TCA HINTS & TIPS: MISCELLANEOUS GOODIES ~-~--~---~----~-----~----~---~--~-~-~--~---~----~-----~----~---~--~-~ December 2004 FS2004 SIMULATED AIRCRAFT BUBBLE SEXTANT A new gauge out there folks, for those who like the old way. You Clipper drivers should like this one, on Avsim.com today: File Description: As travel by air developed and matured, navigation over long distances also developed and improved. In the early days, however, air navigation essentially used ship navigation techniques adapted for aircraft. Without "landmarks", the navigators used Ded Reckoning (DR) and the stars. Celestial or Astronomical Navigation provides a means of obtaining Lines of Position (LOPs) from the stars. Crossing LOPs will fix a position. It requires a chart, and a planned course on that chart, with waypoints specified by Latitude and Longitude, an assumed time of arrival at each waypoint, and stars (including the Sun, Moon, or planets) in view. In the 1940s, extensive tables of star positions were made available to air navigators to be used with sextants to obtain these LOPs. In the tables, all times involved are GMT. This data is available from the Internet in "ready to use" form. This gauge simulates the sextant, and the process by which one obtains a LOP, or crossing LOPs to obtain a position, or fix. Can be used with any FS2004 aircraft. Includes comprehensive browser-based manual and references. Filename dc3_bbsx.zip by Bitzer and Beaumont Kyle --- See also LONG DISTANCE FLIGHTS OVER WATER - GREAT CIRCLE ROUTES - NAVIGATING WITHOUT GPS, Charts & Navigation tips file, July 2002 Brian === November 2004 F1_VIEW - FS2004 FREEWARE ALTERNATIVE TO ACTIVECAM This, from another Forum: --- Thought I'd post this for those, like me, that may have missed this little freeware gem. Flight One Software offers this freeware module that works similar to the old ActiveCam of FS2002. "The F1_View module is a very basic tool that implements mouse-based zooming, panning, and eyepoint adjustments, including the ability to move your eyepoint beyond the limits imposed by Flight Simulator (this feature is good to stroll about virtual cabins of larger aircraft). This module requires a wheel-mouse (a center wheel that also acts as a center mouse button)." I've used it for a couple of days now with no problems at all. The installer installs (and uninstalls) the "F1_view.dll" into the main modules folder. It's great for getting around the virtual cockpit, plus it's super for "walk-arounds" of your favorite aircraft. You can even move down and inspect the condition of the tires. I'd think it would be great for developers and painters to inspect their wares inch-by-inch. Anyway, if you don't have the FS9 payware version of ActiveCam, give this a try. http://www.flight1software.com/files/F1View.zip --- Dorian === October 2004 FREEWARE FMC (FLIGHT MANAGEMENT COMPUTER) Thought the big tin pushers might find this of some interest. http://fmc.scumari.nl/ Dorian --- Looks totally yummy :-) Thanks Karl === April 2004 FSFORCE - SOFTWARE TO GET MORE REALISTIC FORCE FEEDBACK WITH JOYSTICKS I read a long (4 pages of small type!) and glowing review of this one in PC Pilot. Has anyone tried it? The product itself is here: http://www.dirks-software.ca/fs-force/ Summary of review: "Overhauls and improves noticeably the standard FS trim system and quality of control forces you'll experience with a FF stick. Can be easily customised to suit your requirements. "System requirements: Windows 98/XP, FS2002/4, MS Sidewinder FF2, Saitek Cyborg 3D Force, Logitech WingMan Force 3D & USB, Logitcech WingMan Strike Force 3D)." If it lives up to the review, it's a goodie. Those of you with a working flight sim can try it out free for 10 sessions... Brian --- FS Force reviews: http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=121&topic_id=186738&mode=full === FREEWARE ALTERNATIVE TO VOICE BUDDY Some time ago [see March 2004 below] there was a topic on Voice Buddy (payware) and Shoot Voice (freeware). Pär sent me a link to a second freeware option and I tested it. The result is I removed Shoot Voice and am now using Flight Assistant 2.2. The link is http://www.thelindercompany.de/ "Our Flight Assistant 2, the successor of the popular FS 2002 FA, is a program which provides a virtual co-pilot for people who like flight simulations. You are able to give commands using a microphone connected to the computer, which the co-pilot will execute then. An example for such a command could be "flaps down". When you speakcommand into your microphone, the Flight Assistant will automatically extend the flaps! The Flight Assistant does also reply to your commands acoustically. Especially in very difficult parts of the flight, for example the approach, a tool like the Flight Assistant is almost indispensable. The program is nearly completely configurable. You may create your own commands; the Assistant's spoken response and the key-code, which is send after the recognition of a command, can be defined freely." They have an administrator at their forum who is very helpful and quick with his answers. Jack Vegt === March 2004 VOICE BUDDY - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Note from Flightsim review: "The bad news is that Voice Buddy will not work with Windows 98, Windows ME or Windows 2000. I tried it on those systems and it just does not work. The problem is with the limitations of speech recognition in those versions of Windows. The good news is that Voice Buddy runs magnificently with all flavors of Windows XP, both Home and Professional. The even better news is that you don't need a monster PC to run it. If FS2004 runs well on your system with Windows XP, so will Voice Buddy." --- I received VoiceBuddy from my CC as a birthday present (at my request) - It's a first class application with a superb pair of headphones/Microphone, and what's more it works right"out of the box". I use it on every flight now. Terry --- John Martin wrote: > who do ya talk to, Terry? err...I talk to the PC mate - get more sensible amswers that way...seriously, it's an application using SpeechX that performs the functions the I would otherwise have to use the keyboard for, for instance - I can do a (say) start up checklist and have the VoiceBUddy "Co-Pilot" throw the switches and confirm that checks are done as I call 'em. Another instance (JG - are you reading this?) I can tell BB's No.1 to get the Gear up or down and the prog will execute the command instead of me hunting for the "G" key, or I can call up ATC and make my selection of number just by saying which selection I want i.e., "Select One, Select Two" and so on. So my flights are off-line - but I intend to try VB out in conjunction with Roger Wilco in the near future. Just about every function in FS9 is available as a spoken command, with ample room to add customised commands. Have a look (if you're interested) at the review on Flihtsim.com for an in-depth write up. http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/review/vbuddy.htm Terry > Oh, I see...thanks mate...I'd never heard of it before, so I learnt > something new :-) > I presume the program "learns" your voice and gets better at it.? > > In any case, with the more complicated A/C, I can see that this would be > a nifty thing to have - not to mention even more realism. > > Ta mate. > John go to http://www.edimensional.com And read the specs. The App uses MS's SpeechX app for voice recognition (the best yet IMHO) - there are some "training exercises" you have to perform so that the app learns to recognise your individual speech patterns, but once done (and the more you do of thses exercises the better it gets) it has a very high recognoition rate - I've tried to bully it into failing by a) shouting commands, b)mixing shouting with nrmal speech volume and finally whispering Voice Buddy sailed through all this unflustered. The clainm is that it works "straight out of the box" - and it does. I've just flown the Iditarod with TCAA, and did all my flights in Helicopters (not the easiest things to start up and fly) and used VB exclusively - it's so fst that when speaking to ATC, My responses to ATC's directives were spoken before VB's Co-Pilot finished reporting compliance with my order. BTW - the package comes with a set of Plantronics' Headphones w/mike (as used by NASA) or you can opt for just the software. I wouldn't fly without it now. Terry --- I also use Voice Buddy. I find it very useful on take off and landings when your the busiest flying by hand as I do up to cruise alt. and down to gate parking . I agree with Terry 100% on Voice Buddy and never fly without it since I installed it. It's a very good investment and adds realism to flying with a co-pilot. Now I concentrate on the flying and not punching the KB. The Plantronics adds great quality to the sound system. Frank === TIME ZONES Dennis Tompson released his TZ 22 (FS2002 and prior) today - as well as TZ30 for FS9 !!! filenames tz22.zip and tz30.tip respectively on avsim.com and flightsim.com Karl --- And: FS Real Time v1.65 by Joshua Robertson which "is made to keep Flight Simulator's UTC (Zulu/GMT) time and date in sync with the Real World. It can maintain either the current Real Time, or an offset (+/- ) so you can fly at any variation from Real Time. This package also includes Dennis Thompson's World Time Zones v3.0 which eliminate many of the time zone errors that shipped with recent versions of Flight Simulator." Dorian === FS2004 - IMPROVED RADIO TOWER LIGHTING, IMPROVED VISIBILITY FOR NIGHT FLYING I cane tell you it really improve the sight off it in foggy weather. " rdotwrlghts.zip " go and d/l at http://www.surclaro.com/nuke/html/download.php?op=search&query= " Improved Radio Tower Lighting: Ever wondered why Microsoft decided to make the lighting on radio towers impossible to see until you about to run into them?? Well, now they are visible from a good distance,as in real life, with these improved tower lights! Definitely improves the realism of night flights. by Matthew L. Purcell " " rdotwrlghts2.zip " go d/l at : http://www.surclaro.com/nuke/html/download.php?op=search&query= " This is an update to my previous file. The original lights flashed to rapidly. This slows them down to a more realistic rate by Matthew L. Purcell " Pär === UTILITIES FOR EDITING AND MANAGING FS2002/FS2004 FILES SIMEDIT 2 File Description: SimEdit is a CFG File editor with direct access to all stored FS2002/2004 files and search and insert functions of all FS SDK commands. The function list could be enhanced by user. Storage of RTF files or TXT files. SIMCONTROL 2 File Description: SimControl 2 now come with a wide range of additional features like Panel and Sound- package management. Aircraft Export Manager for an easy creation of complete export packages include auto-documentation and compression. Now SimControl is much more hardware indepentent, much faster and works better with 3rd Party Add-On's. SimControl 2 will give you the full control over all the beautiful Freeware products. With SimControl even unskilled users are able to install and use most of the existing Freeware add ons. You can install - manage - change aircraft, panels, sound-packages, AI aircraft, charts, manuals, documents, sceneries or air traffic flight plans. SimControl will check all installation files, so it finds missing gauges, sounds, effects, graphics, or wrong formats. SimControl eliminate all unnecessary files, generates automatically a consistent folder structure for your aircraft, and place all files to their correct places inside of your Flight Simulator. SimControl validate all used paths and correct errors if possible. Sim-Control register and check all installed and used gauges, effects, sound, panels, flights, sceneries, and Air Traffic flight plans. The integrated maintenance assistant checks all facilities in your Flight Simulator and your SimControl archive and give you a brief ex-planation of all errors and problems. And a lot more… all on AVSIM.COM Karl === WEB E6B CALCULATOR http://www.lowapproach.com/e6b.html Kyle === FS2004 - LOGGING FLIGHT TIME IN YOUR VARIOUS FS9 AIRCRAFT Downloaded this program during the week and found it interesting. To quote the readme file: This program lets you see how many hours you have flown each of your FS9 aircraft. You will see a list that can be sorted alphabetically or according to hours flown. (Click on the column header to sort ascending. Click again to sort descending.) An Update feature lets you see the hours each has been flown since the last run of this program. Also found it interesting because the program uses a list of the FS9 aircraft that is squirreled away in a folder/directory that I never knew existed. Anyway worth a look, IMHO http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fs2004misc&DLID=44610 Christopher P. Hunt === February 2004 FS2004 - A FREEWARE ALTERNATIVE TO ACTIVECAMERA This is an excellent freeware alternative to the original 'ActiveCamera' addon which has become commercial since FS2004. It uses the FS tower view and gives you nice fly-by views during your flight. It needs FSUIPC installed (a working copy is included in the package). You don't have to be a registered user of FSUIPC to use FS Camera. Download FSCamera (345 k) from http://24.215.43.149/tca/files/fscamera.zip or http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=fscamera&CatID=fs2004misc&Go=Search (news item on the TCA front page) === FS2004 - KNEEBOARD ADD-ON If you what a very good 'kneeboard add-ons' made by Mark Beaumont then go : http://www.dc3airways.com/wwwboard/messages/9227.html and d/l the zip at the end of the mail. It is easy installation and also very easy to add/edit new links to the Net, and then you you just scroll down the kneeboard menu. I have add 'Alaska Airport Photo' and 'Alaska Weather by Letter' to use when I fly the Iditarod Race 2004 and it works really good. I gone add SID & STAR, Airport diagram as image.jpg to 'kneeboard' so I don't need to print the charts. Pär --- Note this message from Mark, though: "One word of warning. The only problem I've found with having a web-based facility is that many sites on the Internet, beyond my control obviously, have hyperlinks that open "new" windows rather than change the existing one. If this happens when you websurf, you may get a task switch out of FS. This would normally not be the end of the world (although it might screw up your short final) but I have found that if FS is switched with the kneeboard open, it can hang. So surf with care. There's plenty to amuse you without going too far afield." === September 2003 FLIGHT ASSISTANT V2.0 Came across this program the other day and thought I would mention it. http://www.thelindercompany.de It uses Voice Recognition and Text To Speech engines to translate voice comands into key strokes. It comes with a basic set of commands programmed but, in my opinion, would need to configured better to get the most from it. Alos unless you have a third party TTS addon the only voices (at least with XP) are very computerised. The female is livable and she makes a reasonable co-pilot, especially in the heavies under high work loads. Worth a look out if your into this sort of thing. Christopher P. Hunt === August 2003 FS2004 - GETWEATHER 3.0 IS RELEASED compatible with fs2002, 2004... go to www.bearsoft.de Rodrigo === DIRECTX9.0B http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx I have it installed now and yet no problems. If someone also have it and find any problem, please tell. Pär [ none reported ] === June 2003 ORBITER SPACE SIM - SHUTTLE LANDING MANUAL Here you'll find a Shuttle landing manual: http://www.geocities.com/francisdrakex/index.htm Here if you dld the new Deltaglider II, you'll find much enhanced features, and a manual wich also explains to how to get the Deltaglider back safely ;-) http://orbiter.dansteph.com/index.html STefaan === May 2003 A VERY SIMPLE AND USEFUL ZULU CLOCK ztimeexe.zip at avsim.com Ken M --- Works great - just saved me $5 and some valuable desk space because I don't have to buy a clock. Darrel --- Also, there's another really good freeware multi-zone time clock which one of you guys recommended a long time ago. You'll find details at: http://www.tooby.demon.co.uk/P_Assist_Description.html#Breitling Plus remember you can always double-click the time at the bottom right- hand corner of your screen, then click the pick list in the "Time Zone" window, it gives a useful indicator of relative times. Brian === April 2003 FSFLIGHTMAX AND FSGARMIN 430/530 FROM SIMSYSTEMS ARE NOW FREEWARE! You need key generators, get them from: http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=key+generator&CatID=fs2002misc&Go=Search (from tips by Kyle and Bert) === ORBITER SPACE SIM - OPINIONS? I mean this one: www.orbitersim.com by Martin Schweiger. Seems to be an advanced simulation and it's not a shooter game like all the others. It tries to simulate the space shuttle missions etc. Rainer --- I've been using it since december last year and it's really great. Mostly the fact that it SIMULATES space flight, it's not an arcade game. It also gives you alot of insight in the matter. Certainly worth to check out also are: http://orbiter.dansteph.com/index.html Deltaglider II (enhanced version) http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/index.html Nasa, basics of space flight And the files for "Atlantis 15" and "Endeavour 1.1" from the AVSIM library. STefaan --- I work with the SIMNASA guys who use it. It is a fairly sophisticated sim and one doesn't just hop in it and blast off. I was doing a recovery ops with the VUSCG in the Pacific with them in their early days, a Gemini capsule returning, and they missed the splashdown point by 2800 NM, he he he (we joked that they couldn't hit the broad side of a planet). Then they complained they had to float around for a bit longer waiting for us to reposition our helos to get to them, sheesh. If you would like some very specific info on Orbiter I can provide an email addy or two from friends who use it regularly and would be happy to talk about it. Kyle --- It has been around for quite some time only gets better with time. Martin has been working with AVSIM for several months now to allow for better distribution. So you can now get the program and add-ons via the AVSIM library. And if you want to see just how realistic it can be used in the virtual arena, checkout the SimNASA organization. (www.simnasa.org) This is where I moved after learning the ropes at TCA, though as you noted, I still love flying the Caribbean Chuck Boudreaux Deputy Administrator SimNASA.Org --- I've tried Orbiter program after hearing about it on the BOTA forums during this year's Bota Race. It looks and feels great, even though you need to _thoroughly_ read the manual as it's not for the faint of heart. It's amazing that such a complex endeavour can be freeware. If you decide to give it a try, be sure to download the sound add-ons at http://orbiter.dansteph.com to add a new dimension to it (the Orbiter itself comes with no sound). Pietro. --- [...] the package is really great.... You should try the flight described in the manual to get you from Cape Canaveral to the ISS space station..... You'll feel great after your first docking, and after awhile it comes as handling a plane down the runway but in a slightly different way. STefaan === PROBLEMS WITH GETWEATHER V2.1 CAUSING FS TO LOCK UP I think that I have set up everything correctly but when I try to connect to GetWeather from within FS2K2 FS just locks up and doesn't respond anymore. Certainly I am missing something here, But I don't know what. According to the docs I think I did everything correctly. Any help is appreciated. --- I've used Getweather and didn't have any problems with it. Step by step...The installation of Getweather went ok I presume and you've got FSUIPC. When you open Getweather (before starting fs2k2) you'll get the main screen of Getweather. In the topleft corner is an item called " Source" make sure stored file is the active one. If you want to load the actual weather pust the button marked " Get Current Weather" the weather will be downloaded from the internet and stored in the map that you chose in the window " Files in:" When this is done you can push the OK button (an icon will remain on the windows taskbar). Next start up fs2k2, when you are in the right position where you want to fly from it's time to load the weather. In the fs menu choose world and then weather then click on "Real-world weather" and the file that you downloaded with GetWeather should be loaded. Just checked, overcast and light rain at Meigs. Bert van Halteren --- Yep, that is exactly what I was doing. I've installed GetWeather twice (first 2.1 over 2.01, then as a clean install after uninstalling), I have it running in the background (taskbar), the source is set to 'stored file', the entries in the FS2002.CFG file have been checked. Still FS2K2 freezes when I push the 'Real World Weather' button. It is only FS2K2 not the whole system, because when I run FS in windowed mode (looks very funny btw.) I can just cancel FS and the system runs without problems. As I have IE6SP1 installed I suspect that it is still a problem with the fix that v2.1 is supposed to offer. I have already contacted Bearsoft to have a look into the problem. But thanx anyway for jumping in. Johann --- for what it is worth: I'm using Windows98SE and IE5.0 Bert === March 2003 AIRCRAFT AND GAUGES UNINSTALLER found this on avsim.com - file airgau*.zip Aircraft & Gauges Uninstaller v4.1 "File Description:This program will allow you to remove and delete any aircraft (including the gauges files used by it) installed in your Microsoft Flight Simulator's folder. Note: This program will not delete shared-gauges files. Also it will remove the unused gauges files. This program is compatible with FS2002/FS2000/CFS2/FS98 " Pär === TAXI SPEED GAUGE A just released Taxispeed gauge rcbts-10.zip by Rob Barendregt is available here in the library. http://ftp.avsim.com/library/search.php?SearchTerm=rcbts-10.zip&CatID=Root&Go=Search From the readme; This archive contains an XML gauge that helps you to control the groundspeed of your aircraft while taxiing, and can be added to any FS2K2 aircraft panel. However, simple installation and full functionality requires that you have my Pushback gauge already installed (file: RCBpb-20.zip). Features: adjustable taxispeed (3 - 40 knots), actual speed indication and clicksound. Both gauges work great and the taxi speed gauge keeps the F1 Meridian's speed stable even with the condition lever set to the run position. Ken Meier === February 2003 FS FLIGHT TRACKER I forget what the cost was, but it is worth it to me. I use it on every flight. It allows me to keep separate logs for each virtual airline I fly, and it is a fairly complete log at that. It covers about all you can want in the way of info from a flight. Block time flight time, lock fuel, flight fuel, time in hours and minutes and in decimal, allows for time zones in departure and arrival time, chartsweeather from real weather if you use it. Gives takeoff speed, landing speed, VIS on landing, taxi time, taxi speed. Fuel off, fuel on, buel burn. You name it. Have you tried the trial copy? You can determine for yourself. Stewart === SPLITZ - UTILITY TO BREAK UP FILES FOR EASIER EMAIL SENDING File : /TCA HELP FILES/Splitz.zip Uploaded by : getstill Description : Splitz, a utility that breaks up large file into as many smaller pieces as you like to make them go through email easier. Both sender and receiver need this utility. Enjoy, Kyle. You can access this file at the URL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flytradewind/files/TCA%20HELP%20FILES/Splitz.zip To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files Kyle === FSGARMIN 530 See Charts & Navigation tips file. === January 2003 WEATHER GENERATION PROGRAMS - ACTIVESKY, ACTIVESKY WXRE, FSMETEO... Here is a very interesting weather program and so easy to use. I downloaded and used the freeware version ActiveSky for a couple of weeks and last night I purchased the more dynamic ActiveSky wxRE for $14.95. This is the link: http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/ BTW, even if you don't want either the freeware or payware version, you may want to download and read the free document User Guide. This User Guide is well written and has good explanations of how to read METAR's, TAF's, and Winds Aloft plus a lot of general weather terms with great explanations. Last night I decided to try it out in real time up in Alaska. Loaded up the default C172 and flew it from PAMC McGrath to PANC Anchorage in the darkness of the Alaskan Wild. Although, I couldn't see the clouds, I had an experience flying high over the Alaskan range, over Tatitna and Rainy Pass with a 20 kt head wind. I climbed to 9,500 ft after leaving McGrath to make sure I cleared the mountains ok in the darkness. As I neared the mountains, turbulence set in and soon I could see that my visibility had decreased to almost nil and there was a fine mist all around me and the temperature was in the icing condition range. I was bouncing around a lot and then it happened. Icing! My first experience with icing! And, I had no de-icing system on this plane. At least my pitot heat was on. My rpms and airspeed dropped and it became very hard to maintain altitude. I knew that I should fly higher or lower (not good) to try to get into another temperature layer. With my 20 knot headwind I figured my ground speed was down to around 70, 60 knots. At times my stall warning horn went off during the bounces. About all I could do was descend very slowly to pick up some power and speed. By the time I got out of this muck and cleared the mountains I was down to 4,000 ft. Some of the ice must have melted (BTW, you can't see the ice on the plane in FS2002) as my performance started to get back to normal and soon the turbulence was gone. Flew on into Anchorage and landed RWY 06 with no problem. This experience taught my about icing! Avoid it at all costs, especially if you plane doesn't have a de-ice system. Today, I'll check out my new dynamic weather generator (it pulls real wx from internet), ActiveSky wxRE in day light. It should be an experience. Bob Dodge --- Interesting reading! I've been using ActiveSky Wxre for about two months now - using it to pull weather down into my FSGarmin530. I find it way better than FSMeteo - cloud formation are much better represented, and you've already experienced the turbulence in cloud I see! Loads faster, looks better, much more customizable. Well worth the money! Terry --- I use the freeware version of Activesky, and it's great! Along with occasionally changing the look of the clouds with FS Skyworld 2002SE (also freeware) Brook --- I've been using FSMeteo for so long I don't remember the old free ones anymore. :-) I was happy with FSMeteo until the new kid on the block (Active Sky) came along. It's easy to customize, supports Radar Contact and can be used in off or online mode just like FSMeteo. However, there's something about Active Sky's development that makes the layers of clouds and the "look" of the weather so much better than FSMeteo does. It has wake turbulence that's pretty cool but that's not a main draw. ;-) It's cheap, good, and the author is not going to charge an extra 18 bucks like FSMeteo just did for any future updates to current owners. :-)) Can't answer as to the Freeware versions options but you should at least get a good "look" at how it displays the weather. Rob --- I think Rob has pretty much zipped up the reasons for moving along to ActiveSky WxRE! FYI, I had nothing but trouble with FSMeteo - kept refusing to d/l weather, even with a "running commentary" from Marc Philibert. When it _did_ run, clouds were not particularly well represented, and transitions were, well, something of a surprise each time something new literally "popped up". I also had GetWeather which always worked well if not spectacularly (still have it zipped - Belt and Braces approach here). When I added FSFlightMax to my set-up, they were working on adding FSMeteo compatibility to it - and almost succeeded , but it has never really worked well, many patches were produced to try and settle it in. Shortly thereafter I added the "FSGarmin530" - what an add-on! and very soon this will have TCAS (ready to go at the moment) and Weather screens. And what echoes!! Take a look at what's to come (using ActiveSky which is now compatible 100% with both add-ons) at http://www.fsavionics.com To sum up (thank God!! I hear you cry), weather d/loading has really moved on - speed, content, graphical representation....yada, yada. Mind you, the better your Graphics Card, the better it all looks, but at the moment, ActiveSky is the one to go for - even the trial is way better than any competition around. Terry --- Personally I hate that activeSKY thing, and have removed it, especially if you use Ai planes and the default ATC... It's baropressure is being fed thru the wrong FSuipc.dll channel (not totally honest, FSuipc.dll cannot change the baropressure in FS because it's hardcoded), this means that while your in the sim, and the downloaded METAR (BTW: every 5 minutes, while metar reports are only updated every 30 minutes) contains a baropressure that is more then a 5 millibar split to the default 1013 it will lead you to getting "your 300 ft below/above your assigned altitude" shouts from the default ATC...and all your Ai planes will get that also (and hence they will be removed)...pressing 'B' doesn't help... To be honest, I never saw better clouds because of this program, but maybe the payware version comes with cloud textures, otherwise it's using the cloudtextures you have installed in your sim, so wonder why it's looking better then because of this activesky thing... Han --- It's funny how different people and different system set-ups view the same application, isn't it? I have no doubt that you, Han, have your very valid reasons to discard Activesky, I in turn have few,if any problems (oh sure, there's a number of "Below/above" calls from ATC, but only (in my case) to AI aircraft - and no more than is usual even without ActiveSky running! I in turn discarded FSMeteo, which I found to be very "flakey" - it would download, then it wouldn't (and neither would FS's 'Native' weather downloader). I'd get all screwed up and get onto the author, but never really received a useful reply - so it went into my zipfile of "Might be Useful - sometime" items. Personally, (and this I think is the acid test), I have no problems with ActiveSky - it's compatible with my add-on flight instruments (FSFlightMax and FSGarmin 530), the cloud sets are standard FS but are presented (IMHO) in a far more realistic way. [...] --- Didn't notice that yet with ActiveSky (but I haven't used it much). I did find that it gives incorrect temperatures (I got 18 Celcius today over Seattle Wa for example at 4000ft. I don't think it's that warm over there in winter...). It relies on FSW clouds for improved clouds, plus maybe being able to tell FS better what clouds to use than the default weather. Jeroen --- ActiveSky v1.1 update now available. There's an update avail on http://www.hifisim.com/wxre11update.zip Marty. === BOATS OR SHIPS FOR DOWNLOAD? Hit www.avsim.com and search on boats or ships. I have several in my VUSCG hangar, and we make them all avail on the freeware sites. I have from 387 ft cutters to inflatable pontoon boats (armed though), with sounds and panels (and autopilots). A couple of them are gmax. If you can't find any, let me know what you're loking for and I'll get you a copy or two out of the VUSCG hangar. There is at least one driveable aircraft carrier (no, you can't land on it) out there and a sport fishing boat too. I think the VUSCG is leading in ship development these days . SIMNASA is building a couple of gmax SRB recovery ships right now too. That's what I know about drivable boats right now. Kyle === FS2002 FLIGHT ASSISTANT - PROVIDES VIRTUAL CO-PILOT VIA MICROPHONE COMMANDS You might want to look into this prgm, "Fs2002fa.zip" on Flightsim.com. [...] "FS 2002 Flight Assistant is a program that provides a virtual co-pilot. You can give commands using a microphone which the co-pilot executes then. For example, one could give the command "flaps up", and then the flaps will be raised automatically. Furthermore, the co-pilot responds to your commands, so that you receive a confirmation. "The program is nearly fully configurable. You are able to create new commands and even to edit the existing ones. "FS 2002 Flight Assistant is a program that provides a virtual co-pilot. You can give commands using a microphone which the co-pilot executes then. For example, one could give the command "flaps up", and then the flaps will be raised automatically. Furthermore, the co-pilot responds to your commands, so that you receive a confirmation. "The program is nearly fully configurable. You are able to create new commands and even to edit the existing ones." Oso === December 2002 BUILD YOUR OWN MINI CONTROL PANELS I'd just like to draw everyone's attention to a neat little utility (found on AVSIM) named "minicp10.zip" , it's a small utility that you can use to easily build your own mini control panels. If. like me, you're tired of the "hunt and peck" method of finding the correct keys on the keyboard (usually in a panic and at night with no "FlightDeck" lighting), you'll quickly see the value of this little beauty. Doesn't affect FPS, moveable, build it big or keep it small - it's your choice. Give it a try - if you don't like it, delete it - if you do, then share the fruits of your labours with the rest of us! Terry --- "Mini Control Panel (MiniCP) is a small utility that provides a mechanism for clicking buttons with a mouse rather than using keystroke commands within Flight Simulator. These buttons reside on a small "panel" which sits on top of the Flight Simulator window. The "panel" is completely configurable, you may create as many or as few buttons as you wish. The buttons may be all sorts of sizes and colors. We encourage anyone who has created a mini control panel to let us know so we can include it on our website for others to download and share." === WEATHER GENERATORS - OPINIONS AND ADVICE ON THE NEW "wxRE" See this thread - some of it is quite useful! http://ftp.avsim.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=14974&forum=DCForumID8&viewmode=threaded Brian === NEW VERSION OF TIME ZONE AVAILABLE AT AVSIM tz20.zip ... Just install the bgl's and the bat's in your scenery folder. The batch files for turning on and off DST in the southern hemisphere plus one for removal. Skip === TREES AND FLOAT PLANES - GO GET THESE...! just in case you missed them, here are a trio of collectables {one for everyone, and two for da Seabirds - because they're worth it...) From Avsim (all three), tree_v3.zip by Gerrish Gray - this is his entire Trees Library, plus the MS SDK for you scenery buffs. His trees make matchwood of MS's efforts (!). pa32_300_float.zip : Piper pa32 on floats (not yet flight tested by SB#1) Cessna_140_floats.zip : two texture folders - try the very nice reflective texture model. Oh, and just in case you feel like a vacation (Holiday for we civilised Brits), take a look at avr1.zip : the Aloha Village Resort on Molokai - but you'll need Gerrish's trees_v3 to see the full effects! Terry === November 2002 CREATE YOUR OWN MAPS FOR USE WITH FSFLIGHTMAX Going off at a bit of a tangent here: for users of FSFlightMax - did you know that there is now a Map Creator in the "Patches and Downloads" section of the FSFlightMax forum with which you can take any map / chart / pictorial of any area you wish to fly in, and using the Map Creator add a digital version to the Charts section for use in FSFlightMax? So, instead of fighting a sheet of paper or trying to find the right fold in a knee pad, your chart can be called up from within the utility. Secondly - if you take a look at the FSGarmin530 or 430, these have two Chart databases within the instrument (they're "real life" chart databases from Garmin) which cover 1. The Americas (including the Caribbean), and 2. International ; i.e., the rest of the world. With the ability to zoom in (or out) of the charts in flight, even roads with the correct numbering can be flown VFR, with track, desired track, heading, GS, ETE, waypoints.....and much more. And No - I don't work for or get paid by SimSystems - I had to buy my GNS530 like everyone else! But I now find it invaluable. Watch out for a review in the December "Breezes". Terry --- > Terry, what's a chart database doing in the 530? > It's an IFR device only and AFAIK does not show charts??? > And yes, I read about the map creator, except I have no flatbedscanner > anymore (else I'd scan and stitch my VFR chart for the Netherlands). > > [...] btw2, I heard Flight1 is also coming with a 530 soon(ish). > > Jeroen I might have been a bit "off" describing the datbases as 'Charts' - they're not Charts as such, but deliver a moving map of your location, line of flight, flightplan track or Direct To: bearing, as well as lateral (VOR/LOC/NDBs) and vertical navigation planning, Comms, etcetera.... Also on the screen are ATC areas, roads (under sufficient zoom settings), rivers and the like. I suggest you visit the website's Forums and scroll down from the FSFlightMax forum to the FSAviation (GArmin) forum to see what's involved. You can d/l the Trainer which will show you what the 430/530 has to offer - and it's a lot! There are IIRC six trial flights included when you can modify the flight as you wish (but you can't change the flightplan). The Simulator contains all of the contents of the Garmin instruments (including the "Charts ), and is approved by Garmin themselves as a true representation of what the two instruments have to offer the Flight Sim enthusiast. The best way to go to the forums is to log into http://www.fsflightmax.com , click on "Forums" on the ladder to the left of the screen, then select which conference you want to read through.. I'll put a couple of pics up in the flytradewind@yahoogroups to give anyone else who's interested an idea what the instrument(s) look like in action. Terry === FS2002 QUICK LAUNCH Find it at avsim.com today fsql_v1_0.zip File Description: A program to automatically launch many of the programs needed to play FS2002 online. This program will start up to 12 of the programs you might need. There are 8 preset programs that FS Quick Launch will automatically search for. These include FS2002, Serve Info, Squawk Box Host, Squawk Box Main, FSMeteo, Whazzup, FSBuild and Roger Wilco. After you have configured the programs, you can save as default, and click one button to launch all the other programs. you need. In case you have a slower computer you can configure delays between program starts so that you don't crash you computer trying to start 12 programs all at the same time. http://ftp.avsim.com/library/sendfile.php?SendImage=19959 Pär === HOTAS COUGAR THROTTLE/STICK OK, guys, it's just about the coolest ALL METAL Hands On Throttle And Stick system you'll find - and the most expensive too! Check out this link: http://us.thrustmaster.com/products/hotas.php3?skin=Hotas and this one: http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/ So, anyway, since I couldn't find a suitable profile for FS2002 - especially for flying jets, I'm working on my own right now. I'll make sure you get a shot at it assuming you're as nuts as I am and fork over the bucks for one of these things. Seriously - this thing is in a league of it's own when it comes to quality, realism and coolness. Mike Redman === FSSOUNDSCAPE (FROM LAGO http://www.lagoonline.com/ENG/download/default.asp?ope=Product) I just got FSSoundscape and love it. :-) We could always use the yahoo files section and create a new folder for this as the cfg files for soundscape are very small. Rob --- I've started work on Hato, Schiphol and Juneau for now (with additions to Hato FSSE as well, and a brand new Juneau FSSE file). Jeroen --- Len Hickman has some interesting FSSoundscape stuff here: http://members.madasafish.com/~len-hickman/fs_sound_scape_files.htm Brian === FS SKYWORLD (CLOUDS) http://fsw.simflight.com/FSkySe.html Hello crew, has anyone installed "Fsskyworld" If so what are your findings? IMHO it seems to be a nice belated add-on using various cloud layers. Oso --- I have it installed and love it. The V Sky option doesn't work so well with real weather downloads but does if you create your own weather profile in the sim. Rob --- Thanks for reply Rob. I think this is the best clouds add-on yet. Beats Fsclouds IMHO. === October 2002 NEW ADD-ON NAVIGATION INSTRUMENT here's a "heads up" for a new add-on Navigation Instrument from the producers of FSFlightMax (and for anyone who doesn't know what that is, ask me!): Simflight.com are now offering Flight Simulator addicts awesome representations of the Garmin 430 and 530 GNS systems. I've been playing around with a 530 version, and the more I see of it, the more I appreciate it's potential as another "Must Have" for the serious (if anyone in TCA can be so described) Flight Simmer. These instruments are modelled incredibly closely on the "real life" instruments which some of our "real life" pilots may have used. Almost every aspect of a flight can be controlled from these little beauties, some of which include Departure, course Navigation and Approach procedures, Comms, Flight Planning....many more things besides. Make no mistake, these are complex instruments - there's so much to grasp that an Email can't encompass a decent description - if you're interested then take a trip to: http://www.fsavionics.com and take an 'in depth' look. Terry === ACTIVE CAMERA PRO FOR FS 2002 v1.0 Check this out... " http://www.anticyclone.be/active.html With this module you can enable supplementary views in Microsoft FS 2002 1. FLY BY a.. Within the dialog box you can define the duration in seconds and the virtual camera relative altitude to the airplane (in feet, negative values are OK). b.. You can also select the placement of the camera : always right, always left or random. c.. The camera can travel around the airplane. d.. You can define the distance of the camera relative to the airplane e.. 2. VIRTUAL COCKPIT AND PILOT VIEWS Important !!! A 3 button mouse or a mouse wheel is recommended. a.. In the FS2002 Options - Active Camera menu select the "Internal Pilot View". When in the virtual cockpit you can move anywhere in the aircraft. Simply PUSH and HOLD the wheel (or the center button) and while moving the mouse you can have a look left, right, up and down. WIth the wheel you can zoom in and out. You can even move left, right, back or forward (Num keypad 4, 6, 2, 8). b.. In the FS2002 Options - Active Camera - Configuration dialog box you can define the head latency rate. We have programmed an algoritm simulating a head movement depending on the airplane motion, a bit like in real life (test this amazing feature with turbulences or in the Extra 300 S). Another important note !!! With the Internal Pilot View it advised to limit the frame rate target at 25 fps on high performance machines. The offset is computed in real time and since the refresh is too fast, it generates a trembling image. c.. In the FS2002 Options - Active Camera menu select the "External Pilot view". It is mandatory that the Internal Pilot View is activated. You are now outside the aircraft. Move to the left or right, forward or backward and walk (even run) around the airplane (using both num keypad and mouse). When you move forward or backward, left or right, your head is balancing or "shaking". You can even scrouch in order to make a virtual pre-flight. The pilot height is approximately 5,85 feet (standing up) and 2,85 feet (crouch down function). d.. Start the aircraft. From this position you can have a funny view and control the airplane like RC simmers do. Zooming is allowed too." Jack === SYNCHRONIZING FS CLOCK WITH PC CLOCK, USING FSUIPC See the same topic in TCA HINTS & TIPS: FS2002 SETUP & TROUBLESHOOTING === August 2002 FREEWARE: CO-PILOT AND GPWS CALLOUTS Project Magenta just released a freeware program that gives co-pilot and GPWS callouts to all aircraft available in FS2002. Great add-on and a very small download. Check it out at their website [see below] Jorge pmSounds Build 4 - Freeware for FS2002 http://www.projectmagenta.com/products/pmsounds.html --- After downloading PM Sounds and install it didnt find instructions about the program. Anyway, didnt heard the sounds using FS2002. What Im doing wrong? --- Just start it up and leave it there. Then start FS2002. You should be able to hear the sounds when taking off, landing, or cruise. Give it a try. Jorge === NIFTY CHART VIEWER Hello crew, came across nice chart viewer that will give you chart of departure airport as well as arrival airport. Reads your Fs database. Nffty IMHO. File name [Airchv20.zip][JM] On flightsim.com last night Oso TCA-TOW === FSUIPC 2.88 - ABILITY TO ASSIGN JOYSTICK BUTTONS TO KEY PRESSES Just in case you didn't notice yet: the latest version of FSUIPC (2.88) has a new function added. You can assign one of your joystick buttons to a keypress including 3rd party addons that are called from inside FS. I now have the F9 key added to my stick for using FSNavigator. This is a good improvement to the module to my mind. I know that some sticks provide this with their own software but many don't. Now FSUIPC takes over control and that is always a good and reliable thing. Rainer --- You can say that again!! My MS Sidewinder Precision Pro stick has software to create different "profiles". I'd rather use fsuipc, much easier and more stable. :-) Rob === WEATHER ADD-ONS - GETWEATHER > This GetWeather tool is a neat small and very handy addon. > The new version is up for download: > > http://www.bearsoft.de/indexUS.html > > Rainer HOW DO I ACTUALLY USE GETWEATHER? >Sorry I must have missed something somewhere. How do you get FS to look at >Get Weather and load the information? This is my routine........ Fire up GetWeather. Tick "Download winds aloft (for FS2002)" click the button "Get Current Weather" GetWeather will fire up the default dialler and connect to the internet and download the weather. Disconnect. Select the source as "stored file" Fire up FS, setup your start position etc. Pull down World/weather menu select "clear all weather" select "get real world weather" - the call is intercepted by GetWeather which gives FS the info from the selected file. Click OK and you are in business. Philip M Wafer --- I do it just like Phillip says, except I tick Internet vs. stored file, and I have it update every 90 min (METARs only update every hour). I also stay connected to the internet the whole time via DSL, which may explain the diff in methods if this is not a cost effective option. Kyle === July 2002 CALCULATORS The other day someone posted a link for some calculator. Made me remember this site and I found it today. If they missed some aspect of calculation, I can't see it. Bookmark this baby. Kyle http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/RefCalculators.html === June 2002 FLIGHTDECK COMPANION [ So far, the small amount of TCA feedback on this add-on has been quite negative, in terms of having to keep the CD-ROM in the tray and general user-unfriendliness. Early days, though ] --- [Alternatives - Radar Contact] As for RC99, it will give you impeccable ATC and background chatter enrouted as is but you can use Scott Campbell's "Flight Crew" to get the cabin announcements, copilot calls and such stuff. [Flight Crew] is at http://avsim.com/flightdeck/radarcontact.html Rob === NEW FLYBY CAMERA Take a look at this new little DLL that will set up a flyby camera in FS2002 for you :-)) http://www.anticyclone.be/active.html Should come in really handy for some nice screenshots etc :-)) John. --- Cool. But couldn't you do that just by setting a tower where you wanted at really high altitudes? Don't know if you can set a tower in the water? --- Yep...but this saves you the 10 mins or so of trying to get the views set up. John === May 2002 AUTO TAKE OFF AND AUTO LANDING Those two gauges are useful I thing when you doing On-Line flying and when you are busy listen to the tower and so on..... I copy some from the readme file so you cane see what it does-help you with. [ Can download from avsim.com ] 1.AutoTake Off - ato2.zip To use the ATO ================ This gauge is very simple to use. All you have to do is to taxi out on the runway and line up as usual. Then, click in the upper half of the gauge (a "+" sign will be visible when holding the mouse over the upper half of the gauge). This click will do the following for you: 1. Panel lights ON 2. Parking brake released. 3. Flaps incremented 2 steps. 4. Pitot heat ON. 5. Decrement auto brake to RTO. 6. 100% throttle on all engines. 7. Spoilers OFF The speed will cont. be viewed in the upper area until you push the lower half of the gauge. Take off and make sure you have positive climb, then click in the lower half of the gauge (a "-" sign will be visible when holding the mouse over the lower half of the gauge). This click will do the following for you: 1. Gear up. 2. Flaps up. 3. Auto brake 0. 4. Auto pilot ON, setting your current heading, vertical speed to 1800, altitude to 5000ft. 5. Auto throttle ON, setting your speed to 240kt. The altitude (meter AGL) will cont. be viewed in the lower half of the gauge until you reach 1000 m, when the gauge is automatically shutted off. You will be leveled off at 5000ft and are free to do as you wish from that moment on. (You can always change the AP-settings during climb of course). If you have a flighplan loaded, you can (once again) push the lower half of the gauge. In that case, the gauge will set you in NAV/GPS-mode and turn your a/c direct in to your route while climbing up to 10.000 ft. You must, however, push the gauge before 1000m AGL if you want this function. 2. Auto landing - ala2.zip To use the ALA ================ Since there are 4 different gauges, you should use them in aircrafts like this: ala_min.gau -> small business jets (e.g learjet) with touch-down speed around 120 kt ala_med.gau -> small jets (e.g B737-600, A320) with touch-down speed around 140 kt ala_mix.gau -> medium jets (e.g MD90, B767) with touch-down speed around 150 kt ala_max.gau -> big jets (like B747, A340) with touch-down speed around 160 kt If you need other speeds, use the best gauge and manually change the speed at the AP after the last speed is set. Following pre-conditions are assumed: 1. Your are heading towards an ILS-slope with at least 10 nm left to the airport. Your heading should not differ more than +-40 degrees from the runway. 2. You have tuned the ILS-frequency on Nav1-radio. 3. You have an altitude of at least 2000 ft above ground. 4. Your speed is not above 250 kt. When aboved stated preconditions are fulfilled, you simply click at the gauge and everything will be set. The gauge will continuously show you the altitude above ground in meters. The gauge will take care of everything like speed, spoilers, autobrake, flaps, lights etc. The only thing you have to do is to steer at the ground after the touch-down until full stop. Remember that you can always change the settings at the auto pilot panel although the gauge is activated. You can also disengage the gauge whenever you want during the approach. This make it easy to practice different things at different times. You find the gauges at avsim.com, and the guy how have done it is Bjrn Karlsson and the good part for me is he lives in the same city as me - Gteborg. I have take to him over the phone and point out that there is same limit using his gauges, 1 Auto Takeoff - Alt. is set to 5000 ft, so when you are at places were Alt. is above that it would not work proper 2.AutoLanding - gear down - Alt. set to 1500 ft, same limit at places as in takeoff. He say that in the next ver. he gona look in to that limit, so he calculate default Alt. then add 5000 ft ( 1500 ft) Meanwhile this help is good for takeoff and landing. Pr (Big Swede) --- [ There are certainly times when you can use some extra assistance - flying big jets is done with two pilots, after all! - Brian ] === May 2002 FSFLIGHTMAX UPDATE FYI - there's a new upgrade release available on the FSFlightMax home page - look for the "Downloads" button on the LEFT-hand side of the page, click it and take the Upgrade 1.2 Pre-release 1 section. Read what has been done, and note the instruction to read the "Readme.doc" before installing (Yes, JM - this means YOU!) The d/l is 3.39Mb Terry you will find info here: http://www.simsystems.com.au/cgi-bin/ikonboard2/ikonboard.cgi?s=3cda7a845d03ffff;act=SF;f=4 Then go to the topic: Version 1.2 pre release 1 to find the download. Johan Here's also the direct link to the file.. http://www.simsystems.com.au/fsflightmax/downloads/fmax12pr1.zip John. --- This update is worth it. Many of the things that didn't work correctly now work well. Especially I like it that one can resize it now. Also the weather radar works much better now. Rainer === PROBLEMS WITH ACLOADER >I d/l ACloader program, but can´t load any flight plan in the program since >everytime I >select a flight plan on flight field it comes a message: "there´s no route >record defined for this route" >I use FS2k2, any idea? Just go to Create Routes menu and make a dummy record with your actual dep/dest airports. Then copy one of other files to the new one using Copy menu. Now load your actual FS2k2 flightplan and it should work. Don't forget to adjust pax/cargo weights to what you want. Report will tell you how much fuel you need and you must enter that into FS. Hope this helps, Mike === FSFLIGHTMAX (UPDATE 29 APRIL) WITH A TIP FOR SEABIRDS FYI - the next Mini-update to the FSFMax is due to be released this week. It will contain (at least) the following options: Click and Drag re-sizing of the FMS' Faceplate. A new Hi-Res Faceplate - four times the resolution of the current "Day.bmp" ISECs and Airways. A tip here, especially if you're a Seabird and have added all Kyle and Rob's new Seaplane bases and sceneries: These won't show up in the present moving map - the database won't contain them. You need to visit AVSIM.com or Flightsim.com (Yeah....right!) and d/l Tony Ambrosio's Navigation Data 2002 extraction utility, named nd2k_13.zip (at Avsim, do an extended search for this filename and "Tony Ambrosio". Running this through your Scenery/Add-On scenery will create four files: ndb.dat vor.dat apt.dat idx.dat Place these in your FSFlightMax Data directory - and Voila!! The new airports and navaids will appear in the moving map. Terry --- Terry, Thanks for the tip. Also, FSMeteo will be supported in a very short time. :-) Rob --- Wanted to drop a note and tell you how much I'm enjoying the FSFlightMax. I flew VFR yesterday using only the widget and it worked great for nap of the earth helo flying and still getting to my destination. Then last night I took on those rainshowers in the NE USA. Man, does the weather radar work great! This is really the last piece of the IFR pie for sim flying, as far as I can see. One question, I haven't figured out which directory the flight plans function looks in, and which file format (.pln, ..flt, etc). I'm looking in my flights/myflts dir and think this is it, but I made a flt plan last night and the widget isn't picking it up. Kyle --- ... flight plans...it seems the program has two layers - in the 'top' layer, simply rolling te mouse wheel back and forth will track through some (1/2 of them?), while holding down the CTRL key and using the mouse wheel runs through the remainder. The plans are all of the FS2002 variety (I believe), and should therefore be found in your /myflts folder. Did you convert your new flightplan to FS2002, or was it already in that format? If so, try the second method above. If you have no luck, let me know and I'll dive into the works. Terry === SIMCHART PACKAGE PURCHASING PROBLEMS ... I agree, it's very confusing since no mention is made of the Simchart package on the Aeroplanner Home page. However, here's how to get there... Start up by going to the FSFlightMax Home page, at: http://www.simsystems.com.au/fsflightmax/ Once the page has opened, you'll see a 'Ladder' of choice options on the left of the page - click on "Digital Charts" The Aeroplanner Charts order page will open. Look down the page - just above the first graphic you'll see the option: "Proceed to the special "Sim Pack" site for browsing or purchase ... click on it and you'll be taken to where you want to be. Terry === FSFLIGHTMAX [Note that V1.1 is now available] It may or may not have come to your attention, those of you who have managed to sneak into Flightsim.com recently, there's a file for download named FSFlightMax.zip" This is a manufacturer supported add-on by an Australian development group called "SimSystems". Here's an excerpt from the Readme file: ************************************************************* What is FSFlightMax? You are now reading about the only reproduction of the Avidyne FlightMax 850 avionics device made for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and 2000. FSFlightMax is a sophisticated instrument containing moving map, weather radar, TCAS traffic, terrain information, lightning tracker and much more. It is an integrated device containing all the above functionality in one unit. FSFlightMax is menu driven (just like the real one) and contains more than 30 different screens, menus and submenus. It comes complete with the genuine manuals and user guides from Avidyne Corporation, the manufacturers of the real FlightMax 850. WHAT IS COMING This is version 1.0 of FSFlightMax. We still have a lot of exciting things planned for FSFlightMax. A decision had to made where to draw the line for the features vs time equation. We will progressively be adding the planned features as soon as they are complete and fully tested. To give you some idea, here are some of the major features to be added: 1. FSMeteo Support 2. Full Network Support (TCP/IP, IPX, WideFS, Modem-Modem, Direct Cable) 3. Fly II Digital Charts Support 4. Squawkbox Support *************************************************************** I'm just starting to evaluate this add-on - it's not an Add-on in the normal sense, not being a discrete program, but an addition to the [Modules] section of FSim2000 / FS2002. As such, it requires FSUIPC.dll by Pete Dowson, but I guess most if not all of us have that invaluable *.dll anyway. I had a little problem on install (the FS hung when trying to load the program), I Emailed a guy named John Hnidec of Simsystems about it, and he replied within 15 minutes givng full details for correcting the error, and much more information re: near future developments. His advice worked and I'm now enjoying the new item. [ Shareware - you can run free for 20 minutes at a time ] I have the feeling this is going to be as big as say, FSNavigator and other professionally produced add-ons. --- For those who are interested, I put some screenshots up on the Yahoo list for you to see FSFlightMax in use. I apologise for the rather large download (~800Kb), but it was I feel, necessary to give a flavour (just a little) of what this new FMD can do for us. Regarding the Weather Radar - Having seen other so-called "Weather Radars" in the past, ususally filling a spare space in a panel, I was somewhat sceptical as to whether this was indeed, a true radar picture of what was out there. So last night I set up the most horrific conditions I could think of (torrential rain from a storm front off TBPB - Barbados) and set off in an Extra to find out if the FMD was merely playing at showing what was happening. I pointed the nose at the biggest, reddest patch on the FMD's screen, laughed scornfully and threw the throttle wide open. At the point at which the FMD showed my aircraft entering the storm centre, I was hit with such a downpouring of rain on my windshield that I lost total sight of the ground - and my altitude was only 1200 feet. The FMD showed lightning strikes approximately 5 miles ahead of my position, and I didn't want any of that, so I used the Map menu with Weather overlay to find the airport - there was no way I could have found my way back without the FMD's help.By altering the range on the map screen, it put me back to within ~500 metres of the approach end of the runway. This thing works. Terry --- If you are interested in seeing the incredible amount of information available during a flight, go here: http://www.simsystems.com.au/fsflightmax As well as looking through the main pages on this device, be sure to take a look at the screenshots of the module in action (check out the screenshot buttons to the left of the main page). [...] Hasn't dropped my framerates one iota - I've been chatting with the Head Man of SimSystems who produce it - he tells me a number of interesting things, 1st, that it was specifically designed from square one NOT to have any real effect on frame rates - that's why it's in Module form and not an application. Terry --- All the functions are reached by using the Menu, Esc and Enter buttons basically, but you really need to RTM to begin to understand what button to push, and when, to get to the page you want - it can be quite a learning curve! In the folder which you get when you unzip the FMD, there is a document titled " User_Guide.pdf",If you have Adobe Acrobat reader, this can be opened and printed out. In the text it gives a "quick start" type of introduction, and in this it explains the use of the buttons. Terry --- Version1.1 of this dandy add-on [Filename = fmax11.zip] is out and up for grabs. You're going to need version 1.0 if you're going to experience the upgraded version. The upgrade is 1.77Mb in size, and corrects a number of minor problems some users have experienced. There are also (I believe) a number of improvements/added functions, but I have yet to check as I'm still d/l the upgrade. Those of you who have d/l the Version 1 and those of you who intend to, should also download the upgrade (V1.1) which addresses certain less than optimal "features", and adds some more functionality to the program. This can be found at http://www.fssharecenter.com/fsflightmax/fmax11, or http://www.simsystems.co.au/fsflightmax/index.html (this will take you to the homepage, click on the Forums link and you'll find the d/l address there together with a run-down on what the upgrade does) Terry --- Ordering must be done from the simFlight network https://www9.secure-website.net/~simflig/ssl/s_order.htm FSFlightMax is at the top of the page. You will notice there are two checkboxes next to the ordering information, obviously you will need to check the one that requires a discount code. [See Terry at buckland1@ntlworld.com for discount information] === WEATHER ADD-ONS - GETWEATHER > This GetWeather tool is a neat small and very handy addon. > The new version is up for download: > > http://www.bearsoft.de/indexUS.html > > Rainer Works like a charm. Been using it for about a year now (well, not the current version, obviously). Cheaper than FSMeteo, and easier on the internet cost for those on dialup. Jeroen Wenting === FLIGHT PLANNERS Hey guys....anyone know of a good flight planner for FS2K2? I love my FSNav 4, but I'd like to be able to plan a flight route without having FS running. Anyone have any recommendations? Dave I can recommend you Flightmanager. It's worth the price and has lot's of features. It runs separate from FS but you can also use it as a moving map display. http://fsflightmanager.com/ Stefaan === Sept 2001 Hey crew have any of you seen the little tool called "Zulu"? GIves nice animated overhead view of a craft and as it flys all the times for da planet is listed.. I believe I got it from "FScenery. Oso TCA-TOW I think the file you want is fsc_zulu.zip at http://www.compuflight.com/search.htm Christopher P. Hunt ===