Just trying to put a list together…
a) FBW A380
b) Quality Wing 787 (have they confirmed this?)
c) Digital Flight Dynamics A350 (Did they cancel this?)
d) PMDG (Have they confirmed anything? Or are we just waiting on 737 then some unknown widebody?)
e) Captain Sim 777 (with a 744 cockpit)
Is there anyone else?
With option “e” have they added extra features to the flight systems or is it exactly what you have with the default 748? Are they releasing improvements or is this it?
PMDG will release in this order: 737, 777, 747. QW seems to be very quiet with regards to MSFS.
Fenix A320, is that a wide body aircraft?
That’s not a widebody aircraft.
I have lost faith in the dev of QW787… literally zero updates, was suppose to be Q2 this year.
PMDG did mention something about further aircraft development for the sim.
PMDG’s 737 should be coming soon. 777 (widebody) they are HOPING to get out before the end of the year, and 747 (widebody) sometime next year. They also have a mystery new aircraft, but we don’t know anything about it or what platform it will be released on first.
Although I am not near the level required to fly “study level” aircraft I am really looking forward to learning more about them.
I feel the current line up of aircraft are very forgiving which is completely fine btw! PMDG products may push me out of my comfort zone…
just came across this!
Let’s put it this way… When I started flying PMDG’s Boeings in P3D earlier this year, I didn’t really know much about what’s required. When I purchased the 737, 747, and 777, I simply went through the two tutorials included with each aircraft that literally takes you step-by-step through a complete flight (much like the DC-6 does) and at this point, I am comfortably flying all of PMDG’s Boeings anywhere I want in the world. I feel right at home in them and have no issues at all conducting flights. I am not versed in failures yet AT ALL, but some of those are next on my list. Those will take a while to get comfortable with in terms of diagnostics, etc… But normal operations? Piece of cake as long as you invest a few hours to read through, follow, and understand the systems.
That’s great to know as I am really looking forward to that level of flight sim. I have always been really interested in flight sim and MSFS2020 is a first for me!
Don’t worry, we all started there. I was right along with ya - first desktop sim in August 2020 with MSFS but since then I took a DEEP detour into P3D to learn lots of aircraft systems and acquired all the major study-level aircraft to hone my understanding of systems before they come to MSFS. At this point, I feel well-equipped to handle anything that comes this way… but I am still struggling with some older jets that use INS navigation, no GPS, etc… Thing is… once you dabble in THOSE, Boeing and Airbus stuff becomes something you don’t even think is hard at all.
Thank you very much!
Yes I have been very tempted to purchase XP11 so I can purchase 1 or 2 study level aircraft to really get into flight simulation.
I do love MSFS and its great that its user friendly for all levels but I get quite bored FAST!
I don’t know if now is that time anymore… I purchased P3D in January when things were still FAR AWAY as far as availability of high fidelity aircraft. Between the scenery and aircraft, it was several thousand dollars. Now there are things on horizon for MSFS, so I don’t think it’s necessary to do that if you are just thinking of doing it today - in terms of how much further use you’d get out of it. If you are VERY curious, I’d recommend Prepar3D - the Academic License costs $60… If you get that, get yourself a PMDG 747 - that one is furthest away (about a year away right now)… That aircraft costs $140. So for $200, you will have PLENTY to dig into. I’d say don’t worry about scenery at this point - you will never get those sims to look as good as MSFS. BUT, in terms of systems, everything is there for you to learn. So can you justify $200 for a year of use? 
That’s the question.
Thank you very much for the solid advice. I will most definitely check out P3D.
For $200 its hours and hours of fun!
Yup I remember trying to and struggling with the 9 way points in the Concorde INS, not mention flicking all the switches for the fuel balancing until I found out the add-on can help you with that. Tracking VORS for X miles to the radial etc I still can have a struggle with, then programming in 9 waypoints at a time in the INS 
I remember the Vulcan add-on for FSX had TCAN which I beleive is like VOR but that gave me grief too. VOR to VOR I am ok with, but yeah the old school stuff is a stretch at times
If you get P3D, here’s the aircraft I recommend HIGHLY - I own all those:
THOSE are as close to the real-world counterparts as simulations get. You can’t really go wrong with any of them and they are all compatible with the newest version of Prepar3D - 5.2 Hotfix 1, released earlier this month.
Like I said, there are MANY things you can get to get it to look great, but that’s VERY expensive. It’s not the point. Besides, when you are at FL330, you don’t really pay attention to scenery cause you are too busy in the cockpit. The cockpits look great. So, if you use Prepar3D as a SIM and not a sightseeing adventure (it’s designed by Lockheed Martin as a training tool for military and commercial clients and NOT for entertainment, which the User Agreement explicitly states), you will get a lot of mileage out of it and it’s available right now - no need to wait a year for the GOOD 747 to come to MSFS. When the 747 comes to MSFS, you will feel right at home just as I do.
Jeremy I greatly appreciate your help here. Very useful!
Its overwhelming where to start but this helps alot.
Yeah, dude! I have a TU-134 for P3D right now that I am STILL trying to come to grips with… It’s a CRAZY aircraft. That one is a hoot - it uses an old Russian navigation system.
If you are tempted to get XP11 be sure to get it when it is on sale which happens a few times each year. I had the Flight Factor 757 which was quite good but probably not quite up to PMDG standards (can’t really comment since I never had P3d). Also XP11 launched in about 2016 so prepare yourself for a significant downgrade in graphics.
As has already been said however, with PMDG already on board with the DC6 and promising new study level AC things are looking good for FS2020. Let’s also not forget the great offerings likely to come soon as well from Just Flight, Milviz and A2A simulations which should also cover the study level stuff for the GA side of things 
Thanks for the solid advice. Yeah I seen XP11 is not as visually pleasing, its more so to get me up to speed with more sophisticated aircraft systems.