Hello Captains and welcome back. I hope you’re all having a great month of December and if you chose to add both the PMDG 737-800 and Chaseplane to MSFS 2024, then I hope you’re having as much fun as I am. Yes, unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few days then you know the wait is finally over. The missing two pieces for me making the full-time switch to MSFS 2024 has been fulfilled. I’m truly a happy camper.
As I write this blog post, I’m currently cruising from DFW to SEA in the PMDG Boeing 737-800 with Chaseplane installed in MSFS 2024. While I’ve spent many hours in MSFS 2024, these have only been flying GA aircraft and of course my around the world adventure I completed in the A2A Piper Comanche. The wait was worth it to have Chaseplane. I’m just too old to mess around with the clunky camera system.
I know there is a raging debate taking place in various forums, Discord channels and even on Reddit regarding whether the PMDG 737-800 is worth the $30 upgrade fee. For me personally, as I really enjoy the 737, the fee is one that I gladly paid to have this option in my virtual hangar. While I owned all the PMDG 737’s in MSFS 2020, most likely I will only add the 737-900 once it’s available and not bother with the -600 or -700. But who knows…I might just change my mind.
Of course with PMDG’s decision to release the 737-800 first into MSFS 2024 is causing a lot of frustration in the community as well. If you remember, when PMDG first released the 737 for MSFS 2020 it was the -700 that released first. Many of us who were longing to fly the PMDG 737 in MSFS 2020 picked up the -700. To be honest, I flew it many times before the -800 released, but haven’t really bothered to fly it after. I then added the -900 as I often fly Alaska Airlines flights and they operate that type. So I suppose those who only purchased the -700 will either need to wait to receive the discount when that variant is released or pony up the full price for the -800 now if they really want the PMDG in their hangar.
In closing, I’m going to wait until enough time has passed to give my full thoughts and review on the new PMDG 737-800. Perhaps this is something I’ll work on for early 2026.
Until then….
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry