About to buy payware A/C - opinions

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Stubee

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Hi, after all this time flying freeware I'm about to go for some payware. Seriously considering the Carenado C337H but also taken by the LC Quest Kodiak. Anyone have both or even one of these like to offer an opinion?
Thanks.
 
I'll put in a vote for the Kodiak. IMHO there are a number of Skymasters available out there, both freeware and payware, but there is only one Quest Kodiak (that I know of). I love the challenge of flying with the G1000 panel and you can put the Kodiak in to (and get out of) places you would NEVER consider going in a 337. If you've just got to have the latest thing going the Carenado C337 is a good way to go. But the Lionheart Kodiak has a permenant place in my active aircraft hangar and my 337s aren't even currently installed. And the LC Kodiak is less expensive.

LA
 
Second that opinion. I own one also, extremely versatile, good load carrier, excellent STOL characteristics as well. Superb low-speed controllability. I would suggest the Kodiak before the 337.
 
They're both good. It really depends on what you like in an AC. The Kodiak is a new, powerful bird. It is great at altitude, good at getting into tight places. It's kind of a hotrod in the bush aviation world. I confess I find it lousy for GA flights, though. It just isn't that kind of plane. The G1000 eats my FPS, as does the cockpit sound... I've got my workaround, but it may give you some grief at first.
The Carenado planes, especially the latest ones, are drop-dead beautiful. They are not fancy as far as features, but they deliver great, reliable performance. I've never been disappointed by a Carenado purchase. The C337 is an unlimited poly model, meaning that it breaks the limit set for normal FS9 models and has just as many polys as the FSX version of the plane does. That aslo means that it is hard on frames, though the smoothness of the modelled 3d gauges offsets that a little.

If you are only buying your first payware now, I'd suggest buying Freight Dogs by Aerosoft. That is a little older, true, but it's got some of everything. It's kind of a sampler of various types of payware addons to give you an idea what you can expect from payware and let you know what you want to spend your money on. It's got planes, scenery, addon modules, and enough environment to show you what environmental upgrades can do. It was my first payware and I stil think it was one of the best values I've ever gotten.
 
You can add FSD for 337 payware .. and it's come with two versions ... civilian and military
Not new but good for FS2004 standards at this time
I like it more than the Carenado model for regular flights !
http://www.fsd-international.com/Hangar/C337/

FSD
SMY7p.jpg


Carenado
442cn.jpg
 
Hey All, Both the Carenado 337 and Kodiak are great planes. I have both. You just need to be sure of what kind of plane you like to fly. Know also what kind of flights you most like to do and be sure the plane works for those. Me I like cross-countrying at speeds in the 150 to 200 kt range. I'm not a big fan of way faster or slower. These speeds suit the distances I like to fly at one sitting. You don't want your first plane to be a hangar queen. I've a lot of those that I bought. None are bad models or anything just planes that caught my fancy "at the moment" but soon lost their appeal. My first planes were the FSD Cheyenne 400LS and the Porter in 2005. I still fly both alot and both are of my favorite type of plane - turboprops. I know the 337 is not a turboprop but I bought it because my brother-in-law was an FAC in Vietnam in an O-2. -Ed-
 
Thanks all.
I'll probably end up with both! I think though I'd get the 337 first. Do like the look of the FSD one but Carnado has the better sound, and that means a lot to me. Flying mainly in the UK the Kodiak might not be used to it's full potential. When/if I eventually get some France VFR I could have some fun in the Alp And Pyrenees.
 
Thought I'd better follow up. I got the Kodiak in the end as it was 1/2 price at JF. Unfortunately not had chance to fly it yet! I'll get there. Now after a decent WWII A/C.....
 
I very much second Motormouse's suggestion. I love flying my Avengers. One of it's real advantages is that it has both a great 2D panel AND an excellent VC. It comes with several models in a multiplicity of color schemes. There are a number of aftermarket paints on the usual FS sites. But I've got to say my absolute favorite thing about it is the R-2600 soundset. The only drawback it has (and it's a niggling personal thing) is that there is no second crewman in the greenhouse. picky picky picky. :mixedsmi:

I have A LOT of planes in my hangar(s) but the MAAM-SIM Avenger is my go to gal!

LA
 
With the updates for improved FPS and only a moderate PC the Kodiak is a great all rounder.
I saw my first real Kodiak at the AOPA convention in Palm Springs and it is even more impressive in person ;)

Cheers
Stefan
 
Hi
The FSD Pilatus Porter gets my vote.

I lost it in a computer crash and FSD pretended they had no record of me buying it, so they wouldn't replace it. Sheer mean is all, but the aircraft itself was/ is very good fun!!
I lost that payware DC2 ,maybe at the same time, and that website was the same; really unhelpful. What does it cost to replace a payware item? Less than 2 cents is my guess. In fact it costs nothing as they're only resending your password:applause:

I bought 'The Crossings' from LAGO and still fly the SM79, so that was/is great value! I like that version as it has no 'hump' and is really sleek; and coming along are some freeware beauties from Tankerguy and Milton Shupe and his band of Merry Men :jump::jump::jump:


Andy.
 
Navtech said:
You can add FSD for 337 payware .. and it's come with two versions ... civilian and military
Not new but good for FS2004 standards at this time
I like it more than the Carenado model for regular flights !
http://www.fsd-international.com/Hangar/C337/

FSD
SMY7p.jpg


Carenado
442cn.jpg
Click to expand...

Agreed!! The FSD 337 and O-2A are excellent on framerates, superb 2D and VC, the visual models are very sharp, and it comes with an excellent sound pack. I have both and I love em'. Lots of repaints too.

BB686:USA-flag:
 
Motormouse said:
MAAM-Sim Grumman Avenger

ttfn

Pete
Click to expand...

Never considered that, was always after their DC-3. I was thinking more of a fighter in which I can dance my wings across the virtual skies but that Avenger does look good, satisfies my Fleet Air Arm desires too.
 
Stubee said:
Never considered that, was always after their DC-3. I was thinking more of a fighter in which I can dance my wings across the virtual skies but that Avenger does look good, satisfies my Fleet Air Arm desires too.
Click to expand...

If you really want to dance your wings... consider the F-104 Starfighter, i.e. "the Zipper", from Captain Sim. It's an older model but it's totally immersive. It comes with an "instructor" feature that will actually talk you through correct procedures whilst in flight. Beautiful visual model, very frame rate friendly and there are a ton of repaints for it. Alphasim/Virtavia also has an F-104 Starfighter, which is also excellent. It's a newer model with superb 2D and VC, very nice effects and an outstanding virtual experience. I am somewhat biased to the Captain Sim model, but both are very nicely done and you really couldn't go wrong with either one... or BOTH. lol! :salute:

BB686:USA-flag:
 
Stubee said:
Never considered that, was always after their DC-3. I was thinking more of a fighter in which I can dance my wings across the virtual skies but that Avenger does look good, satisfies my Fleet Air Arm desires too.
Click to expand...

Weelll in that case, Aeroplane Heaven,s freeware Seafire is the one to get, oh, did I mention, its free too!!

Ttfn

Pete
 
Thanks, had that on my old laptop, tried it again today but flight model doesn't seem right on approach and landing. For freeware WWII things I like the ABC Corsair best out of A/C I've tried, but I love the sound of a Merlin/Griffon (and Centaurus might try Firebrand next!).
I'm deffo impressed by that Avenger, so as a Christmas treat...
 
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