Captains!The rumors of my demise, much like the tales of Huck Finn are largely exagerated!I've just returned from a few weeks away on a much needed vacation. I haven't taken much of a vacation since leaving management at United Airlines back in November of '99, so it was really nice to simply walk away from the world for a spell!True to form- I made sure to include some good aviating in the vacation experience.... I've included a few pictures here for your enjoyment. ;-)Any guesses where I am?http://www.precisionmanuals.com/public/RR/Desert3.jpghttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/public/RR/Desert1.jpghttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/public/RR/Desert2.jpgI've spent the afternoon reading through all the message traffic in the forum during the past week. I also spent some time working on PROJECT F.... Our first release for Microsoft Flight Simulator in more than 3 years.... Lefteris is away on vacation this week- when he returns next week we'll be getting together to chat and lay out our plans for the remainder of the year.... Now that we are all getting back to business here, you can expect to see some information on the future plans here at PMDG. Please don't read anything into our relative silence. I can't even begin to describe the level of burnout here at PMDG.... I'll be around throughout the week!Robert S. RandazzoPrecision Manuals Development Group http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/coolcap.gifwww.precisionmanuals.com

>Any guesses where I am? Welcome back Rob. Very nice pics. One obvious guess that it is somewhere on the Great Salt Lake or somewhere in Nevada .. secret area 51 perhaps ?? (I am looking at this ex-Soviet trainer or someone just painted it this way). Ok, one more guess .. Edwards Air Force Base in California.PROJECT F..... again it sounds like one of the secret government projects born in the Nevada desert.Michael J.

Robert,So you go on vacation and end up in the former Soviet Union :-lolSo does this mean we have a soviet fighter/trainer to look forward to in the future? ;-)All I can say is you are one lucky, well you know what.Welcome Back and check your mail.RegardsPaul:-cool

Rob,Welcome back. Bob Lyddy

Who said anything about you being able to take a vacation? Can't you see what happens as soon as you leave?;-)tony

...the venerable YAK 52, that "poor man's spitfire", Russian military aerobatic trainer. Looks like your in a dry lake bed, doesn't look like salt flats... CA, AZ, NV.. great Gobi desert! Did you get to fly that thing!Grant

Welcome back Rob !.I must say, those photos deserve to be framed on a wall - very nice.Kind RegardsAndy

>>I must say, those photos deserve to be framed on a wall - >very nice. Yes, but we still don't know where they were taken .. :-(Michael J.

Michael, et al-The airplane is a Yakolev 52 primary flight trainer of the former Soviet Air Force. We took the pictures after landing on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. For those that have never been there, the black rock is a spectacular place. In the middle of the desert it becomes so quiet you can hear yourself breath. Very interesting experience landing an airplane out there.....Robert S. RandazzoPrecision Manuals Development Group http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/coolcap.gifwww.precisionmanuals.com

Rob,Nice airplane and really nice pictures!How was it to fly? It looks like it is similar to the US's T-34 Mentor. Looks like a pretty tight cockpit.Do any Acro in it?