PMDG vs LDS - The clash of the Titans

In recent years, the leaps and bounds made by FS developers have been outstanding, Two particular products have caught my eye, the PMDG Boeing 747-400 and the Level D Boeing 767-300ER. I have been asked quite a few times which I think is the better addon, and I am going to write here my opinions about these phenomenal products.

As a lover of Boeing jets, these two planes were both at the top of my list, and I have been fortunate enough to fly them both, and i have been blown away by the functionality of both the aircraft. Both developers have gone to great lengths to create fantastic replicas of these magnificent machines, and they both feel like i beleive the real things would, they aren't nimble and light, but they feel so steady and safe.

The Boeing 767-300ER makes the final turn for 05 at Madeira!



From a pilots point of view, I think the Boeing 767-300ER is the better plane to fly. I had no problems bringing it into the rwy05 approach at Madeira, which is a stern test for any plane. The aircraft is smooth and at all times, I felt that I had full control of it. The other thing i loved about the 767 is that it is great to fly on shorter haul routes, aswell as the med/long haul routes it was designed for. It is perfect for a hop across the Eastern Seaboard from EHAM - EGLL.

The systems and the flight model are also very very detailed, and all opperate nicely, even on my modest system: However the attention to detail on the 767 is also rather modest when compared to the Boeing 747-400 by PMDG. The aircraft, virtual cockpit and the 2D panel are lovingly recreated in FS, and they are nothing short of phenomenal.

I was also overwhelmed by the performance of the 747-400. I remember one occasion when i was flying with Conrad, on a long haul trip from Dubai, and I climbed to FL440, and left him eating my vortex wake while i screamed through the virtual sky at mach 0.90 ( 90% of the speed of sound! ! ).

The fantastic VC - so much fun to be had here



The virtual cockpit of the Boeing 747 was the clincher for me though, there are so many gadgets, switches and animations that keep me occupied throughout the flight. There is so much fun to be had on board. The exterior model hits frame rates a little bit, but that extra detail is well worth having, and it makes for a truly fantastic flying experience.

1-0 to PMDG in my book, lets see what the A320 and 757 from PMDG and LDS respectively have in store for us...