Your Current TOP 10 Aircraft

[JasonMuc2112]

@Baracus250 Not only have you gifted us with one of the nicest threads in this forum, you also have great taste (according to me).

My final list for 2022:

1. HPG H145: The H145 reached version 1.0 after a long early-access period (which I loved, seeing all the progress was lots of fun and a great learning experience), and just a few weeks later, the 40th Anniversary edition of MSFS was released with the new helicopter flight model. Instead of slowing down and letting the dust settle, main developer Dave quickly got to work integrating the new flight model. The first builds were admittedly quirky, but the current build 361 is already very usable and great to fly manually. The H145 has a lot of systems depth, AFAIK this is the only helicopter in MSFS with an auto pilot. Now that the flight model is also butter smooth (it was kind of jumpy before), this helicopter is very close to perfection for me.

2. Asobo Cabri G2: Where the H145 is a complex machine with lots of systems and automation, the Cabri is simple and easy to understand. But wow is it fun to fly! At least it has got working cyclic trim, so you can even do longer flights with it.

3. GotFriends Wilga: Yep it is new, but I am sure that this is more than just a quick affair. You could say it is ugly, but it has lots of personality! And that is exactly what puts it above both the Kodiak and the Kitfox for me. Closest competition is the free Blackbird Beaver with the GotFriends mod that gives it much needed tundra tyres. Add the wonderful, free “Return to Misty Moorings” scenery to the mix, and you have got hours and hours of amazing bush flying ahead of you.

4. FlySimware C414AW: Yes, it is as good as everybody says. Simply a wonderful plane to travel at medium altitudes. Blackbird C310R is every bit as well made, but I prefer the 414.

5. FlightFX Cirrus VisionJet: Not sure if this will stay in my top 5. But at the moment I really enjoy the modern cockpit, high level of automation and excellent visibility. I also have the HondaJet, but hardly ever flew it. Technically they are both excellent, but the Cirrus is just more fun to fly!

Honorable mention: Iris Simulations Pilatus PC-21. Powerful but easy to fly, great visibility, interesting cockpit. I haven’t flown it for a few weeks, but plan to get back to it soon.

Planes that I have not bought yet, but are on my watch list:

• PMDG 737: I am not an airliner kind of guy, but this one looks amazing. If only I had enough time to learn to operate this thing properly.
• PMDG DC-6: Again I don’t usually fly big planes, but this one might be interesting in Alaska.
• Ant’s Airplanes Tiger Moth: I already have the DC Designs Stearman and Lionhear Creations Bücker Jungmann, but the Tiger Moth looks great as well.

Old list (2 Sep 2022):

1. HPG H145
2. HCG Cabri G2
3. FSW Cessna 414AW
4. FSReborn Sting S4
5. JustFlight Hawk T1

[Baracus250]

Haha, thank you sir! Yes we have quite a similar final list, right?

I agree with your statements - that PC-21 nearly made my list but there are ones I love more. It might make it to the top 10 in January though.

Funnily enough I was just now jumping back into the HPG 145 to do some rescue missions and having all sorts of problems

First attempt, in Germany (one of the HEMS packs but just using the built in traffic accident option to make a target), 20 seconds into flight and the audio cut out a few times, then CTD. I haven’t had a CTD for a long time and generally I’ve had stable game everywhere.

Rebooted, went to Belgium (a different HEMS mod), took off and every 3 seconds regularly the game freezes for a moment. When it unfreezes, the heli kind of jumps a bit each time as physics catch up the missed frames I guess. Managed to land at the site and I turned off one of the MFD screens, no help.

Flying back, same again. Audio cuts out 2 or 3 times and CTD! Rebooting again now and will try something that isn’t in a HEMS mod range, but I don’t think it’s that. Those mods have not been updated for over a year though so maybe…

Is there anything I can do to help the HPG performance? It is quite heavy (comparatively) but I have not had this happen before!

EDIT: maybe I need an update of the Airbus. Noticed that it says I can’t start at a helipad with my current aircraft lol. I don’t think it’s in the ops centre yet though? Just the beta still?

EDIT 2: nope, it’s knackered. Went somewhere really light on scenery and it was less stuttery than the regular every 3 seconds I was getting, still a little bit of freezing. But it seemed fine and stopped stuttering towards the end of journey then all of a sudden the audio goes again and crash. I give up. Parking her for now. Back to my Willy!!

It’s just on the edge of fragile - with something going on in the background that’s really messing it up it seems

[JasonMuc2112]

@Baracus250

maybe I need an update of the Airbus. Noticed that it says I can’t start at a helipad with my current aircraft lol. I don’t think it’s in the ops centre yet though? Just the beta still?

What build are you on? You can see it on the tablet. The newest one is build 361, which is able to start on helipads and uses the new helicopter flight dynamics. I think you need to go into “manage installation” in the Ops Center and choose it manually, because it is an alpha/beta build. Too many people simply clicked update and suddenly had one of the temporary alpha builds, so I think they changed the behavior in Ops Center.

I haven’t had any CTDs or unusual stutters with the H145, despite all the screens. Really pretty amazing

[Baracus250]

Build 340 here. I see there was an update for the Ops Centre itself, so maybe that’s why I didn’t get notified. Will give it a try!

In the meantime… what have I done

I was in the snowy Alps and it only started to ice up when I reached greenery. Weird! No rain, just a mist but it iced me right up. Made it down alive though

[SlapstickZA]

I am about a week behind you.

[Baracus250]

@JasonMuc2112

in the Ops Center and choose it manually

Well that’s a bit annoying. I was about 5 builds behind on their Hot Air Balloon too! Not that I’ve used it much (), but I never got any emails about it or the Airbus. Ops Centre is a bit clunky but I’ve added my keys now so that was probably what I missed before.

Installed the build 361 now and gave a test in the same (1st) place. Was smoother, still the odd spike BUT the thing is practically unflyable now so I didn’t get to the point of CTD’S. Right from the off it started to lean over to the right before I put any collective at all.

It started icing up on the way to the first accident (5km), but I was in fairly OK conditions I think) then something switched into another mode when I turned on the De Ice and it became very unstable to land - could be user error. Then after I landed at the site and engines to idle, my dude didn’t want to get out. Luckily for him, cos then it started going up on its nose and over on to it’s side again, so he might have got crushed if he had climbed out! I think I’ll back out of this until it is sorted hahaha

[Baracus250]

I’ve spent a lot of time in the Wilga this weekend as I had the whole weekend to myself… it’s glorious. Really got into it and it’s grown on me even more. I just ran the Hobbs Hours report and it has already entered my top 10 most flown – it was a mission but I wanted to do it!

001 0022:07 = BN2 Islander [BlackBox Simulation]
002 0017:30 = Guimbal Cabri G2 | Rotorcraft [Asobo]
003 0015:17 = Cessna 414A [FlySimWare]
004 0014:02 = Cessna 172 Sykhawk [Asobo]
005 0013:11 = JRF-6 Grumman Goose [Big Radials]
006 0013:06 = Pilatus PC-6 Porter [Blackbird Simulations / MilViz]
007 0012:08 = Vans RV-14/14A [SimWorks Studios]
008 0011:02 = EA-7 Edgley Optica [Got Friends]
009 0010:46 = PZL-104 Wilga 35/80 Series [Got Friends]
010 0010:21 = Quest (Daher) Kodiak 100 [SimWorks Studios]

I took a bunch of screenshots - don’t normally do that stuff but I felt the urge and it’s fun to get a nice composition! Hope you like them

…and yeah, RED, this goes down as a proper “Adventure Plane”

It’s been a LONG weekend!

[SlapstickZA]

My Vision jet and Black Square Analog King Air is in a fight this weekend to see who is my favorite.
This Vision jet sure is impressive.

[Funghie]

Wondering, should we start posting our Top 10s so you have something to post in Jan? Thinking about the timings, if monthly, this will mean that first “chart” will not appear until Feb, or do you set a cut off date, 3rd week of each month for example? Just thinking out loud, please feel free to ignore.

[WellREDBarron]

Wait until January. That’s when score tallying will change.

[darshonaut]

@Baracus250

Everyone should have the Wilga if you like low’n’slow. Is the price too high?

for me, way too high.
I’d max spend 15 bucks on a bushplane.

I also don’t need 10 variants and guitars and all that.
Maybe they release just one version without all the ‘stuff’ at one point.

Then again, I have too many such bushplanes already and with the Beaver being free, what’s the point in buying another one.

YMMV

[Funghie]

@WellREDBarron

Wait until January. That’s when score tallying will change.

See, that was my point, the 2 sentences above contradict each other. It won’t change in January unless we have posted before January. So in fact “Wait until January. Score tallying from January will first appear in February”.

Anyway, either way, I am just happy that it will be a proper chart type tally, (as suggested originally), from then on, whenever it is.

[WellREDBarron]

Literally.

Come January, score tallying will change.

Not before.

Why?

Because it literally isn’t NEXT year until it IS.

I am enjoying this debate.

[Funghie]

@WellREDBarron

Because it literally isn’t NEXT year until it IS.

OK I am not going to take over the thread any more with this, only to say I didn’t mention next year anywhere, (that was in my original idea for a chart style tally). My simple point was that if we don’t start posting (and tallying) until January then the new chart won’t appear until February, So there will be a gap. So it would be nice to have a rough warm up that shows up in Jan. Anyhow let’s leave it at that pls.

[WellREDBarron]

The charts update every week.

I imagine the first tally will be the first week of the new year. No clue if the tally will start on Jan 1. The new scores are typically posted on Sundays.

Anyway, we have been getting our best of 2022 votes in these last few weeks. The scoring will change soon. We will get to vote again and more often soon. Baracus is likely asleep right now so I am posting, but he will likely have details to add.

[Funghie]

@WellREDBarron

The charts update every week.

Nope, the new system will be monthly. The first one cannot be posted in the first week of new year as there will be no top 10 single point posts by that time, that is my entire point.

Let’s leave this here now please, I’ll have a chat with BA on the discord. Thanks.

[WellREDBarron]

No problem. Just, you know, don’t post here if you want me to NOT reply to you.

It’s a forum. The very meaning of the word, “Forum”
implies a town square where all can speak!

Let me reply, please! It is in my nature to reply to posts.

But I will stop replying to you now.

[Funghie]

@WellREDBarron

It’s a forum. Let me reply, please! It is in my nature to reply to posts.

No one can stop you replying. That was not my intention at all. But please get the info correct before hand.

@WellREDBarron

The charts update every week.

Example being that the new system does not update weekly. You missed my point from the start and began arguing against it without understanding what I meant or how the new system works. If I was not clear you could have just asked me to clarify what was in fact a simple suggestion.

Anyway, once again, it’s all yours from here, feel free to reply as much as you like.

Cheers

[WellREDBarron]

Top 5 that didn’t make my list (not votes to count)

1. Stearman - Beautiful, simple, direct flying machine. Absolutely nothing wrong with this bird.

2. MilViz Corsair - Perfect warbird. But I didn’t want to crowd my list with too many WWII fighters, and I didn’t want to overpopulate my list with MilViz planes. They are SO good.

3. MilViz Porter - Better than their Beaver but lacks variations, and the Kodiak just knocks it out of the park. Needs an update. I get it. Ukraine. And slava Ukrani! But the plane itself needs more today. Still, it beats the pants off the stock Porter. But we have a Kodiak.

4. F-14 - I just couldn’t put my childhood Top Gun fantasies onto this list. No matter how awesome I feel in this bird.

5. Fenix A320 - Superb bird. One of the best in sim. But it grinds my PC to a hault, and it won’t run on my Xbox. So, it is almost worthless to me. In spite of clearly being amazing. One of the most fun planes I have ever tried to start from cold and dark. Sadly, once in the air, my system just can’t keep up. Keeps me from enjoying this one.

[Funghie]

@WellREDBarron

MilViz Corsair - Perfect warbird. But I didn’t want to crowd my list with too many WWII fighters, and I didn’t want to overpopulate my list with MilViz planes. They are SO good.

Great to see this getting some love, it is still in my top 10 for sure, (along with the FI Spit).