slight change of pace from many topics saturating the forum at the moment, I want to have a positive discussion about the great array of community mods out there.
I am a huge Steveo1kineveo and Citationmax fan on Youtube, they really rekindled my enthusiasm for aviation last year and pushed me towards buying a PC specifically for FS2020.
So naturally I fly the TBM a lot and I’m and loving every second, at the moment most flights from EGGD > Lands End or Heathrow, and around Bahamas and Florida Keys because these areas perform really well for me.
I want to briefly go through the mods that I’m using that I have really found awesome, and at the end once you’ve got a flavour of the type of flying I do, I’d love to hear from other’s if they think there are any other mods that I should try?
Oh, and I fly in VR (Quest 2) if any VR pilots out there have any specific suggestions!
MixMugz TBM 930 project, including changing ATC callsign to TBM from Daher.
WOW, what a great mod that really improves my TBM experience! Doors and hatches now open, and the flight dynamics are great. I’m not a real pilot so no idea if they’re accurate, but i certainly enjoy them better than stock.
Working Title G3000 Mod
Most of us know this one and how awesome it is! It used to kill my FPS but now it’s really smooth, feels so much more real and really improves your situational awareness compared to the stock G3000 package. Looking forward to continued improvements here, hopefully Navigraph integration at some point!
Navigraph Subscription
Not a community mod I know, but I’ve only just taken the plunge and subscribed for 1 month to give it a try. I can see why people love it so much for IFR. I’m really trying to hone my IFR skills in the TBM and this really helps to plan flights, learn to read the charts and airways, and set up for approaches and landings. I have also found that I can bring the Navigraph desktop window into my Oculus Quest 2 view during the flight, and use ALT+TAB to switch between mouse control of Navigraph and FS2020. Almost like having an ipad on my knee, it really is another level and allows me to combine my love of VR flying with IFR charts! I’m definitely going to spend the £75ish next month on an annual navigraph subscription, and I’d encourage any others new to IFR to give it a try for a month!
Working Title CJ4 Mod
I have no experience with it, but being a CitationMax fan I am determined to learn the Citation CJ4 as my next project. I’ve got very comfortable with the G3000 so learning a different FMS will be a nice challenge, and I understand there is Navigraph integration with the WT CJ4 so that should be a nice use of my new subscription!
Longitude fix
I don’t fly the Longitude very much as it’s a bit too airliner-y for my liking, but this mod is really nice with plenty of enhancements and fixes. I like it as the largest aircraft I fly. I have downloaded the FBW A320 but tbh I haven’t flown it more than once, I just like smaller GA and corporate jets too much. Recommend this mod to any Longitude fans out there!
I am most interested in any other recommendations of mods and improvements for aircraft, FMS, base sim and peripheral software that might be handy, fun or interesting to try!
Personally a big fan of VFR and bush flights thanks to the awesome scenery in MSFS.
The top in this category would be the folks over at Bush League Legends - MSFS Aircraft
They have a whole set of modified XCubs that really shine when it comes to flying in the wilderness, mountains or troubling weather conditions (Always check weather before takeoff )
For a bit more spice, having a plane that can have failures without you consciously setting them before your flight in the world map settings is an exciting and thrilling factor. Gotta thank Kanaron for this amazing random failure system. Lots to play with and tweak: GitHub - kanaron/RandFailuresFS2020
In general, I would keep my mod usage as low as possible, every mod can break on patch day, so the less you have to check, the easier you make it on yourself
Thanks Mort, I totally hear you and this is totally solid advice for those who want as smooth experience with the base sim as possible.
However, I’m pretty chilled out with the update situation, and always empty the community folder for each update before testing each mod individually, and then together. If something breaks I’m not fussed, I’ll either stop using it or wait for a fix.
I’m after recommendations and reviews from others who use and enjoy any mods I haven’t yet stumbled across, as listed in my OP.
Awesome suggestions @FlyingCookie650! I’ll certainly give them a try. Bush flying is something I haven’t done for several weeks so this will be nice to play with.
Random failures sound like fun! haha keeps you on your toes I guess!
If I may suggest an amazing route that can be flown in a C208, (Ep_29_-_The_Pyrenees_II.pln - Google Drive) this flight plan from my last event is not only spectacular, but very fun and challenging with narrow runways, hidden airports and a Courchevel like airport!
took about 2.5-3hrs in the C208 but an XCub would be longer. Still worth it from my perspective if you have the time
Can be a great way to get back into GA while having a solid challenge
Defenately, defenately give the Global Ship AI Traffic mod a go! It injects real ship and ferry traffic on all major sea ways. It is just an amazing addon!! You can get it from flightsim.to
It gives the sim so much more immersion!
Another thing I like is the FSATC Chatter. It plays back real recorded chatter depending on your radio freq.
Hmm I may well give a mod manager a go @FelipeTurbay… I do keep my community folder pretty organised but I’m always up for a easy solution!
I’ve just stumbled across Electronic Flight Bag! so I can now bring PDF’s (e.g the official TBM 930 checklist) into the sim as a 2d panel like the ATC, Checklists, etc! AND it works in VR!
Also, I’ve discovered Antimicro to map ALT+TAB to a button on my thrustmaster TCA sidestick . This means I can switch mouse control between FS2020 and the Navigraph window floating on my lap in VR via Oculus.
@CroppingPoem113, I’d say if you enjoy CitationMax’s videos, focus your attention on the WT CJ4 mod. If I remember correctly, CitationMax is in a Garmin equipped CJ, so maybe also look at videos by P1Driver or P1ADriver. He flys a Beech Premier that has similar avionics. I’d say check out the guides / videos that WT put together, focusing on programming the FMS manually. Starting on the FPLN page, working with the legs page, loading V-speeds from the PERF page, etc. approaches on the DEP ARV page. I’d forget about VNAV until you get the basics, then you can have fun with VNAV. I’d also skip flight plan imports until you are good programming it manually. Lots of people happy to help you learn the airplane. It’s a great mod, that has really come a long way. (And works great with Navigraph). Also, if you ever see yourself getting the Aerosoft CRJ, knowing the Collins FMS in the CJ4 will help.
AddonsLinker has become a must-have. Very easy to switch between mods and sceneries depending on what and where I fly. Convenient to deactivate all addons before installing an update or to troubleshoot issues. No need to load the WT G1000 whilst flying the TBM and so on.
I use Flight recorder in every flight, both to admire the occasional smooth landings in difficult airstrips as well as having a laugh when things go wrong.
It would be hard to stop using Navigraph - been using it for years and it’s getting better and better. I use both the Navigraph Charts desktop version and the iPad app. The latter is great for planning flights in new areas while away from the computer. And not to forget - all my IFR flight planning is done using Simbrief.
I like variation and recently started an around the world trip, mostly using the excellent FWB A320 and the WT CJ4. They are both fairly complex in their own ways with very different avionic systems that takes a while to master. But I find learning this great fun and there’s some great youtube tutorials out there.
Sometimes I spend some extended time in a country or region, like nowadays I’m exploring Nepal where there’s some excellent freeware scenery. In particular I recommend VNDP Dolpa by Sergio Del Rosso - he has made excellent scenery elsewhere too, like Milford Sound in New Zealand.
When I’m not flying high and fast in the A320/CJ4, I tend to vary between a few selected GA planes, namely:
TBM930 using Mugz’ excellent mod as well as WT’s G3000 mod
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