Question: Academic or Professional license for a 501c3 Institution STEM program?
There are tons of sources out there to answer this question, but I wanted to hear from some users, and I really like this community...
I've been a flight simulation and MSFS user since the '80's, using it intensely for a few years, then being away for a while then coming back in on and off since then.
I'm currently using FSX/Acc and FSX:SE and am happy enough with those that I'm only feeling the "wonder" bug for myself. But clearly, P3D and X-Plane are the future.
The main reason I'm asking, though, is that I'm currently looking to create some STEM programs for use with school groups at a non-profit museum I volunteer at, and would like to build up a couple of flight simulators for them to use (for a long time I ran a (very) small business using flight simulation in schools for educational enrichment and in community education programs to introduce children and adults to flying). The museum is the Collings Foundation American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA.
I'm extremely comfortable with FSX and do some development of scenery and aircraft skins, and have even delved into modeling (I'm a mechanical engineer who's used 3D modeling tools since the late '80's).
So for them I need to choose a simulator that will be around for awhile and know I need to move forward from FSX.
So I'm thinking P3Dv4 is most likely what I'd suggest to start with for the museum since that's what I have the most experience with, but I'm going to try out X-Plane11 too.
My Question is... Legally, this is an educational endeavor, so I could choose the Academic license. But I'm wondering if I should just go with full up Professional P3D licenses? It sounds like the only difference is a watermark on the screen. But I don't know how intrusive that watermark is, and am thinking it may not be worth the trouble to save the cost of a couple of hundred dollars.
I'm wondering what y'all think academic vs professional in this situation. Money is always an issue, but in the end, I'm sure I can find the money for either. But if I go Academic, that's money that could be used for addons.
And what do you think about X-Plane? I have zero experience with it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this far,
Tom
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