Awesome FAM video!

I just downloaded the A2A P-51 sim and the Accu-Sim module. My earlier "training" in the beta DCS: P-51D sim, that I've had since it first was released, seems to have been beneficial for flying the A2A P-51. I was able to hop in for a quick flight (runway start) from KFNT to the Charity Islands to scope out my favorite walleye fishing areas, then back to KFNT for a landing - all without reading the Accu-Sim manual. The landing wasn't perfect but I'll take it. I had all the recommended A2A settings for realism, crash detection, etc. enabled. I know that I have a lot more experimenting to do, and I will read the manual, but my initial impression is that the A2A pony is easier to fly than DCS. For example, I was able to easily trim the bird for hands off level cruising. I'm not saying that this difference is a good thing one way or the other. I'm just making the observation. Owning both sims doesn't bother me - I can lay down more cash for a night of pub hopping than what I paid for either program.

Cool thanks for the comparison Chug, can you also tell us if the DCS P-51 has a similar systems/damage modeling as A2A accusim?

I'm also not limited to one choice or the other, so if the DCS one is good as well it will join my hangar as well, I love FSX for the real world scenery but also enjoy DCS for the war simulation, we're lucky to be in a situation where we have two great P-51s to fly.

Chug, which one do you think has the most realistic feel to it?

Nice shots, Kludger.

kludger, work and Mrs. Chug's honey-do list haven't allowed me to fully explore both sims yet so I can't give a detailed comparison on damage modeling.

My impression though, is that DCS has the more detailed damage modeling. There are about 130, 150 or so systems failures that you can turn on in DCS via the Mission Editor and in the config screen there is the Random Failures option. I haven't seen that detail yet in A2A - it may be in the manual that I haven't read yet . The config menu in FSX does allow the options of "Aircraft Stress Causes Damage" and "Engine Stress Causes Engine Damage" but in FSX there aren't a bunch of ZSU's and SAM's trying to poke holes in you. I did manage to break an engine in A2A by pushing too hard but haven't been able to do that in DCS yet.

Zorg12, I'm not sure which feels more authentic to me because the only piloting I've done has been in PC sims and an introductory flight lesson in a Cessna 172. DCS: P-51D is more challenging for me and probably therefore more fun for me. I really enjoyed learning DCS: Black Shark for that reason and the constant trimming and attention to flight controls it requires. In DCS: P-51D, taking my eyes off the horizon or the "six pack" in order to arm guns or rockets or clicking some other controls on the panel usually results in a momentary loss of attitude - nothing severe enough to lose control; just little climbs, dips and swoops. With A2A, once trimmed for level flight, I can click anything and take my time doing it while still maintaining a stable attitude. I have a feeling therefore that DCS is more authentic in that regard but as I said, I'm not a R/L pilot.

Like kludger, I enjoy the capabilities of both sims. In A2A I can fly around the world and enjoy the scenery. In DCS I enjoy blowing stuff up!

Chug, you have the Accusim addon for the A2A P51-D right and not just the aircraft itself?

Sorry for doublechecking but for me with Accusim on the P-40 and P51-D I've experienced all kinds of wear and tear, things like taxing too fast and using the brakes too hard during turns causing the landing gear to fail later on take off, or not allowing the engine to warm up enough causing the plugs to get fouled, stuff like that is one of the things I love about A2A and something I am not sure if the DCS P-51D supports (hopefully so, I should know for sure soon when I buy it).

kludger, I do have the Accusim.

Is the wear and tear cumulative until you repair it in the maintenance hangar? I probably haven't been experiencing it because FSX keeps crashing with a "nil value" error and I have to delete the FSXAccusim.dat and the p51log.dat files and restart FSX each time. Others seem to be having this issue, too. See:

http://shockwaveproductions.com/forum/vi...a74f39c944f7dd3

Ah indeed the wear and tear is cumulative, and it builds up depending on how well/poorly you treat the plane, what impressed me with the P-40 is that it didn't just apply to the engine, but things like the brakes and gear.

I haven't encountered that error but from reading that forum I agree that it sounds like the "nil value" error would cause the lack of wear and tear, hopefully they get a fix in soon for those affected.

It seems to me the A2A P-51 and the DCS P-51 have very different recommended methods for start up?

Nice screenies, kludger.

I, too, would love to be able read a head-to-head comparisons between the two versions.