Aerosoft: How to Do It Right

[Tim Capps 29]

I was organizing my Flight Simulator purchases over the past couple of days, which turned into a sort of retrospective on the role Aerosoft has played in my hobby. Some of the purchases had their day, and my tastes have changed (African Airstrip Adventures). A very few others just got superseded by something better (original Airbus). But for the most part, I am still enjoying nearly everything I have ever bought from Aerosoft. (I don't dare add it up!)

My latest purchase was the A318-319. I bought it with confidence, since I have the 320/321. The new airplanes are even better than their bigger sisters. The weather / terrain radar looks great, and -- like everything else -- works fine. Most developers would be content to give you an airplane and documentation. The Airbuses come with a fuel planner/loader, a virtual co-pilot who actually earns her pay, an easy-to-use route editor to translate flight plans off the internet into company routes, door management, apron toys, incidental cockpit sounds, a view management system -- and I'm sure I'm leaving out many other extras. And it all just works.

I'm not an expert, by any means. All I know is that it is a lot of fun, looks good, and acts like I, in my amateur opinion, think an Airbus should act. It is challenging, but not overwhelming, and the aforementioned virtual co-pilot really helps out a lot. The documentation is well-written and useful. (The tutorial flight sets the standard.) I have never had that sense of discouragement I have had with some complex procedural sims, but neither have I felt it was just not challenging. It is in my Goldilocks zone of being just right, and I bet a lot of other virtual pilots are finding the same thing.

About the only product from Aerosoft I use that I think could use a face lift would be Flight Keeper. To accommodate a lot of different user needs (I suspect) it feels sort of bolted together. I would love to see the simplicity of the Airbus flight recorder extended to my entire fleet without crew, and weather, and video streaming, and whatever else it does (and takes up overhead for) that I don''t really need. This is assuming I will want to fly something besides an Airbus -- probably never if we had an A330 for long hauls!

So, I would like to thank Mathijs and everyone involved in making Aerosoft an industry leader marked by excellence, reliability and completeness of their products, and also those special touches -- such as the Airbus A318/319 demonstrate -- that set it apart as a company that truly puts the hobbyist first. Good companies need to hear from people whose lives they have made a little happier.

[Ripcord 166]

Here here. I'll drink to that!

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

Thanks!

[boundary464 0]

Yes, I totally agree, keep up the good work Mathijs!