I own AFPD and I've played extensively with G3.5 at a local Hobbytown. I find that the flight physics feel the same on these two and planes seem to fly the same (if they are the same planes). G3.5 is easier to keep tabs on the ground than AFPD is, but you can fiddle a bit and get that ground reference on AFPD by changing your field of view. AFPD has some good plane editing functions, but some really glaring ommissions in them too - I've not tried modifying planes in G3.5 as much, but it too lacks some needed abilities (like settings for altitude for instance). The scenery is better is G3.5 - I find my depth perception is flawed in AFPD and I've run into trees that weren't there! In general I think that AFPD's scenery graphics and abilities are a bit rough. You can only get cockpit and chase-plane views on the 3D renderings, not on the photo realistic scenes. This latter isn't that big of a deal to me though since I ALWAYS fly as the guy on the ground. Not all competitions are available in all scenes in AFPD, I don't know if this is true in G3.5. I find this frustrating - The baloon pop competition is without value in AFPD since the baloons aren't 3D and there is no way to figure out just where they are in the picture. The planes seem more bullet-proof in G3.5 than AFPD, landings that were just fine in G3.5 give me a "boom" hit on the ground or wheels broken off in AFPD - This probably means that AFPD is more realistic in that respect. Realflight G3.5 has a LOT more expansions, but you'd go broke getting them. AFPD has only two so far, and they are only a little more expensive the G3.5 ($31 as opposed to $29), there are a LOT of free planes and scenery out there for AFPD though and some are very good. I've not tried the new scenes, only the planes, but I'm not happy with many of the scenes that come with AFPD so I'm going to try more of the free scenery that folks have posted.

I have the "Game Commander" version of AFPD and I think that it is pretty good. It seems the controller is an exact match to my Futaba 6EX radio except that the flaps in the Game Commander are a dial and they are a switch on my Futaba. I like the dial.

In general I'd have to say that G3.5 and AFPD are pretty equivilent in value but for one thing, I'm disappointed in the variety of planes in AFPD compared to G3.5. I like the fact that it is easier to break a plane in AFPD, that seems more realistic to me - and my problems landing in AFPD exactly match my real life experiences too! Now if someone could get me an AFPD model for my old Dynaflight Bushwacker I'd be in heaven on a simulator!

While the grass is always greener on the other side, I'd have to say that I'm pleased with AFPD. I'd award RF G3.5 with an A and AFPD with an A-, both have room for improvement. Both are really good.

DLC