What payware airliner to choose..?

[pegase]

The first question is "what plane do I like ?"

The captainsim 707 is now "my" plane understand I love it. I made until now 16 flights in 63 hours with her. but, out of the box, it can be
frustrating. poor documentation make the start up and electric power management a bit tricky, the original auto pilot is simply buggy but
there is a fix on CS support website. It is quite an heavy bird and the inertia is very nicly reproduced in the model; added with the roaring
sounds, the result is a totally immersive and adictive plane, but it can be difficult for who comes directly out from a GA aircraft.

I have also the DreamFleet 727 and made some 40 flights in100 hours with her and I really recomand it.
The start up and power management is acurately reproduced. Then, a bit complicated at first but the very good and complete
documentation is a big help. the flight model is very friendly, purists would tell "too easy". I think it is a good choice to start with airliners.

Both planes 707 and 727 are old irons and you won't find sophisticated planes with FMC, no autoland, no speed hold. The Sperry
autopilot on both is very basic: current altitude hold, heading acquisition and hold, pitch hold, VOR, LOC/GS hold for ILS approach. It
changes from the usual altitude acquisition mode at given vertical speed.

If you wish something more up to date with FMC and automatisation almost able to handle it for you from gate to gate, I think that the
PMDG 737 or may be the Flight 1 MD 80 would be a better choice.

I just bought the MD 80. It is not my favorite plane but I am curious how it is flying a more sophisticated way and think this new idea
of "training center" can learn me a lot. Also an IMPRESSIVE documentation (some 300 pages) is provided.

Last but not least, the default FS2004 737 and Rod Machado's lessons, despite their bugs and weak points are really the best, almost
mandatory start in the world of jetliners.

Good luck