Just based on what I own. Haven’t yet bought a warbird, for example, so I may not be listing the best planes available IMO, just the best planes I currently own.
- Kodiak 100
Easily my favorite plane by leaps and bounds. It just works with my gear. And that makes a difference. I really don’t have to touch the mouse or keyboard after I have started her up. Not unless I want to fiddle with oxygen or climate control for the passengers.
Some of my love for this plane stems from it being the rare plane that has everything it needs. Often, a favorite plane is quirky because it lacks certain tech so you must do some things the old way. The Kodiak is quirky in spite of having all the tech it would ever need and it even has a redundant stand by system if God forbid the G1000 failed.
Way too much power for the frame, so if you just take her up that first time without RTFM, she will teach you a few things about torque.
My favorite plane, and the one I chose to fly around the world.
- Twin Otter
A polarizing plane here on the forums but for me it is just a true joy to fly. Full steam cockpit but modern enough to follow a GPS route. It, of all the planes currently available in MSFS is a true, go anywhere plane. Floats, skis, tundra, tarmac. Two engine redundancy for water crossings. Saba? St. Barts? Lukla? Courchevel? Everest Base Camp? The Twin Otter can go anywhere and it makes sense being there. The Islander doesn’t have a turboprop so it struggles with altitude. The Kodiak has one engine so it lacks the redundancy for proper commercial or overseas flight. The Otter has it all.
- Piper Turbo Arrow III
Quirky but stable. A lot of older tech so you must think to fly her. That turbo is ridiculously temperamental because Piper cut corners to sell the plane for less money. IRL, it might seem cheap because of this, but in sim, managing the turbo, manifold pressure, and whatnot becomes a thing to keep you occupied. It gives the plane personality. And it makes the NA Arrow (also excellent) seem bland and almost boring in comparison.
- Mooney M20R
This was one of the first planes released for MSFS and it stands up tall amongst the rest to this day.
A ridiculously slick and fast piston.
Older tech like the Piper but it gets the job done.
Engine management requires your attention but the steam gauges are uniquely responsive and easy to read to find the perfect RPM and lean mixture for your altitude to get max performance efficiently.
And it can be very hard to slow down so… SPEED BRAKES!!! I am a sucker for having an extra lever to work while landing. Just a little extra work to do. A little extra control.
All in all, an excellent plane that keeps you a little busy while doing its job admirably. As I write this I wonder if it doesn’t really come in third, ahead of the Turbo Arrow…
- Caproni C22
At a bargain price, a two engine jet with all the bells and whistles you would hope for in a plane 3x its price. While the modeling is not Carenado perfect, at that price? Who cares? It feels great. Has deep systems. And provides more smiles per hour than any other similarly priced plane.
Honorable Mention: The DC6.
While I cannot deny its brilliance, it is a complex, study level plane, so I have to say a lot of my learning takes place on the ground instead of in the air. Which for now, keeps this plane off my main list. Study level for me in this case means studying without flying. This speaks volumes as to my current skill level, but I figure it is worth noting. The best planes are not always the best for you. The DC6 is currently too advanced for me, and I peck away at learning its systems a few hours a week. But until I am regularly flying it, I cannot pretend I am having as much fun learning the DC6 on the ground as I am having by learning the Kodiak in the sky.