I just finished a flight in the free Aerofly FS 2 Dash 8 Q400. It was my first flight in it after flying nothing but the Majestic Dash 8 Q400 in Prepar3D v4 for a few months in a row. After reinstalling AFS2 to do some low and slow GA flights (because I found out I can't stand the popping and morphing of the scenery in P3D during low and slow flights: something you don't notice when flying high) I decided to give the Aerofly Q400 another try. I did fly it when it was released but forgot what it could and couldn't do. I also never flew it in VR because I needed the manual and checklist on my lap at that time (which can't be done in VR).
Well, as the subject of this topic says: the free Aerofly Dash 8 Q400 really is majestic. Pun intended. Apart from the FMS it can do almost everything the Majestic Q400 can do during a regular flight. Obviously the FMS is a major part of the experience and it is really missed in Aerofly but other than that I was really surprised how good it is. Well, okay, the sounds of the Majestic Q400 also are superior. But anyway, I think the Aerofly FS 2 really is the BEST 'default' (or at least free) plane of ANY sim out there. I really expected the experience to be a lot less deep but I was pleasantly surprised!
And even in VR, with its too low resolution, which I constantly moan about, the Q400, with its little texts and all the screens, was quite enjoyable. Although it obsiously helped I know the Q400 by heart by now and can do everything without reading the texts.
Of course the Majestic version has more depth system wise: in the Aerofly version a lot of knobs do work and lights go on and off but there isn't much going on 'behind it' all but as I said, for 'regular use' the experience you get is almost just as good. And how it performs in VR is a nice bonus. Considering that this Q400 is totally free that is a major accomplishment!
EDIT Forgot to say that when it comes to graphics the Aerofly FS 2 version is even better thanks to the superior graphics engine of AFS2! I really don't like how all the highlights etc. in the VC of the Majestic Q400 are simply painted onto all parts: no matter how you look at things, the highlights are stuck where they are. Sun or no sun, the light always shines on the exact same parts. Looks very odd (although you get used to it). While in AFS2 every hightlight is real and moving all the time depending on how the light falls on it. That's really awesome and a big plus! I can spend minutes just looking (in VR) at how the sunlight falls on for instance the leather-like material in the cockpit from various angles... really nice! This makes everything look so more real than in P3D!