To The Editor - Flight Models

[nudata 10]

Avsim has an opportunity to become the spokesperson for the thousands of people who regularly go to their site to get the latest information on Flight Simulation. As such Avsim has the opportunity to focus the community of interested simulator users who may be "concerned" about specific aspects of a flight simulation product. There has arisen a discussion about the flight modeling characteristics of FS2004 versus previous versions. The discussion may, or may not, be valid. That is not the issue I care to explore. The basic broader issue is the concern that FS2004 may be a poorer simulator of flight than its predecessors and future versions may not correct the trend. The value of this issue is represented by the number of people who have a concern for it. Microsoft responds best to economics. They are not a group of people who are dedicated to the betterment of the flight simulator world alone. The Microsoft Flight Simulator team exists to make money. They have chosen this product as an appealing vehicle to do so. Apparently they have chosen correctly. The product has withstood the expenditure of millions of dollars in development and must be making money as can be assumed by the fact that it continues to exist. Therefore, there may be a significant number of customers of Flight Simulator 2004 that feel that they need to be heard on issues. Have they received true, and expected value? Do they fear that the product is trending away from the simulation of flight? Will they purchase the next version of Microsoft Flight Simulator if no corrections are made? These are the attention getters for Microsoft.Avsim can focus these issues. We know for a fact that Microsoft Flight Simulator staff look at messages on this, and other forums. It then follows that a properly constructed poll that relates strictly to the issue at hand - flight simulation - would be of value to Microsoft. Many believe that Microsoft is moving more towards the visual aspects of the simulator and failing to advance the simulation of flight. If you believe such a trend exists, and you find it disturbing, then ask Avsim to prepare a poll that will expose those concerns for consideration by Microsoft.Dick KLBEDelmont, Pa.

[Guest]

I think it would be better if this subject were not avoided! I myself am rather interested to know if FS2004 is in fact an improvement as far as flight dynamics are concerned!James