Why is Elite 7.0 four times the price of FS2K2

[CCairns10]

Its scenery is primitive and its base pack only has one aircraft yet it is four times the price of FS2K2, the same could be said for Precision Simulator 744.

Please tell me before I save up to buy it to find out.

Chris

[progrmr]

I think that Elite can be used and actually count for up to 2.5 hours of flight time towards your Private Pilots License. This is per FAA regs.

My flying school has a cool simulator that is running Elite. It's not an enclosed cockpit but more like my pc here at home with real panels/radio stack. Pretty cool.

[Sonar5]

It can only be used if it is used at an approved flight school. You can't just buy it and use it at home, and log hours..

It is a very cool tool... If you have the right setup..

Joe
Sonar5

[lnuss]

Elite is aimed at the real aviation market, not at hobbyists. So it has a comparatively small market from which to recover development costs. And, with FAA approval under certain conditions, costs are higher yet. And they have to have a better aircraft flight model than FS does, which adds to development costs.

Add in the fact that ANYTHING aimed at the aviation market tends to be priced higher than what would seem comparable in other markets, and you have a high priced program. But it is cheap for its intended use, compared to a lot of other options.

In order to be used for logging any FAA-approved time, it must be used under the supervision of a CFI, and it must have certain approved additional hardware beyond the basic PC and yoke or stick. This stuff gets expensive in a hurry, and is rarely found outside flight schools, though a few people have them at home.

Larry N.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c22868f655d5d5a.jpg

[CCairns10]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-31-01 AT 08:08PM (EDT)[p]My initial question was semi-rhetorical, I just wanted to see what kind of response I would get from FS2K2 users. Obviously Elite 7.0 does have less fancy capabilities but much more of the realistic ones. You make it sound as if its not quite worth the price purely to be used as a hobby. I wish FS2K2 had some more of the realistic capabilities like backup hydraulic pumps and the like.

Chris

[lnuss]

It's NOT worth the price (to me) as a hobby. But if I needed something for serious IFR practice, or for some of its other abilities, I might consider it.

If it's worth it to you, fine. For some folks it IS worth it.

Larry N.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3c22868f655d5d5a.jpg

[chrisbl]

As the others have said, do,nt buy it as an alternative to FS2002 as they are not comparable products.

Elite is aimed at the flight tuition market and is used as a serious IFR training aid.

FS2002 is a game, a sophisticated toy and not a substitute for proper flight tuition.

Its horses for courses.

The answer to your question though is with you - What do you want to do?

Do you want to do some serious IFR work with the aim of becoming a real life IR rated pilot, or do you want to enjoy a pleasant hobby meet nice people in this forum and not get too worried about it?

Over to you - That right guys?

Chris

[rayN5432H]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-01-02 AT 01:48AM (EDT)[p]Just some more info.:

Actually, I think that a simulator such as Elite (with the proper set up) can count for a maximum of 20 hours towards the FAA instrument rating.

And yes, aviation-oriented products are usually much more expensive, even if they are the same as a public product.

Example: Magellan (sp?) 315 GPS:
Land version: ~$100 - $150
Aviation (315A): ~$300 !

The 315A is a very basic GPS, not approved as any primary form of navigation (has to be backed up by VOR/NDB/pilotage, etc.) and I think the land version (315) has the ability to hold a couple dozen (maybe even 100) user-programmed waypoints. You can program in the Lat./Long. of your airports, and even landmarks (any point you want), so you basically get a $300 315A for $100. It's something. An "-A" costs $150 more.

However, insurance is a little strange. In proportion with a car, aircraft insurance (at least renter's insurance) is LESS than a car. From AOPA, Liability/Property Damage plus $20,000 hull insurance is about $500 / year. Isn't that about the same as the insurance on a $10,000 (approx.) car?

Ray

[av84fun]

I've been an Elite user since v 1.0 and it is a different product than FS. It runs on a serial port (much faster than a game port)via a proprietary interface box. My elite system includes an "authentic" metal 6 level twin power quad and a stand along radio stack. The graphics are only "representative" of actual terrain i.e. if there is supposed to be a mountain in the area there is one but it looks cartoonish. Elite is essentially an IFR recurrency tool and as such, you are supposed to me in the clouds until you finally break out on short final.

It is NOT a sightseeing game. Elite's flight models are generally superior to those in FS2K@ but I'll tell ya what. they're not all THAT much better than the FS default planes and are NO BETTER than some of the really good 3rd party planes such as the Commander 115 for example.

I just installed Elite V 7.0 (I've purchased every upgrade in Elite history but I am very seriously considering abandoning it because FS has gotten so close in terms of flight models.

If I do, I'll have to toss over $1,000.00 in hardware and buy another $1,000 worth from the same GREAT company, Precision Flight Controls so that I can fly twins via standalone and authentic hardware.

For those who complain about MS characteristics, you don't know how good you have it for the money.
Regards

[Pace]

The price is really not so much to do with being aviation related but more to do with supply and demand.

Elite is aimed at a small specialised niche market.
The makers have to get a certain level of income from the product.

Its simple maths either have a bigger market and charge less or a small market and charge more.

X-plane was four times the price it is now then the makers decided to attack a much broader market and went for volume rather than high unit price with low volume sales.

If Elite sold a quarter of the copies that MSFS does then it would be a fraction of its present cost.

Yes aviation parts costs are frightening compared to the equivalent car part but then they are targeted at a very small group of people compared to the mass of car owners and are supplied by a very limited number of companies.This means that there isnt the competition to drive down prices.

Peter

[CCairns10]

Have you ever seen the flight systems in Precision Simulator 744 at aerowinx.com? (hydraulic systems, electrical systems etc.) I just wished FS2K2 had less of the eye candy and more of that.

Chris

[Captain_Slarty]

there is no mystery...

supply and demand... if people wil pay it, they will charge it..

;-)

http://www.captainslarty.com/images/sl0015fps.gif

[Pace]

Joe,

Thats human nature :-)hence why theres nothing better than a bit of competition to keep everyone honest.

But destroy the competition and then back to the good old monopoly situation.....a captive audience at a captive price.

If I can get my self a forcefeedback unit I might help with your exciting project.

Peter

[Captain_Slarty]

Hi pete, please can you post it in the new thread too.

yep, I think this is one heck of a leap if I can get it to work as intended.
might be worth just getting a stick for this..

beauty is, WHEN ff yokes come along, this will work for them too no probs, its fully directx orientated, so no probs.

Joe

http://www.captainslarty.com/images/sl0015fps.gif