Hello Captains and welcome back!
Just a few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on the CSS 737 Classic subscription model—where, for less than the price of an overpriced coffee, you could take the aircraft for a 30-day spin. For only $5, sim pilots could test the waters before committing to a long-term relationship with the airplane. After the trial period, you could either continue with the monthly subscription, switch plans, or buy the aircraft outright. At the time, I considered it a fair and flexible approach to add-on pricing.
But now, Microsoft is changing the game with a new rental option in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Let’s take a closer look.
Yes, you heard that right—you can now rent select aircraft directly from the MSFS Marketplace. This new feature, which had been teased prior to launch, quietly rolled out and recently caught my attention thanks to an article on FSElite. The system lets you rent an aircraft for seven days at a reduced price, and if you decide to make it a permanent part of your fleet, you only pay the remaining balance.
For example:
If an aircraft’s full sticker price is $9.99 and the rental fee is $3, you pay just $3 upfront to fly it for a week. If you fall in love with it and want to own it, you’ll only pay the remaining $6.99.
Simple. Practical. Pilot-friendly.
At the time of writing, only a handful of aircraft are available under this new rental category. Microsoft has stated they’ll expand the selection—and yes, 3rd party developers can opt in too, if they choose. Personally, I can see myself using this for smaller GA aircraft like those from Carenado. As for high-fidelity airliners like PMDG? I’d still likely stick to purchasing directly from the developer, for all the reasons I outlined in last week’s post.
That’s it for now. Let me know what you think of the rental system—convenient innovation or just another way to test the waters?
Until next time…
Happy Flying!
—Jerry