June 19, 2025 / admin / 0 Comments
Hello Captains, and welcome back!
I finally did it—I pulled the trigger on the iFly 737 MAX 8, and she’s officially part of my virtual fleet.
You might recall that when the iFly 737 MAX 8 was released last year, I had no immediate plans to purchase it. I wanted to wait and see if PMDG would unveil their own version of the MAX. But after looking far into the horizon, I just don’t see it happening this year—or perhaps ever.
Like many others, I was originally holding out for PMDG. While we can debate which developer would craft the best B38M, my preference leaned toward PMDG simply because of familiarity with their systems and the convenience of fewer installers cluttering my PC. But after seven months of waiting with no PMDG MAX in sight, I decided it was time to bring the iFly into my hangar.
The iFly 737 MAX 8 is available for both MSFS 2020 and 2024, but for now, I’m still primarily flying in 2020, so that’s where I installed it. My first flight—a quick hop from DFW to AUS—gave me a solid first impression. The B38M handled well, and I was genuinely surprised by how fast it climbed. Of course, it was a short flight with a relatively light fuel load, but still—impressive performance.
I’m pleased with the purchase and looking forward to putting the MAX 8 through its paces as I progress in A Pilot’s Life career add-on. While the PMDG 737-800 will always hold a special place in my heart, I can already see the iFly MAX becoming a regular in my rotation for years to come.
Until next time—happy flying!
Jerry
June 16, 2025 / admin / 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back!
A few posts ago, I mentioned that while I hadn’t published new content in several months, I’ve remained active—answering emails and responding to reader inquiries. Some of those questions, particularly about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, were beyond my expertise. Others, however, I could easily address.
Just today, I received a question from Jackson about the newly released Captain Sim Boeing 717. He wanted to know my thoughts on the aircraft and whether it was worth purchasing. Jackson is new to flight simulation, with MSFS 2024 serving as his introduction to our wonderful hobby.
For long-time readers familiar with my perspective, my advice might be predictable. While I have strong opinions against Captain Sim and similar developers, I shared my thoughts candidly while encouraging Jackson to conduct his own research before spending his hard-earned money.
Over the years, many fellow enthusiasts have asked why developers like Captain Sim remain successful despite their poor reputation among hardcore simmers. The answer is rather simple: I wouldn’t be surprised if Captain Sim ranks among the highest earners in the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace. Here’s why:
- Impressive Exterior Modeling – Despite their reputation and inability to create high-fidelity systems logic, their aircraft models are undeniably well-crafted. Many respected developers could benefit from a partnership where Captain Sim handles exterior modeling while leaving flight dynamics and systems to more experienced teams.
- Competitive Pricing – Captain Sim typically prices its add-ons attractively. For newcomers unaware of their history—or those uninterested in study-level aircraft—their offerings can seem appealing. That said, I strongly dislike their practice of charging for livery packs.
- New Audiences – Every new simulator release introduces a fresh audience. With MSFS 2020 and 2024 bringing flight simulation to console players, many new users remain unaware of certain developers’ past business practices. As a result, companies like Captain Sim continue to thrive.
The reality is, Captain Sim isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Developers like them will persist, creating add-ons that—at least for those of us who care about authenticity—are as useless as a chocolate teapot. New simmers will continue to buy them, and the most we can do is educate and inform newcomers.
Until next time,
Happy flying!
—Jerry
June 12, 2025 / admin / 0 Comments
Hello friends, and welcome back to the blog!
Over the past few months, I’ve received several emails from readers all asking variations of the same question: Why is it taking so long to bring the PMDG 737 into MSFS 2024? One email even noted, “It only took Fenix a week to bring their A320 family into MSFS 2024.”
While this is an interesting comparison, I believe it’s more like apples to oranges.
Why the Delay?
Unfortunately, I don’t have a definitive answer as to why MSFS 2024 has been available for over six months and yet we’re still waiting for the PMDG 737. However, let’s speculate for a moment.
If we rewind to the early days of MSFS 2020, it took PMDG nearly three years to release their Boeing 737-700. Fenix introduced their Airbus A320 just 10 days later. The lengthy wait for these study-level aircraft was largely due to stability and performance challenges within the new MSFS 2020 platform. I suspect we’re seeing a similar situation with MSFS 2024.
Key Differences Between Fenix and PMDG
Another important factor is how these two aircraft are built. The Fenix A320 operates differently from PMDG aircraft because many of its systems run externally from the simulator. This unique setup likely allowed Fenix to transition their product to MSFS 2024 much faster.
Additionally, flight sim development teams tend to be quite small. A few years ago, PMDG reportedly had a team of just eight people. While they may have expanded since the launch of MSFS, they are still a relatively lean operation. Given their recent focus on the Boeing 777 lineup, it makes sense that the 777 would take priority for MSFS 2024 before the 737.
Looking Ahead
I completely understand the frustration—many of you would prefer to see the 737 arrive ahead of the 777. But it is what it is. For now, patience is key, and I’m confident we’ll have the PMDG 737 in our MSFS 2024 virtual hangar soon.
Until next time…
✈ Happy Flying! ✈
— Jerry
June 5, 2025 / admin / 0 Comments
Welcome Back to My Blog
Hello once again, and welcome to my blog. If you’re a returning visitor, it’s great to have you back. If you’re new here, I sincerely appreciate you stopping by!
During my time away from publishing new content, I’ve done my best to stay on top of reader questions. I believe in responding to every email as thoroughly as I can. If I don’t have the expertise to answer a particular question—especially when it comes to newer topics like MSFS 2024—I’ll be upfront about it. My goal for this blog has always been to share my experiences with simulation-based games and offer guidance wherever possible.
A Video Worth Discussing
This morning, I checked my email and found a message from Jason, a longtime internet friend with similar interests. He had watched a video he thought I would appreciate, and knowing our past discussions, he was right—I have a few thoughts on it!
The Issue with Social Media Influencers
The term “Social Media Influencer” is one I’ve never been fond of, particularly in the realm of PC gaming. As a nearly 59-year-old retired gamer who has spent over four decades flying computer-based sims, I’ve seen this space become overly saturated with content creators and streamers. Too many have lost sight of why they started—or perhaps never had a real purpose to begin with.
That said, I don’t mean to lump everyone together. There are content creators who genuinely love this hobby and work hard to produce valuable flight simulation content. These individuals stay true to their original mission, helping others without compromise.
The Evolution of Content Creation
Many popular creators initially set out to share their passion for gaming, offering insights to help others. That’s an admirable approach—it’s the same reason I’ve blogged about simulation gaming for nearly 15 years. However, over time, some have become obsessed with subscriber counts, sponsorships, and developer relationships, often at the expense of honesty and quality.
Transparency Matters
As discussed in the video Jason shared, few of today’s top content creators and streamers prioritize transparency. This issue extends beyond flight simulation—it’s prevalent in Farming Simulator and Truck Simulator content as well. Some influencers either fear losing sponsorships or fail to recognize the harm they’re causing within the community.
My Commitment to Honesty
I’ve received add-ons from developers for review, but I’ve always made it clear that I won’t sugarcoat issues or overlook problems. Perhaps this is why I don’t receive many review offers anymore—developers have plenty of creators who will stick to their narrative without critique.
Jealousy? Not a Chance.
Some might argue that criticism of influencers stems from jealousy—jealousy over their following, sponsorships, or ability to play games for a living. Speaking for myself, I can confidently say jealousy has never been a factor. My blog enjoys solid readership numbers, and when I’m more active, my posts reach thousands of readers. The modest revenue generated is enough to keep the site running, and that’s all I need.
As I’ve grown older and gained more experience in simulation gaming, my priorities have shifted. I have zero desire to be a beta tester for every new add-on that hits the market. Instead, I wait, giving developers time to iron out issues. I’ve learned the hard way that early reviews on YouTube or Twitch don’t always reflect reality.
Final Thoughts
I still have a select group of content creators I trust when it comes to previews, but the list is short—very short. My promise to you, my loyal readers, is that I will always tell it like it is, no matter how controversial or inconvenient that may be. I’m here to be honest, not to play favorites.
Until next time…
✈ Happy Simming! ✈
— Jerry
June 2, 2025 / admin / 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to my blog!
As always, I truly appreciate you taking the time to read.
When Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 launched nearly five years ago, I eagerly purchased it and spent countless hours flying various GA aircraft that came with the sim. While I had a strong interest in the FBW A320 project, I struggled with MSFS’s camera system, which made the experience less enjoyable. As a result, I stuck with P3D v5 and ChasePlane to fully enjoy tubeliner flying.
That changed when the Fenix A320 and PMDG 737 arrived on MSFS 2020, prompting me to finally make the switch. Yet, I still missed ChasePlane and its intuitive camera system, complete with cinematic capabilities.
I had almost given up hope of ever seeing ChasePlane in MSFS 2020, let alone MSFS 2024. If you had asked me then, I wouldn’t have bet a single dollar on it happening. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when the talented developers at //42 announced they were bringing ChasePlane to MSFS—first in 2020, with plans for MSFS 2024 down the road.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, My Long Break – An Explanation, I’ve been away from the flight simulation hobby for a while. So, I completely missed the news about ChasePlane’s release in MSFS 2020. When I finally had a chance to sit down and update my sim, I wasted no time purchasing and installing ChasePlane.
To my delight, ChasePlane feels just as familiar as it did in P3D. While there are a few limitations, none of them affect my experience in any meaningful way. After completing several flights, I can confidently say that ChasePlane is a game-changer. Its intuitive interface and ease of use far surpass the default Asobo camera system.
As before, ChasePlane pairs beautifully with my Razer Orbweaver keypad. I’ve assigned buttons to different views, allowing me to switch perspectives with pinpoint accuracy.
If you’ve ever used ChasePlane in FSX or P3D and struggled with the frustratingly clunky default camera system, do yourself a favor and grab your copy today from the //42 website. As for MSFS 2024, I’ll continue holding out until ChasePlane is officially available for that platform.
Until next time…
✈ Happy Flying! ✈
— Jerry
October 29, 2024 / admin / 0 Comments
Another reader question which I wanted to share with y’all. So here goes….
Hello Jerry, I have a question regarding the new MSFS 2024 Career Mode. Do you believe this new career mode will replace all the other 3rd party versions such as A Pilot’s Life, Air Hauler etc.? Also, I’m curious why Microsoft decided to add the career mode into the new sim since there are other 3rd party options available. Thank you for all you do for the flight sim community. Bob
Thank you Bob for your question. I suppose we’ve been somewhat lacking in having a built-in career mode system within the simulator for some time and both Microsoft and Asobo seem to have been listening to the voices of the community and as a result have made the decision to add this as one of the core features of the new sim. I also believe one of the key reasons for Microsoft to develop this new career mode is for the console community which makes up a large portion of the overall Microsoft Flight Simulator userbase.
For console players using MSFS 2020, they don’t have access to all of the 3rd party options available to us PC gamers. I believe the only career mode add-on that console players have access to is The Skypark. Other options such as A Pilot’s Life, Air Hauler and Neofly are all PC platform only. So I’m sure the new option in MSFS 2024 will be a welcome addition for console gamers.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any news from the 3rd party developers who currently have options available for MSFS 2020 on their plans for the new sim. My guess is they will all eventually support the new sim as each have a large user base who will want to continue using their applications perhaps in addition to the built in option.
I hope this helps to answer your question regarding the new career mode option in MSFS 2024. I suppose we’ll all learn more once the new sim launches in just a few weeks time.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry
October 22, 2024 / admin / 0 Comments
I’m sure the most recent question I received from one of my loyal readers of this blog is one that we all have contemplated since we first learned about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. To be 1000% honest, this had been a question kicking around in my own head for a period of time. Let’s dive into Joel’s question and I’ll provide some guidance.
Dear Jerry, I’m a fairly long-time flight sim enthusiast like yourself. I first played Microsoft Flight Simulator just after the release of FS2004 (FS9) and moved to FSX for a period of time, then migrated to the various iterations of P3D including P3Dv5. I purchased MSFS 2020 on day one and much like you have mentioned, really didn’t get serious with it until the release of both the Fenix A320 and the PMDG 737. My instance of MSFS 2020 runs really well and again much like you, I only fly tubeliners simulating a few real world airlines. While I am excited about what I’ve heard about MSFS 2024, I’ve really been searching deep into my soul to determine if this is truly something I need to upgrade to based on my flying style. While the missions do look sort of cool and the career mode does as well, I probably won’t spend a great deal of time with these features and believe I would mostly carry own with flying much like I do now in 2020. I value your opinions and input, can you shed any light to help me decide on what to do? As our flying styles are very similar I would really be interested in learning what your plans are? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and I look forward to hearing back from you. Finally, best of luck with the upcoming move to Texas. Joel
Well Joel, you bring up some very interesting points and yes, it very much sounds like our flying styles and overall interest in flight simulation is the same. It’s always difficult for me to genuinely recommend anyone to reach into their wallet and spend their hard-earned money. That being said, I actually do believe, despite the fact that I also won’t spend a lot of time with the missions and career mode options, that there is significant reasons to upgrade from MSFS 2020 to MSFS 2024.
I know there’s a lot of discussions taking place in various forums and communities regarding why Microsoft and Asobo made the decision to create a brand new sim just four years after 2020 was launched. I’ve talked about these in the past and won’t spend any additional time on this other than to say that Microsoft felt they had reach the full potential of 2020 and much of the things the community was interested in would require a brand new platform. So that is what we have with MSFS 2024.
From my own style of flying which I would classify as 80% tubeliner and 20% GA flying, the advancements we’re learning about in the new sim WILL be beneficial to us. As it’s been announced we should experience far better flight dynamics with MSFS 2024 and the weather engine has also been completely re-worked. I suppose I’m also excited (and nervous) about the “Thin Client” concept of how visual content will be delivered in the sim. As previously stated, 80% of what I do in the sim is airline simulation. I tend to mostly fly in North America. So I suppose not having the rest of the world installed on my PC when I’m not flying there is a good thing. When I do venture cross the pond, that data will be streamed into my PC. But like I said, I’m also nervous about this concept as well. Several times Microsoft has experienced server issues which have had a significant impact on our ability to use MSFS 2020, so these issues certainly need to addressed. But if any company has the resources to make this happen, it’s Microsoft. So I’ll remain optimistic on this concept for now.
There is also something to be said with regards to supporting the further development of our hobby. This is not to say that we have an obligation to sent Microsoft money just to keep our hobby alive, but I certainly remember the dark days after Microsoft announced ending Flight Simulator and not really knowing what the future held. MSFS 2020 has reinvigorated our hobby at never before seen levels and the future of flight simulation is very bright in my opinion.
But like I already stated, I really don’t like to tell anyone what to spend their money on. So with that said, I’m planning on upgrading and plan to purchase the premium deluxe version of MSFS 2024. I believe, as I’ve believed since I first saw MSFS 2020 four years ago, that Microsoft Flight Simulator is the future and is the absolute best home based simulator that you can buy.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry
October 1, 2024 / admin / 0 Comments
By now I’m sure you’ve all heard that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is now officially available for pre-order. The actual release date, pending no issues is set for 19 November which is less than two months away. Like you, I’ve been diving into all the various purchase options to try and determine which option suits me best.
When MSFS 2020 released, I decided to purchase the Premium Deluxe version. I made this decision primarily due to the hand-crafted airports option and thinking these would fulfill my requirements. While some did, sadly many didn’t and I ended up purchasing third party versions. This was especially true for airports I tend to visit frequently including KDEN, KORD, KSFO, KJFK, KSEA, EGLL etc. Of course, I’m thankful I made that purchase decision as it did allow me to leverage the 787 Dreamliner mods which allowed me to conduct some awesome long-haul flights while waiting for the PMDG 777-300ER.
In reviewing the various fact sheets and videos which have surfaced regarding the purchase options for MSFS 2024, I’m still weighing my options to determine which direction I want to go. What I have ruled out is the Aviator’s Edition. While the Aviator’s Edition includes 30 additional aircraft, these are Microsoft published aircraft i.e. “Local Legends” and I never used those with 2020. In my opinion these aircraft are not worth the extra $70. At least not to me!
I suppose the direction I’m leaning at this very moment (and I don’t plan to pre-order in the near future) is to once again go with the Premium Deluxe Edition. Priced at $129.99 it offers the largest selection of hand-crafted airports (160) and the same amount of new and upgraded aircraft (45/50). I don’t necessarily hold out any faith that any of the hand-crafted airports will meet my expectations, everything I’ve purchased for 2020 should work in 2024 and perhaps some such as KDFW will have been fixed as I talked about here a week or so ago. Unfortunately, at the time I’m writing this article Microsoft hasn’t published any details regarding the hand-crafted airports for 2024.
But bottom line, I’m OK with the $129.99 price for the Premium Deluxe Edition and who knows, perhaps Microsoft/Asobo have updated these hand-crafted airports to modern specs and those that I haven’t already purchased will meet my needs.
Final Thoughts
As I’ve been providing frequent updates about my upcoming move from Colorado to Texas, most likely around the time of the release of MSFS 2024 I will be knee deep in trying to get boxes unpacked, getting my man-cave setup and then we have Thanksgiving the very next week. What I’m actually trying to say is I doubt very seriously if my gaming machine will be setup and ready to install and use MSFS 2024 until sometime in early December. So the hype of the initial release of MSFS 2024 will not be something I’ll have the time to enjoy as the priority of getting settled into the new house must be #1.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry
June 12, 2024 / admin / 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to my blog site. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably already watched the brand new release trailer which Microsoft released over the weekend regarding their brand new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The announced release date is 19 November 2024. I’ve watched this trailer now about a half dozen times and very much like what I see. Of course, I liked what I saw from the very first teaser from last year.
Backing up the Truck
Before I dive into a few things that I’m thinking about after watching the new trailer several times, let me just point you all to a blog article I wrote earlier this year on the subject of MSFS 2024. This article covers the why behind Microsoft’s decision to release a brand new sim only four years after MSFS2020. Of course I also talk about a few other things and if you missed it, now would be a good time to go read it.
Thoughts and Concerns
Over the past few days I’ve watched many videos from other flight sim content creators breaking down the new trailer video. From what I’ve seen across many videos, the concerns of these content creators can be broken down into these following categories. #1 Flight Model, #2 Old add-on compatibility and #3 new projects slated for MSFS 2020. Let me break these down and provide my thoughts for each.
Flight Model
I’m not a real world pilot of any sort. Over the past 4 years I’ve heard many complain about the poor flight modeling in MSFS. Many state that this is the primary reason they do not use MSFS 2020. Microsoft have stated that there will be an advanced flight model in MSFS 2024. As for how advanced it will be compared to MSFS 2020, well….we’ll just have to wait and see. But I believe Microsoft and Asobo have listened to us and will deliver a better flight model in the new sim.
Old/Existing MSFS2020 Add-on Compatibility
Microsoft have stated multiple times that old/existing add-ons for MSFS2020 should work in the new sim. Of course, what we don’t know is whether this is day one compatibility or whether it will take the 3rd party developers some time to work on. I think with scenery, it should only consist of minor tweaks to make it compatible. However, for 3rd party aircraft….this could take some additional time especially if the flight model changes between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. It is worthy to note that 3rd party developers are just as much in the dark as we are when it comes to MSFS 2024. At the present time, Microsoft have not released any details which could be used to help speed up the process of getting 3rd party add-ons into MSFS 2024.
New Projects
As the sun is starting to quickly set on MSFS 2020, there are concerns by many that un-released 3rd party add-ons (specifically aircraft) which were slated to be released in MSFS 2020 will be bumped to MSFS 2024. Many are pointing towards the news that Aerosoft’s long awaited Airbus A330 which was supposed to come out for MSFS 2020 is now being delayed and will only release for MSFS 2024.
To be perfectly honest, the example of the Aerosoft A330 is the only project I’ve heard about that is being delayed to MSFS 2024. Bluebird Simulations still plans to release their Boeing 757 for MSFS 2020 with a free update to MSFS 2024. The PMDG Boeing 777 is on short-final and should release sometime this summer for MSFS 2020. Considering for me personally….I’m not planning on buying the Aerosoft so their decision doesn’t impact me at all.
Final Thoughts
As I’ve stated before, MSFS 2024 most likely will be a day one purchase for me. However, I have low expectations that my favorite 3rd party aircraft (specifically the PMDG 737 and Fenix A320) will be ready to install in the new sim on day one. No one knows at this point in time the level of effort needed for the 3rd party developers to make existing add-ons ready for MSFS 2024, nor do we know with any level of accuracy how much these updates/upgrades will cost us. For me personally, I’m willing to pay a small update price for existing add-ons for MSFS 2024. But I’m not willing at this point in time to re-purchase at full price. My investment in MSFS 2020 at the present time is in the thousands of dollars. But it’s waaaaayyyy too early to get the cart ahead of the horse at this point in time. So I invite you to join me in just sitting back and taking a wait and see attitude with this. Because that’s really all we can do at this time.
One more thought
One more thought came to my mind as I was wrapping this all up. It truly is in Microsoft’s best interest to have developed MSFS 2024 in such a way that requires minimal 3rd party development work to make add-ons compatible in the new sim. The reason I say this, is many will wait before purchasing MSFS 2024 until some time has passed to see how 3rd party developers react to the new sim and what level of effort is required AND what, if any upgrade cost might need to be passed along to consumers. If the level of effort is high enough for developers to have to charge full-price for add-on upgrades then I think most will just stay on MSFS 2020.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what I’ve discussed here today. Leave a comment and let me know.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry
June 3, 2024 / admin / 0 Comments
I hope everyone is having a great start to the summer season. While it’s still a few weeks before summer officially arrives, the weather is warming up across the country and in most places school is out.
PMDG Boeing 777
In recent days PMDG have broken their silence and informed everyone via their forums that they are busy undertaking a few web enhancements to their e-commerce platform to better handle the upcoming release of the much anticipated Boeing 777. Specifically the Boeing 777-300ER. This is great news, but still leaves us wondering just how much longer it will be before we can all get our hands on this awesome aircraft. We’ve been reminded that PMDG will provide a two week notice before the 777 will be available and at the time of this writing, this 2 week notice has not been made public. So until then, we wait and wait and wait some more.
We are about 3 weeks away from the 2024 FSExpo, so many are speculating that the availability might coincide with this event. But who really knows.
MSFS 2024 Release Rumors
In addition to the PMDG 777, the flight sim community is working overtime to try to second guess when Microsoft will release the new version of the sim which we know as MSFS 2024. The big Microsoft XBox Summer Showcase on 9 June. This is where Microsoft unveils many of their new projects expected to release throughout 2024 and early 2025. We have had confirmation that a new trailer will be for MSFS 2024 during the event. There have also been rumors of leaked information that a date for release will be mentioned in this new trailer video and the rumors are this date will be sometime in November, just in time for the holidays.
I know many were thinking, hoping, dreaming etc. that MSFS 2024 might release in August as that was the month MSFS2020 released. But I’m actually OK with a later release. While I have plans to purchase and move to the new platform, I’m also not in any big hurry. I believe it will take some time (perhaps a few weeks or even a few months) for MSFS 2020 add-ons to be ready for MSFS 2024. So other than using MSFS 2024 for GA flying, my expectation is that it will be some time before we can do any serious airliner operations.
Well…that’s about all I have for now. Naturally I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open to any news coming from the XBox Summer Showcase and of course anything from PMDG. So we must just all stay tuned.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry
