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Best Sim Add-Ons of 2023

Nine products introduced made last year a great one for flight simmers.

The Lear 35A by FlySimWare was one of my favorite add-ons of the year. [Courtesy: Peter James]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author highlights several standout aircraft add-ons from 2023 for flight simulators, including the visually stunning FlySimWare Learjet 35A, the popular freeware Kuro 787-8, and the highly realistic A2A Piper Comanche known for its detailed maintenance simulation.
  • Key recommendations extend beyond aircraft to essential immersion-enhancing utilities like FSRealistic/XPRealistic for environmental effects, FSLTL for real-time live traffic with visual models, and FS-ATC Chatter for authentic global ATC audio.
  • These top picks cater to both Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane users, emphasizing products that deliver exceptional realism, fidelity, and innovative features to significantly deepen the simulation experience.
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2023 was certainly a great year for us flight simmers. I will often showcase favorite aircraft and add-ons as they arise, and some products that were introduced in 2021-22 still remain strong and the best in their class. Just like Oprah Winfrey, I too have my list of favorite things to share. They won’t make me famous, nor do the authors of all these become an overnight sensation and instant millionaires like Oprah’s following dictates, but nonetheless my list is solid in my own mind.

1. Learjet 35A by FlySimWare

The FlySimWare Lear 35A offers truly amazing visuals. [Courtesy: Peter James]

I think my favorite thing of 2023 was the sudden release of the FlySimWare Lear 35A. This is a humdinger of a masterpiece even if it’s still at the “early access” stage. I can’t recall another aircraft that has been so great right out of the box, with so little wait time or hoopla. I mean, we have the greats such as PMDG and Fenix, but they don’t get dropped suddenly without any long waits. 

Peter James

Peter is an experienced Part 135 business jet pilot with a passion for simulators and how they blend with the real world. Learning to fly at age 12, he supplemented his passion and career goals with the early versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. With the growing realism of all PC simulators today, he frequently uses them for extra proficiency, and loves to show other pilots how great they are.

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