Welcome to the AVSIM Online Feature Articles Section section. Here you will find all of AVSIM's current and past feature articles, covering a broad variety of subjects related to avsimming. Many articles have been contributed by AVSIM readers, and others are from our reporters from around the world. If you wish to contribute a feature article, please read our contributing guidelines. Feature Articles - Newest to Oldest AVSIM "Bravo Zulu" Awards – 2005 By Maury Pratt (September 20, 2005): These are the winners of Avsim's annual "Bravo Zulu" awards—presented at the 2005 Avsim Conference Awards Banquet Saturday evening—for 'best in class' in each flight simulation add-on product category. The editors and reviewers at AVSIM Online very much look forward to this occasion where we recognize outstanding performance among both the commercial publishers/developers and freeware contributors to our hobby. Their offerings truly have set the bar very high. We are confident the flight simulation add-on community will be striving throughout the coming year to achieve even greater accomplishments in innovation, refinement and fidelity to real-world aviation! Bear's Tribute to FS2002 By Steve 'Bear' Cartwright (June 14, 2003): Steve's created this amazing retrospective of MS' Flight Simulator 2002. He explains, "Considering that December 17, 2003 marks the 100th anniversary of "First Flight" by the two Wright brothers, I thought it would be interesting to combine a screenshot tribute to 100 years of aviation with a look back at Flight Simulator 2002—especially considering that the next version of Flight Simulator is to be called 'A Century of Flight.' Over the last several months and after collecting a pool of approximately 12,000+ shots, I've chosen just a few (roughly 1,450) to illustrate this feature article. Steve reviews the changes, improvements, and shows a few of the add-ons for FS2002, presenting these screenshots in a way that also celebrates the 100th anniversary of powered flight. "Whether FS2002 was/is perfect or not really doesn't matter, because between the default and the 3rd party add-on software, FS2002 has marked a real change in the evolutionary development in flight simulation. Not only can you fly aircraft of just about every description or era, but you can now fly very realistic aircraft under quite realistic flight conditions, both VFR and IFR to just about anywhere in the world that you would care to fly to. I personally believe that the Flight Simulator design team at Microsoft deserve a hardy thanks for providing such an excellent base program with FS2002 and I expect that FS2004 will be even better. "To start off our screenshot tour of FS2002, we begin with what is the core of flight simulations, the aircraft! I've broken down the catagory of aircraft into various groups, beginning with available FS aircraft by a timeline, 1903 through 2003. (The first link covers the 1903-1920 aircraft timeline.) Additional sections cover other aspects of FS2002 in screenshots. So, sit back, enjoy browsing through this special feature — and do realize, I've only touched the surface of what you can do with FS2002." Bear's "Bush Flying in FS2002" Special Feature By Steve 'Bear' Cartwright (November 11, 2002): Anyone who's followed "Bear's Cave" at AVSIM Online knows that Steve 'Bear' Cartwright loves bush flying. Over a year an a half ago Steve posted a feature on Bush Flying in North America—and we felt it was time to update that prior article to cover the many changes, improvements, and the opportunities for this unique form of aviation that have grown out of Flight Simulator 2002. This time Steve has done an amazing job, compiling lists of scenery and aircraft (some 95 of them) suitable for bush flying in FS2002 (all with included download links), websites and forums for the bush flying enthusiast, and his list of notable books on the subject. Moreover, Steve treats you to a history of the Piper Cub and Super Cub—the Piper SuperCub is still considered by the seasoned Alaska bush pilot to be the finest bush plane ever invented. In that vein he recounts Don Sheldon's legendary story, affectionately known as The bush pilot's pilot! You'll also find Steve's own tutorial on short-field take offs and landings—all profusely illustrated "Bear style." And finally he puts it all together with 13 adventures he's crafted (which many of you've already discovered; there's already 500 downloads of that from the AVSIM Library). This special feature is not to be missed by anyone who enjoys simulated bush flying, and we'll bet a lot of others will give it a try after reading Steve's encyclopedic collection of information. "Reno Redux: Microsoft Showcases CFS3 Gold By Maury Pratt (October 16, 2002): Maury remarks, "Sending a gaggle of editors and journalists up for 30 minute spins (well, not actually spins!) this past Monday in a '40s advanced trainer was Microsoft's Simulations Product Manager Darryl Saunders' inspiration to, might I say viscerally, demonstrate how close their new Combat Flight Simulator 3 – Battle for Europe comes to replicating the real thing. And I have to say, after experiencing maneuvers in both, he makes a convincing point." So how does it feel with CFS3? "Jet Simming" by Top Skills By Maury Pratt (October 9, 2002): Maury looks over the latest in Bill Stack's Top Skills series on aviation for flight simulation enthusiasts, Jet Simming, which addresses an important aspect of simming for many enthusiasts—how to plan for and enjoy flying jet aircraft. Maury comments, "Having enjoyed the challenge of mastering the many aspects of simulated jet flying over the past five years or so, I found this book to be comprehensive in scope and interesting as well. Though hobbyists fly business aviation and air transport jets with Microsoft's Flight Simulator series more than with any others by far, Bill doesn't write specifically for that program; rather the material presented is drawn from real-world aviation and hence doesn't assume use of any specific simulation package. On the other hand, he specifically avoids mention of third-party add-ons, many of which extend the jet simming experience; his philosophy is to present information that can by-and-large be applied within the simulator's default capabilities." Exclusive CFS3 Screenshots By Maury Pratt (September 30, 2002): Judging from what we saw at our Lake Tahoe Conference & Exhibition two weeks ago, you can expect terrific action as well as enhanced aircraft, scenery, weather, missions and campaigns from Microsoft's soon to be announced Combat Flight Simulator 3 — and here's some exclusive screenshots to prove it! JustFlight's "BBMF Tour" Report By Aidan "Akulla" Williams (September 26, 2002): Aidan recounts a most memorable event, JustFlight's "Dambusters" Evening and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Tour September 3-4. Aidan remarks, "With JustFlight's The Dambusters software having just hit the shelves, and along with a previous publication featuring the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, JustFlight invited various members of both real world aviation and flight simulation to a gathering right in the heart of what was Bomber Command during the war, and still home to various RAF squadrons today. ... This has to be one of the best days I have experienced in the field of Aviation. The people who I met, the hospitality shown both by the JustFlight crew, the two pilots from 617 Squadron and the members of the BBMF was second to none. For someone who has a passion for aviation and a love for the old WWII aircraft, the event was a dream come true." Reno Air Race Reprise By Bruce Nicholson (Contributed) (September 22, 2002): Reader Bruce Nicholson provides more great screenshots taken at AVSIM's 2002 Conference special event Friday, September 13—and includes three exciting videos that captures some of the race's sights and sounds. Enjoy a taste of the action! Interview with Veteran Pilot and Simmer André Roy By David Boulay (Contributed) (September 21, 2002): From time to time we run contributed interviews with people about their experiences with flight simulation. André Roy, who lives in the province of Quebec, Canada, is an avid "virtual airlines" pilot. This interview by David Boulay, author of Home made Cockpit of a Dash8-100 presented at the AVSIM 2002 Conference & Exhibition, asked André—as a career airline captain—for his views about simulator realism flying in the virtual skies. We think André's remarks are particularly interesting—as he's just celebrated his 75th birthday! AVSIM Investigation: Peter Tishma By The Editors, AVSIM Online (September 21, 2002): While it may be much more enjoyable covering the positive side of flight simulation and those who make it such a super pastime, AVSIM Online also has an obligation to protect readers by covering the shady side of this hobby as well. And unfortunately, the subject of this investigation has a history of shady dealings. After a week or so of information being passed to AVSIM from a variety of readers, we have independently confirmed that Ariane is in fact run by Peter Tishma. Tishma, who has steadfastly attempted to hide behind the obscurity of pseudonyms, and after having been dealt with quite firmly by the liquidation courts of the United Kingdom, continues to ply his trade in the flight simulation community. Were this just another gentleman who had gone bankrupt and was attempting to recreate his life after failure, there would be no large or even interesting story here. Given this man, his arrogance and disdain for the very customers he has to rely upon, it is a story worth reporting. AVSIM 2002 Conference & Exhibition Report By The Editors, AVSIM Online (September 20, 2002): This is our complete, illustrated coverage of the AVSIM 2002 Conference & Exhibition September 13-15 at Lake Tahoe. The first installment covers everything except details of the conference papers, which are covered in the second installment. This was a memorable event for those who participated; but for those who missed it we promise an even larger event next year. AVSIM Goes to the Reno Air Races By Steve "Bearracing" Cartwright (September 17, 2002): Steve treats us to his account of the 2002 Reno Air Races, including the tour organized by the AVSIM 2002 Conference & Exhibition. Steve remarks that "the AVSIM attendees enjoyed the full day of airshow demonstrations and air racing and I am sure most will remember the exciting world of Air Racing for many years to come!" Rich Harvey Scholarship By Tom Allensworth (September 15, 2002): On Saturday, September 14th, at the AVSIM 2002 Simmer's Convention Banquet, Tom Allensworth, publisher, announced the creation of the Rich Harvey Scholarship. In the works for the last couple of months, Allensworth announced that a scholarship in honor of Rich would be established with Embry Riddle Flight Academy for aspiring pilots. Rich Harvey 'Lifetime Achievement' award By The Editors (September 15, 2002): In presenting the 2002 AVSIM Lifetime Achievement award Saturday evening, AVSIM Online’s editors considered the contributions to our hobby by numerous individuals. There are many candidates who stand out, and are deserving of this award. However, two individuals have been selected as the best among the best. Their dedication and contribution to the aviation simulation community has been untiring and provides a standard by which those who step forward in the future should be judged. We are proud to present a 2002 AVSIM Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Harvey for his contribution to the flight sim genre, his very long-standing commitment to supporting his product and its users, his personal courage in the face of overwhelming health issues, and for the model that he represents as a person. Peter Dowson 'Lifetime Achievement' award By The Editors (September 15, 2002): Peter Dowson is the longtime developer of the FSUIPC module, which has made it possible for the aviation simulation community to reap a bounty of add-on products to the Microsoft Flight Simulator platform. Not one to relish the spotlight, Dowson always goes out of his way to note that FSUIPC is merely an updating of the FS6IPC module developed by Adam Szofran and other contributors throughout the years. The tireless dedication of Pete Dowson to unlock the secrets of Microsoft Flight Simulator—not for money of personal recognition, but instead for the sheer enjoyment of those using MS Flight Simulator—makes him an easy choice for an AVSIM Lifetime Achievement Award. AVSIM 2002 Bravo Zulu Awards By The Editors (September 15, 2002): AVSIM Online is pleased to continue our "Bravo Zulu" awards tradition begun in 1998. "Bravo Zulu" is a time-honored maritime signal meaning "Well Done." We thought this a fitting designation for the truly outstanding contributions of new simulators and related hardware, aircraft, panel, scenery, and add-on utilities we've seen this past year. We've selected what AVSIM Online's Editors judge to be the best from both freeware and commercial product (including shareware) publishers and developers. The entrants we considered are those reviewed by AVSIM Online that earned 5 Stars or at least 4½ Stars (or equivalent AVSIM Freeware Gold Awards) and that have been published since August, 2001. Click on the title for this year's Bravo Zulu Award line up. Flight Sim Pilots Information Manual By Pardave Lehry (August 6, 2002): Pardave looks over Bill Stack's recent update to his Flight Sim Pilots Information Manual. Pardave remarks, "Just as there are thousands of websites that deal with flight simulation, there are probably just as many books that deal with the subject. Whether it be combat flight simulation or civilian flight simulation, chances are you can find a book available. "A company by the name of Top Skills is another one aiming to provide you, the flight simulation enthusiast, with a library of books on flight simulation. But instead of zeroing in on one specific simulation, their books – written by Bill Stack, a management consultant, professional writer, speaker, trainer, entrepreneur and flight simulator since 1989 – deal with every flight simulation, combat or civilian, available, by basing their titles on the real world Aeronautical Information Manual, which is updated on a yearly basis by the FAA, just like this book." Royal International Air Tattoo 2002 By Aidan Williams (July 25, 2002): AVSIM Online Staff Reviewer and regular contributor Aidan "Akulla" Williams brings us his impressions of last weekend's Royal International Air Tattoo 2002. Aidan remarks, "As you can probably appreciate it was a magnificent airshow. The show was one of the best I have seen to date, and no doubt will be surpassed next year with even more displays to please the crowd. Walking away from the flight line back down the static display it was evident from the enthusiasm of the crowds that it had been an amazing success. A big 'thank you' must go out to all those involved in making the airshow the spectacle that it is. ... If you were lucky enough to be there this year, I am sure you will agree with me that it is one of the highlights in the aviation calendar, and something that you will eagerly await to attend next year." An Interview with Lago By GJ Bogaerts (June 21, 2002): AVSIM Online's , who lives in Belgium recently talked with some folks at Lago, which developed into this exclusive interview. He remarks, "AVSIM Online thinks it's time that we get to know the people behind Lago a little bit better. What makes them tick? How do they work? And what are their plans? Andrea de Luca is the brand-new product manager, who also has his hands on on-line sales. He could not miss this opportunity to tell the us what Lago is all about." AVSIM's Combat Legends - The F-8 Crusader By David Slavens (June 9, 2002): Continuing our series on the history of flight, AVSIM Online Sr. Reviewer David Slavens writes an overview of military aviation in the first of "AVSIM's Combat Legends - The F-8 Crusader." He singles out this not very well known aircraft, remarking "Some know of it but yet know nothing about it. It served with the US Navy, Marine Corps and the French Navy from the 1950s when it was first developed until 1999... One of the unique things about the F-8 was that it had a variable incidence wing that lifted seven degrees by a hydraulic actuator." This feature is modeled in Alpha Simulations' F-8, which David puts up against their Mig-17 and Mig-21. The Romance of the Pan-American Clippers! By Steve 'Bear' Cartwright (May 14, 2002): AVSIM's Steve 'Bear' Cartwright writes the first of an ongoing series on the history of flight—as part of AVSIM Online's commemoration of 100 years of flight—covering early transoceanic flight. As Steve notes, "During the time of my research, I did run across numerous accounts from those that had to opportunity to travel in this fashion and their stories told of traveling in great comfort while dining in large dining rooms and being served food prepared by some of the world's greatest chefs of the time. Traveling on the Pan-American Clippers was not unlike traveling on a modern cruise ship of today, except that in the 1930s traveling in this way was considered very exotic and of course limited to the wealthy." An Interview with CFS3's Tucker Hatfield By David Slavens (April 18, 2002): AVSIM Online's David Slavens, Lead Reviewer for Combat Sim Reviews, just concluded this interview with CFS3's Tucker Hatfield, Program Manager at Microsoft's in-house studio ACES. Though other, more general interviews have appeared at some gaming sites, we opted to seek out Microsoft's responses to more specific questions David posed to him. We think everyone anticipating the new release will find both insights and answers in Tucker's most gracious responses—and we present quite a few new screenshots. A Full Motion Flight Simulator for Your Home? By Maury Pratt (February 11, 2002): A goal of home cockpit builders has long been to capture the realism of full motion provided in commercial ATP simulators—but that's been prohibitively expensive. Well, perhaps not. Walter Noon contacted us recently to ask if there might be interest in the flight simulation community for just that. Though his Virtual Flight Motion Base might not be quite ready for your home, he's interested in hearing from you. A.C.E.S. Flight Simulation Center By David Slavens (January 08, 2002): Interested in experiencing an affordable real-world flight simulation to hone your combat flying skills? AVSIM Online's Group Leader for Combat Simulations, David Slavens, came across an amazing opportunity to do just that, at the AeroDome in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, USA. David describes the AeroDome Flight Simulation Center and interviews Mike Pohl, the owner of the A.C.E.S. facility about the idea behind A.C.E.S. A Screenshot Tribute to FS2000 By Steve 'Bear' Cartwright (November 5, 2001): At this time of transition, we asked Steve to do a picture essay illustrating the underlying power of FS2000 and the extraordinary advances made by 3rd party developers – both freeware and payware – that have made this sim so satisfying over the past two years. Steve remarks, "With the release of FS2002 last month, I thought it would be interesting to look back at all the wonderful 3rd party add-ons that became available over the course or the life of FS2000. With this in mind, I decided to put together a collection of screenshots, showing a few of the wonderful add-on aircraft that so many have contributed to this really fascinating hobby and to show the wide variety of choices that are available. "I don't want to even guess at the amount of hours I've got into this venture, but this may give you some idea: Nearly 600 individual screenshots were used from a total taken easily exceeding 3,500 to 4,000, maybe even more. There are just over 475 individual aircraft shown here in my screenshots, which only represents 25% of the total number of aircraft on my hard drive." We're sure you'll want to bookmark and refer often to this "collector's item." The Dutch National FS Weekend V 2.0 By Francois Dumas (October 18, 2001): On October 13 and 14, the Dutch National Aviation Museum Aviodome organized the second Flight Simulator Weekend this year. This time the theme of the show was Cockpit Building. The show had been organized by Bob Iken of the DFSO and Raymond Oostergo of the Aviodome. AVSIM Online Sr. Staff Reviewer, and VFR Flight Center Editor Francois Dumas, and AVSIM Newsletter Editor Matt Johnson attended—and now they bring their profusely illustrated report. AVSIM Editorial: Just what is Piracy? By Chuck Boudreaux (September 30, 2001): AVSIM expects developer's copyrights to be taken seriously. If they're not, more developers than already have will decide it's not worth their talent, dedication and time to produce the fine add-ons that make our hobby so enjoyable. AVSIM promotes the industry's growth and popularity; to the extent that's compromised by people who steal other's work (especially for commercial gain) we're all diminished. By bringing verifiable evidence of wrong-doing to our readers' attention—with the permission of the developer(s) of the original work and after giving the accused individual/organization an opportunity to offer refuting evidence—we believe we can discourage such behavior in the future. Further action is, of course, up to the developers directly concerned. Interview with Phil Perrott, CEO - Alpha Simulations By David Slavens (August 21, 2001): AVSIM Online Combat Sim Reviewer David Slavens interviews Alpha Simulations' Phil Perrott about their newly released "Combat Aces". Excerpt: "The partnership (with Just Flight) started with just myself as a panel contributor, then developed into AlphaSim as a part-contributor (RAF2000), finally evolving into us doing our own CDs (Cold War, Harrier, Combat Aces) with Just Flight as publisher. It has always been easy to work with them as they are UK-based like us, but also because they are such easy-going and likable people. I am not always the easiest person to deal with but JF have always been helpful and considerate, even when I have my occasional tantrums!" "The Pilot's Guide to the Modern Airline Cockpit" (Book Review) By David Sayed (contributed) (August 19, 2001): This book by Stephen M. Casner is a complete FMC primer. David, who says he's "a displaced Englishman living in the San Francisco Bay Area" and is a low-time private pilot, says he's been looking for a good book on flight management systems. "There are a variety of books and manuals available on FMS, but I wanted one that had general applicability to a wide variety of aircraft... For those with aspirations of flying real aircraft equipped with such systems (and it may not be that long before we see this equipment in the general aviation fleet), this book will be an invaluable stepping stone to the more detailed texts and type-specific handbooks." Immediacy vs. Journalism By Chuck Boudreaux (June 13, 2001): We've had more than a little feedback about the position AVSIM Online recently took in deferring our Fly! II review, some favorable but mostly otherwise. We take reader feedback seriously, and in this instance asked ourselves "What, really, are our reader's expectations? And most important, do AVSIM Online's review practices truly reflect those expectations?" In this editorial Managing Editor Chuck Boudreaux—who has a distinguished background as a professional journalist—examines this question and illustrates the dilemma we and our colleagues in the online flight simulation press face, not only in providing quality reviews but also providing timely advice. Is there a contradiction here? When you see what is involved in reviewing major simulation products, we think you'll better understand our approach. Please read his editorial; we think you'll understand why it takes more than a little time to provide product reviews that best inform your buying decisions. Re-living History and Remembering! By Steve 'Bearracing' Cartwright (May 20, 2001): AVSIM Online Staff Reviewer Steve 'Bearracing' Cartwright rode along with the Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17G "Aluminum Overcast." Bear says, "It truly is one of those life experiences that I will never forget! It was during the EAA "Open House" at the Carson City, Nevada municipal airport, that I took advantage of flying with the EAA members' B-17 and it couldn't have been a better day, with clear skies and 80º temperatures..." With the U.S. Memorial Day coming up, you'll appreciate Bear's tribute to the young men who made history flying this plane. And those of you who enjoy his postings in Avsim's Screenshot Forum won't be disappointed, as his aerial photography is equally good! Share his experiences (and learn a little history, too). Avsim Reports from E3 By Maury Pratt (May 19, 2001): AVSIM Sr. Managing Editor Maury Pratt covers the E3 event just concluded. Though E3's mainly about console and PC game products, there were a few special things to see for flight simmers. Maury comments, "Of course Xbox demos overwhelmed Microsoft's display space, but in a corner were two gems—FS2002 and Train Simulator. And I got a preview of Wilco's Airport 2000 Volume 3 and on the combat simulator side I saw Maddox/Ubi Soft's long anticipated IL2 Sturmovik. I met and talked with a number of team members; all were very accommodating as I examined and flew (or drove) these new products." Where's AVSIM Online's Fly! II Review? By Maury Pratt (May 15, 2001): Fly! II is an exceedingly important flight simulation product. We believe TRI's work provides perhaps the most significant, um, stimulus behind the improvements promised for Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2002—and we reason that continuing success with Fly! will go far to promote healthy competition in our flight simulation hobby—for add-on providers as well as for the underlying simulation products. But we don't believe Fly! II is "ready for prime time" in its present form. Should AVSIM Online review it in it's present condition? Or wait until it really is a completed product? Please see our reasoning for withholding our Fly! II Review, probably until late June. Online ATC: A Practical Approach Contributed by Mario Romilio (May 15, 2001): Mario, Facility Manager, KDFW contributes an interesting perspective on ATC for Virtual Airline pilots and management. Mario asks, "How can we make flights jump to life with live Air Traffic Control?" He suggests that a site such as FSTOWER.COM is the answer. Mario explains, "Online ATC services for Flight Sim 98 and 2000 are available there. Fully controlled flights from startup to shutdown. VAs can register, and sponsor flights on their timetable with FSTOWER.COM. For example, XYX Virtual has scheduled flights from KDFW to KORD. Both of these facilities are available on fstower.com. A schedule can be worked out that pilots will be able to fly this fully controlled flight on Wednesdays at 0100zulu." He says this is a greatway to generate interest and realism for your VA. A Peek at MS Flight Simulator 2002 By Tom Allensworth (April 27, 2001): "The Microsoft development team is listening, and has heard the desires and frustrations of the FS community over the last year and a half. Prime among those concerns has been the stuttering and frame rate issues that have possessed FS2000 for some users. But the larger truth is that they have also heard your voice in every aspect of flight simulation; from "eye-candy" to enhanced functionality, and aircraft performance. FS2002 is far further along in its development than I had anticipated. Given the release date of sometime in the late third quarter of this year, I fully expected to see something closer to an ALPHA release than the better than BETA product that we were shown. Frankly, I expected to see more bugs than progress, and of course, was pleasantly surprised when that turned out not to be the case. I would guess that the product is approximately 70 percent complete as of this week." See Tom's rundown on FS2002's new features in this comprehensive report from his visit to Fanstock 2001. Interview with Mark Pechnick – ProPilot 2 By the Editors (April 13, 2001): Many of you will remember that Tom Allensworth – in his interview this past October with ETC Interactive's Mark Pechnick about ProPilot's revival – suggested that Mark would be back with more detail in the near future. Well, it's been quiet for a time, for reasons explained below. But Mark's come through now in this exclusive interview with AVSIM Online! Bush Flying in North America By Steve 'Bear' Cartwright (March 5, 2001): Steve's made it no secret that he loves "bush flying." So much so that he's brought his previous picks, and more, together in this feature. In Steve's words, "Are you bored with shooting those ILS landings into Heathrow or Paris, in your Concorde or Boeing 777? Are you tired of the endless hours of cruising at FL310 and listening to the drone of the ATC controllers from your ProFlight 2000 or Radar Contact add-on? How would you like to get back to the basics of flight—a flight sim where you can navigate with VFR sectionals, using just plane ole' dead-reckoning; all the while viewing some truly fantastic scenery. It's possible now with Flight Simulator 2000 and the 3rd party add-ons to do just that!" Read his round-up of textures, scenery and planes especially suited for bush flying—together with a special "Bush Country Round Robin." Editorial: Can We Get Our Hobby Back On Track? By the Editors (February 2, 2001): Our hobby is at a cross-roads, and the direction it is going is ominous. Perhaps it already has been damaged irreparably, as recent news items attest. Or can it take another turn and continue to grow and prosper, as more and more people discover its pleasures and participate in the social discourse others have so enjoyed? What will determine the ultimate outcome? In this Editorial AVSIM Online's Editors examine this dilemma and propose some answers, not unlike suggestions many thoughtful readers recently made in Avsim's forums. "Instrument Flying for Flight-Sim Pilots" Contributed by Maury Pratt (January 20, 2001): From the primary book in Bill Stack's Flight-Sim Pilots series, Pilot's Information Manual 2001 (see review description below), you'll remember that book left Maury feeling the need for more for today's highly popular IFR-based flying—often online with SquawkBox—and with ProFlight 2000, Radar Contact and others. So Bill sent a copy of his Instrument Flying that covers that topic. How helpful is this for today's instrument flight simmers? Read Maury's impressions and judge for yourself. An Interview with Richard Harvey Contributed by Maury Pratt (January 13, 2001): We had the very good fortune to interview Richard Harvey, Terminal Reality's lead developer of FLY!, about the forthcoming FLY! II's development objectives and technology. We think everyone anticipating this groundbreaking release will find both insights and answers in this exclusive interview with Richard. Pilot's Information Manual 2001 Contributed by Maury Pratt (January 7, 2001): What Bill Stack's Flight-Sim Pilot's Information Manual 2001 does well is to bring together in one place a wealth of information that otherwise you'll need to search out from a variety of sources. And Bill writes from the proven premise that simmers need to develop and build on knowledge of fundamentals—particularly flying in VFR conditions—to understand and hone airmanship and navigation skills well in order to fully appreciate and apply IFR based flying. Interview with SATCAN's Kevin Pollock Contributed by Maury Pratt (January 2, 2001): Over the New Year holiday weekend Avsim Managing Editor Maury Pratt had the opportunity to chat with Kevin Pollock, 35, a SATCAN controller with a most unusual story. Kevin not only shares his experiences with flight simulation, but tells us why the time he spends with ProController is such an important part of his life. Please see what Kevin has to say in this inspirational interview. Bravo Zulu 2000 Awards Contributed by Maury Pratt (December 28, 2000): As the new year 2001 approaches, AVSIM Online's Editors and Reviewers again bring you our annual "Bravo Zulu" awards honoring the best freeware and commercial offerings of this past year. Chosen from among the 160 reviews we've posted since January, we feel that these products did the most to enhance your flight simming enjoyment. As before, we've established four categories of freeware products—aircraft, panels, scenery and utilities—and we've selected what we believe are the best of commercial products across a spectrum of offerings. So please join us in looking back on this truly amazing year. ATC Product Comparison Contributed by Maury Pratt (November 17, 2000): If you've been following either of AVSIM Online's ProFlight and Radar Contact forums you know that each has its highly vocal supporters. In the spirit of competition each side has substantially improved their offerings since we first reviewed them, so AVSIM Online took a close look at ProFlight's newly released 3.12 version—and Radar Contact's v2.l. Their authors are so confident of their improved offerings that they challenged us to post an in-depth feature for feature comparison. See the results and decide for yourself. European Expo Contributed by Maury Pratt (November 10, 2000): AVSIM Online brings you our account of the hugly successful European Computer Flight Simulation Expo held Saturday, November 4 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, England. Organized by RC Simulations and AVSIM, management staff members Tom Allensworth, Robert Kirkland, Maury Pratt, and the guys who really did the work, European Managing Editor Jean-Luc Neale and Eastern Europe Editor Miro Majcen tell you all about the quality presentations and the show's excitement. A Guide to Getting Airborne Contributed by Damian O'Neil (October 20, 2000): At AVSIM Online—and we suspect for most of our readers—we get accustomed to the complexities of using flight simulation software, and take flying the planes and their navigation pretty much for granted. In fact, we always seem to be looking for "the next big thing" in our hobby. But Reader Damian O'Neil reminds us in his cautionary tale, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Airborne," that many are relative newcomers to this rich and fascinating hobby—and find that the "learning curve" can be steep (and sometimes discouraging as well). A broadcast journalist who got into flight simulation about 6 months ago, Damian recounts (albeit tongue in cheek) his misadventures struggling to "soar with the Eagles." Before you realize it, his article takes newcomers through common-sense steps toward real proficiency—and enjoyment—with PC-based flight simulation. And he makes a larger point: don't confuse being a "cyber illusionist" (your editor's wife's favorite term) with the real world: The love of your "significant other." This issue is the same the world over, so you'll appreciate Daman's British accent (and spelling) in this timely contributed article. A Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum Contributed by Maury Pratt (October 16, 2000): Managing Editor Maury Pratt's visit Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum had a real surprise in store—TWA flew in a Boeing 717 just before it entered regular passenger service. In this exclusive feature Maury shares some photos of this beautiful plane and its cockpit. Dutch Flight Sim Weekend Contributed by Francois Dumas and Aidan Williams (October 14, 2000): AVSIM Online Staff Reviewers Francois Dumas and Aidan Williams took a little time away from the computer terminal in late September to attend the Dutch National Flight Simulator Weekend at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. While not one of the biggest events of its kind, the hands-on account from Francois and Aidan shows that size does not always always tell the entire story. An Interview with Mark Pechnick Contributed by Tom Allensworth (October 10, 2000): With the recent news of the ProPilot sale and subsequent revival, Avsim Online Publisher Tom Allensworth went to Mark Pechnick from ETC Interactive, the company that purchased the ProPilot series from Sierra. Who is ETC Interactive? What do they do? What are their future plans for the ProPilot series? These are the type of questions that Tom posed to Mark. An Interview with Eric Ernst Contributed by Maury Pratt (September 24, 2000): AVSIM Online Managing Editor Maury Pratt caught up with legendary panel designer and AVSIM Partner Eric Ernst - on his vacation - to produce this exclusive interview. Eric - who's been absent from the flight sim community since he released his ground-breaking 757/767 panel for FS98, and now an active 767 pilot - is very much with us again. With the help of his associates Laurent Crenier and Wade Chafe, his eagerly-awaited FS2000 version goes far beyond that earlier effort with Wilco Publishing's soon-to-be-released 767 Pilot in Command. We were curious about the philosophy Eric brings to this project and the influence his professional experience flying this great plane has had on developing this all-new panel. We're sure you'll find his insight fascinating in this exclusive interview! Flying the UAL 777 Simulator Contributed by Mark D. Weiss (September 3, 2000): Reader Mark shares his experience flying UAL's 777 in their "Pilot for a Day" program. Mark, a flight simulation enthusiast for 14 years, tells us "I have been a private pilot for four years. I have been an airline pilot (in my mind) for as long as I can remember! When I found out about United's 'Pilot For a Day' program, it was a no-brainer. I have always wanted to fly in a real full motion simulator." Mark recounts the day he heard "UNITED 777 HEAVY... YOU ARE CLEARED TO LAND!!" AVSIM's MicroWINGS 2000 Conference Report Contributed by Maury Pratt (May 24, 2000): This year's gathering of 200 flight sim enthusiasts in Seattle, WA was great. Together with digital photos generously provided by Chicagoland Flight Simmers' Ken Dundon, you'll be "in the know" about developers' upcoming releases and interesting events in the industry. So if you couldn't be there in person, Maury's MW 2000 Conference Report might be the next best thing. AVSIM Review Policy Contributed by Maury Pratt (April 14, 2000): [Editorial] We've had considerable feedback from our forums and the "Feedback" feature in our reviews questioning our philosophy—and motivation—both as to why we select certain products for review, and the criteria our reviewers apply in rating them. We offer this editorial as we think our readers deserve an answer. "Tool Time" with the Robinson R44 Contributed by Eric Bishop (March 14, 2000): [Special Feature] Pilot and writer Eric Bishop shares his recent experience riding with the local Tampa Florida 95.7 STAR FM news and traffic reporters Jay "Tool" Daniel and Kristy Knight in the station's Robinson R44. We thought you'd enjoy reading about this aspect of helicopter flight and seeing the human side of using these machines in their work. An Interview with Pilot Frank Marsalek Contributed by Eric Bishop (March 9, 2000): [Special Feature] Pilot and guest writer Eric Bishop departs from his usual coverage of flight simulation topics to contribute this interview with a pilot flying Learjets as well as many other aircraft types. We hope you enjoy the insights this highly experienced pilot examiner offers both about flying as a career and the role of desktop flying in pilot training. "Things We Say... But Shouldn't" By AVSIM Managing Editor Maury Pratt (February 25, 2000): [Special Feature] As a pilot flying with SATCO's SquawkBox, I've often wondered, "What do controllers expect me to say (or do) — or rather, wish I didn't say?" Well, evidently I'm not alone, as this recent thread in SATCO's mail list attests. The editors at AVSIM Online found this dialog to be so interesting that we asked Executive Director (SATCO1) Randy Whistler whether we might reprint selections from those posts for our readers, to which he graciously assented. If you're a SquawkBox enthusiast you'll appreciate these guidelines offered by SATCO controllers in the recent SATCO mail list thread "Things We Say... But Shouldn't" we've compiled here about "virtually savvy ATC communications." Sim Product Feature Comparison By AVSIM Online Review Staff (January 23, 2000): [Special Feature] Have you wondered which is the "best" of the new crop of flight simulation products—Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2000, Terminal Reality's Fly!, and Looking Glass/Electronic Arts' Flight Unlimited III? So did we, so we asked AVSIM Online's review staff to evaluate these products in comparison to one-another against a list of features among a 'baker's dozen' categories. To no one's surprise, none is "best" across the board. Each has strengths and weaknesses, so for those who are "on the fence" in deciding which product is best for them, we offer our reviewers' findings (and views) with the hope that this will be a helpful resource to that end. Even if you're already a "champion" of one of these products, we think all our readers will find our Sim Product Feature Comparison interesting, and perhaps informative. "Bravo Zulu Awards" By Maury Pratt (December 28, 1999): [Special Feature] Continuing our year-end tradition, AVSIM Online's Managing Editors and Staff are pleased to bring you our pick of the year's "best of breed" products—both freeware and commercial—selected from reviews we've published throughout the year. Please enjoy, readers and developers alike, our thanks for these impressive contributions; it's all here at our Well Done salute. FS2000 Official Strategies & Secrets By Robert Kirkland (December 17, 1999): [Book Review] Sometimes there is a book that provides you with everything you expected and a lot more. AVSIM Online Managing Editor Robert Kirkland says that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Official Strategies & Secrets is just such a book. "What I expected was a book with much the same information that was conatined in the help files and the original manual; what I got was a book that not only gave me information on flying all of the default aircraft but also a lot of lessons in flying technique and lots of illustrations that clarify the whole process." Hardware Performance By Jason Fields (December 17, 1999): [Special Feature] With Christmas shopping on our minds, you might be thinking about buying FS2000 or Fly! —perhaps for someone who doesn't have "the latest and greatest" computer set-up. Should you hesitate? Jason doesn't think so. He offers low-cost tips to wring more performance out of what may be less than stellar systems. Perhaps Jason's article "My Holiday Wish? Better Framerates, Cheap!" has some ideas you can use too! "Black Eyes" and Patches — Reflections of a Beta Tester By Doug Horton (November 17, 1999): "How many patches must a publisher post if a publisher must post patches?" Well, AVSIM Online Staff Reviewer and veteran sim product tester Doug Horton ponders this and concludes, "A software publisher should post as many patches as necessary to make a product 'right.' On the other hand, if pre-release testing, which we familiarly call 'beta testing' were more thorough, we would not see the need for so much patching. In my recent experience, pre-release testing could have been much better for several products." In this special feature, Doug describes his recent testing experiences, draws an analogy to new product testing in other fields, and provides suggestions for improved testing. Product developers and other interested readers will find much to ponder themselves in "Black Eyes" and Patches! ECTS '99 Conference By Jean-Luc Neale and Miro Majcen (September 12, 1999): The computer gamers from around the world have gathered at London Olympia exhibition halls this week for the ECTS '99 Conference. With queues stretching back for many yards and everyone eagerly awaiting the newest product news from the game developers, AVSIM Editors were there to find out what's new for the simulation market. This is a series of four reports. SATCO KC99 Conference Report By Maury Pratt and Doug Horton (August 23, 1999): "SATCO Kansas City 99" was the first of planned annual conferences for controllers and pilots to meet and exchange views, learn of enhancements planned for future releases of Squawkbox (SB), ProController (PC), and SATNET, and to hear first hand from SATCO's senior management. Best of all, Center Chiefs, Instructors, Supervisors, and Controllers from around the world came together in a spirit of friendship—this was the first opportunity for many to "put faces with names" of those with whom they'd managed airspace in PC, and for many SB pilots to meet them as well. In this exclusive report we describe the events, report on plans for improved training programs, and conclude with a look at upcoming features in Squawkbox, ProController, and SATNET, particularly the exciting new voice ATC feature! Eclipse - The Event , and Eclipse Special Feature By Jean-Luc Neale (August 15; August 8, 1999): In the second of two installments, The Day The Sun Left The Sky, Jean-Luc describes a most memorable flight that Microsoft-Europe provided to selected members of the press, including AVSIM Online, to view this breath-taking event. Departing from RAF Northolt with two Chieftains, they flew over southern England and the channel to France, where they were under the path of totality to view the eclipse and then land at Deauville, after which they returned to Northolt. In the first of these two installments, Eclipse Special Feature, Jean-Luc does his homework and reports all you ever wanted to know about the last total eclipse of this millennium. Don't say we didn't warn you! AirVenture Oshkosh 99: News on FS2000, FUIII, and more! By Doug Horton (August 1, 1999): Doug reports from the US’s largest airshow and aviation exhibition, focusing on flight sim representation and demonstrations. He was able to try out a preview of FS2000 and hear from their aviation industry partners on this product, see a demo of FUIII, talk to the folks at Jeppesen about their new SimCharts product, talk to Flight Safety International about their flight sim plans, and visit with Abacus Publishing. An Interview with Microsoft's Bruce Williams By Jean-Luc Neale (June 18, 1999): Microsoft arranged for a few select members of the Press and the Flight Sim community to meet and interview Bruce Williams, Product Planner for Flight Simulations at Microsoft. This also gave Microsoft the chance to preview the latest developments in Flight Simulator 2000 (FS2000). I was given two hours of Bruce's time and we didn't take long to fire up FS2000 Pro on the laptop. Bruce explained that this version was a little more complete than that shown at E3 but it still wasn't even an alpha. The system used was a PII 300MHz laptop with a small LCD display and a 8Mb 3D card, so we anticipated that some details would not be as good in a higher performance machine. An Interview Bill Rambow By Bill Dailey (June 17, 1999): Bill Rambow is the author of the recently released and very popular DC3/R4D/C47 photo real panel for FS98. In this interview Dailey gets Bill's considerable insight into the world of FS panel design in general and the background on Bill's phenomenally successful DC3 panel. An Interview with Flight 1's Steve Halpern By Jean-Luc Neale: Jean-Luc Neale talks to Steve Halpern, and finds out that the owner of Flight 1 has been an avid lover of all things airborne since he was fourteen. The author of FSClouds talks in detail about how he entered the flight simming world, and where the ideas for some of his programs came from. An Interview with Flight Gear's Curtis Olson By Maury Pratt: If you are frustrated that none of the commercial sims implement a feature you want, here's your chance to show them how it's done. University of University of Minnesota's - Mechanical Engineering Department's Curtis Olson leads a dedicated team of researchers and hobbyists in creating a "framework" that encourages you to do just that. Their breakthroughs in scenery technology are but one example. Curt explains their vision, challenges and current progress in an exclusive interview. Top Avionics "RealCRT" Gauges By Alex Bashkatov: The "Top Avionics 747-400 Panel" by Tony D'Ambrosio is certainly aimed at the hardcore flightsimmer. As Tony says, "The purpose of this new panel is not to provide an exact replica of the original one, but to offer a realistic environment, making use of the maximum data available in Flight Simulator 98." Tony's background looks as one whole with his gauges, as it should be. Its layout isn't 100% accurate, but it's very close. So, what environment do we get with this panel (and also those from Roy Chaffin that utilize Tony's gauges)? The first thing you notice on the panel are the three CRT displays. These are the Primary Flight Display (PFD), the Navigation Display (ND) and the Engine Indicator and Crew Alerting System (EICAS). All three are RealCRT gauges done using Vectorial Design technology, delivering a very clean and sharp picture and 'CRT' look. The displays have numerous features and give plenty of information, and model the real ones very closely. Blue Ribbon "Freeware" Panel Designers By Michael Toussaint: Freeware is very unassuming term we use daily in the flight sim world. Over the course of 1998 there were literally thousands of freeware add-ons to MS Flight Simulator in all its flavors. But what is freeware? Freeware is the dedication of developers to the hobby of Flight Simulation that has effectively changed the face of Flight Simulator as we know it today. It is the selfless allocation of time and energy by talented simmers from all walks of life who have dedicated their valuable resources to further the enjoyment of MSFS for all of us. All without a fee. Mike singled out his favorite panels as the best of the 1998 freeware panels available. These designers of Freeware commercial and general aviation panels have distinguished themselves for their excellence and are worthy of hanging the Blue Ribbon upon their works. A Look into What You Might Expect in 1999 By Jean-Luc Neale: What's to expect in 1999? Jean-Luc talked with industry people who are in a position to know; here's the developments he's culled from them for PC hardware, graphics cards, and for joy sticks, yokes, monitors, sound cards and other accessories. The Annual "Bravo Zulu" Awards By AVSIM's Editors and Review Staff: As AVSIM has grown so has our review section. Over the past year we added a number of reviewers who have raised both the quality and the quantity of the reviews. As part of our year end process, our reviewers felt that certain aircraft, scenery, panels and utilities stood above the crowd. So from that discussion has arisen the 1998 AVSIM BRAVO ZULU AWARDs. "Bravo Zulu" in military and maritime terms means WELL DONE. It is a signal sent from commanders to their troops to signfy performance above the norm. AVSIM hales BRAVO ZULU to both the winners and the finalist in each category, as well as to the reviewers at AVSIM who spent many an hour to provide you with the best information on flight sim add-ons on the net. Interview with Microsoft's Steve McGill By Jean-Luc Neale: With Microsoft having released the newest form of Flight Sim Software, find out where the idea come from and where this project is going. Jean-Luc speaks to Steve McGill from Microsoft's UK offices and finds out a bit about the past, present, and future of Microsoft's flight simming world. Interview with Graham "Dotcom" Waterfield AVSIM Online and simFlight.com present an unprecedented joint interview with Graham "Dotcom" Waterfield of the Flight Sim Developers group (FSD). Dotcom talks with Trev Morson and Bob Kirkland about how he became involved in flight simulation, aircraft design with the Flightshop Moving Parts (FSMP) utility developed by fellow FSD member David Lewis, and the future of FSD. Special Report: Farnsborough International '98 By Miro Majcen: Our Eastern European Editor delivers his superb report from the 1998 Farnborough International Airshow. Be forewarned: Miro brought his camera along! Tales from the Front -- Article 2: Searching for Sensei By Robert Randazzo: This is the second in a series of articles by Robert Randazzo which chronicles his efforts to obtain his pilot's license and his climb up the aviation certification ladder. In this installment, Robert shares with us his experiences finding a flight school, the varagries of instructor pilots, and the wonder of first flight. Special Feature: Commercial Aviation in the '90s By Aaron Seymour: For many of us, our interest in aviation simulation is but one part of our broader interest in aviation. Given the explosive growth of virtual airlines over the past few years, many of our readers understandably have a special interest in commercial aviation and "the big iron." Special Contributor Aaron Seymour's essay, Commercial Aviation in the 90s - A Time of Change and Progress, offers a brief overview of the many changes to the commercial aviation industry which have taken place over the past decade. Microwings Conference Report By Bill Dailey and Maury Pratt: Bill and Maury file their report from the annual three-day MicroWINGS conference, held this year at Orlando, Florida's Clarion Plaza Hotel. This year's event was the tenth in what is now a tradition. Started by Jim Maas of Cornell University, Robert MacKay, MicroWING's president has organized and hosted this event during the past four years. It's a unique experience for the avid flight simmer; with presentations and demonstrations of state-of-the-art commercial flight-sim products each morning -- twenty-four in all -- and must-see field trips both afternoons. Interview with Camil Valiquette For those who have done any downloading of aircraft from the net, you will most certainly recognize the name of Camil Valiquette. Camil is without a doubt one of the most prolific single designers contributing to our hobby and we had the pleasure of getting some of his time for an interview. ProPilot '99 IRC Chat with the Development Team On August 7, 1998, we had a big crowd on the #AVSIM Channel on DALnet to chat with four members of the Dynamix team putting together ProPilot '99. If you couldn't make the chat, you can read the convenient, easy-to-read transcript of the chat and learn what the rest of us learned. Special Feature: EAA AirVenture -- One Simmer's Report By Bill Shepard: Special Correspondent Bill Shepard spent some time looking, learning, and reflecting at this year's annual EAA Fly-In, AirVenture Oshkosh, and graciously took a few moments to send us a report. Bill's thoughtful essay is a refreshing reminder of why we like aviation and flight simulation, and what this hobby means to a lot of us. Tales from the Front -- Article 1: The Decision to Go By Robert Randazzo: This is the first in a series of fascinating articles by Robert Randazzo which chronicles his efforts to obtain his pilot's license and his further climb up the aviation certification ladder. Special Report: The Royal International Air Tattoo By Graham Waterfield: In his exclusive report, Graham Waterfield shares his impressions of this year's edition of the annual international air show held at RAF Fairford in Gloucester, England. While not as spectacular as in years past, Graham and about 200,000 other aviation fans had plenty to see. Inside the Sky by William Langewiesche Book Review by Maurice Pratt: Maury presents a very comprehensive review of this excellent literary work. If you would like to step away from the JP5 or AV100 for a moment or two and explore the potential of Langewiesche's work, read Maury's review and ponder the more sublime aspects or our interests. Special Report: Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility Open House By Geoffrey Campbell: Special Correspondent Geoffrey Campbell toured the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility, the huge repository of historic aviation artifacts. Luckily for us, Geoffrey took his pen and camera along, and has filed this special report about the unique facility. E3 Report by Thomas Dilbeck: Special correspondent Tom Dilbeck is back with another interesting photo-report, this time from the E3 Expo in Atlanta. FLY! Flight Simulator Preview by Mickey W.: Mickey gives us a first hand, behind the scenes report of the upcoming general aviation simulation FLY!, previewed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Atlanta. Special Report from the EAA Sun and Fun Fly-In by Thomas Dilbeck: Tom took his notebook and camera to this EAA fly-in in Lakeland, Florida and brought back more than a tan. Don't miss his informative pictorial report. The Best of the ERA We ran a user poll and took votes on the best aircraft of each era: You might be surprised at some of the results -- or then again, perhaps not. Find out how the poll stacked up. An Interview with Hardy Heinlin An Interview with the author of PS-1: Hardy Heinlin is the author of the Professional Simulator - a B747-400 specific simulation that is one of the most intricate and detailed simulation systems on the market today. Our contributing reporter, Paul Story, interviews Hardy and provides a glimpse into the future of the PS simulation system. The Airshow Feature     The Airshow Feature: Bob Kirkland, our wandering Assistant Editor, strapped on his camera, got permission from his wife, and doggedly pursued air shows on the eastern seaboard during the previous month. In this article, he reviews the three air shows that were held in the Virginia Tidewater area, and includes some great photos (Bob, we didn't know you were a photog too!). Have you been to an airshow recently? If so, and you would like to review it for AVSIM, you can do so by contacting Bob via the email link which appears in this article. An Interview with OzPack August 1997: This is an AVSIM staff interview with Tom Monnone of the OzPack group. OzPack has produced some outstanding scenery for the simming community, and this interview covers the history and goals of the this group. Simming in Slovenia From August 1997 Issue of AVSIM: Our intrepid Editor for Slovenia and Croatia, Miro Majcen, tells us what simming is all about in Slovenia today. Find out how these enthusiastic simmers are keeping up with the world of avsimming. Royal Netherlands Air Force Open Days August 1997: Ronald Wick provides a look at the 1997 Royal Netherlands Air Force's open days. Many pictures of the event accompany the article. United Kingdom Simming News August 1997: Mark Green contributes this article on doings in the U.K. simming community. Not surprisingly, Virtual Airlines play a large part of the activity. The 1997 Paris Airshow July 1997: Our adventurous and underpaid Slovenia and Croatia Editor took a jaunt to Paris for the 1997 airshow. Notwithstanding our exorbitant per diem of $10 a day, he was still able to submit this glowing report on the doings there. Payware versus Freeware July 1997: Our Assistant Editor, Robert Kirkland, takes a plunge into the heated discussions regarding freeware versus payware. No matter which side of the issue you are on, this article is good reading. The FSPRA - An Interview with Jeff Smith June 1997: What is the FSPRA? How do you join? What are its rules? In this interview with Jeff Smith, we cover all that ground and a little bit more. What's a Virtual Airline? May 1997: By Adam Batkin - What's a VA and why would you want to join one? An inside look.