2009 Buyer's Guide

The holidays are fast approaching. Even yours truly has a birthday coming up this month! Maybe you just need a new plane to test out that new tricked out rig you built especially for FSX this year. Whatever the reason, either you or a special flight simmer you know will be looking for something cool to add to the ol' virtual hangar this year. This article will specifically cover the new products released during the previous 12 months, although it is definitely worth mentioning that you can't go astray with perennial favorites like the PMDG 747-400X or Level-D 767-300ER.

Captain Sim

• 727 Captain (includes Boeing 727-100 base model) €29.99 (approx. US $45)
• 727-200 expansion model (requires 727 Captain) €9.99 (approx. US $15)
• 727 freighter expansion model (requires 727 Captain) €9.99 (approx. US $15)
  
• 767 Captain (includes Boeing 767-300 base model) €39.99 (approx. US $60)
• 767-200 expansion model (requires 767 Captain) €9.99 (approx. US $15)
• 767 freighter expansion model (requires 767 Captain) €9.99 (approx. US $15)
• KC-767 expansion model (requires 767 Captain) €9.99 (approx. US $15)
• E-767 AWACS expansion model (requires 767 Captain) -- coming soon, likely before Christmas
• Captain Sim Weather Radar -- included with the 767, but sold separately if you choose not to buy the 767. €9.99 (approx. US $15)

Sorry FS9 fans, all Captain Sim products appear to require FSX only.

Buyer's tip: watch for Captain Sim's annual Holiday Sale in mid-December. In 2008, they offered substantial discounts on most products in their catalog. I picked up their C-130 this way for a very low price!

Flight 1

• Ultimate Traffic 2 -- FSX only. I have the original UT, and this one is on my wishlist. I like it for a realistic AI experience at airports all around the world. US $44.95
  
• Cessna Mustang -- FSX only. US $54.95
  
• Airsimmer A320 Basic Edition -- currently FS9 only, FSX version coming soon. US $39.95
• Eaglesoft Cessna Citation X 2.0 -- both FS9 and FSX versions available now. Requires registered version of FSUIPC for proper FADEC simulation. US $49.95

Leonardo SH

• Fly the Maddog v3.0 -- both FS9 and FSX versions available. €39.99 (approx. US $60) for the Standard Edition, or €49.99 (approx. US $75) for the Professional Edition.
  

McPhat Studios

• CoolSky Super80 Classic World Airliners 1 €13.29 (approx. US $20)
  
• CoolSky Super80 Classic World Airliners 2 €13.29 (approx. US $20)
  
• CoolSky Super80 Professional World Airliners 1 €13.29 (approx. US $20)
  
• CoolSky Super80 Professional World Airliners 2 €13.29 (approx. US $20)
  

PMDG

• BAe Jetstream 4100 -- FSX only. US $44.95

SkySimulations

• McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 -- both FS9 and FSX versions available. €30 outside Europe (approx. US $45)
  

Wilco

• Embraer Regional Jets PIC (a.k.a. feelThere! ERJ v2) -- both FS9 and FSX versions available. Includes ERJ-135, ERJ-145, and ERJ-145XR. €33.02 outside Europe (approx. US $50)
• World Airliners 1 Livery Pack -- extra repaints for the new ERJ developed by McPhat Studios. €9.83 outside Europe (approx. US $15)
  
• World Airlines 2 Livery Pack -- extra repaints for the new ERJ developed by McPhat Studios. €9.83 outside Europe (approx. US $15)

Happy holidays, simmers!

Stuff to expect to see in 2010, and beyond:

• Captain Sim 767-400
• Captain Sim 707
• Captain Sim B-52
• PMDG Boeing 737 NGv2
• PMDG Dash-8
• PMDG's "next big thing" (a RJ maybe?)
• Airsimmer A320 Advanced Edition for FS9 and FSX
• Next Level Simulations A380
  

And who knows what else?