It's Friday June 1, 2007 - Sunday 3, 2007. Lots of interesting sites, sounds and people will be there.Who's going?It looks like my schedule may allow it this year. I hope to see you all there!Perhaps we could have a MAAM-SIM gathering?

Bill and I will be there, of course, together with David Wood, a senior pilot at DC-3 Airways who, as last year, will be helping us to repair the equipment every 50 children. We are thinking that perhaps we should simply develop a version of 'Briefing Time' that blows everybody up, nukes the world and crashes in a ball of flames every five minutes just to keep the latter ankle-biters happy.We're expecting a good turnout from DC-3 Airways, indeed, with several virtual Gooney jocks making the trip.Looking forward to seeing you again too! Bring beer, money, or dancing girls. Preferably all three.MarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cx.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/avsimlogo.jpg[/a]

He talks a good ballgame, but actually this is the only sort of dancing girl Mark is allowed to consort with at WW2WE...http://www.maam.org/wwii/photos/entertain/IMG_1973.jpgNow the beer is another story. :-beerchugBill RambowMAAM-SIM http://www.fssupport.com/maam/hgrsm_blkani.gif

My golly, I thought she was short, but now I understand why. Bill, you shouldn't have given me that 13th beer. They do say the difference between a dog and a fox is about six beers. But heck, I'm out of line there. No wonder she refused to come back to my place, and stuck her tongue out at me.MarkP.S. OK, I'm not THAT dumb, everybody. That is (one of) Bill's beautiful grandchildren, and she's a ball of fun. And don't think I'm trying to dance, there. Oh no. I'm just showing her how to land the R4D-6 in a crosswind :)Mark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cx.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/avsimlogo.jpg[/a]

"As MAAM SIM's Project TBM advances down the assembly line, we'll post developmental screenshots of our progress here. Release date for FS2004: June 1, 2007 at MAAM's World War II Weekend!"Seriously? Lol

Welllllllllll...... If you come to WWII Weekend you will be able to fly the TBM. But you won't be able to buy it for a while. As always seems to be the case, things have taken longer than expected, real life matters have interfered with the work flow -- I could go on and on, but won't.We are truly sorry not to have met our hoped for and expected release date, but in return there will be a much more complete package to offer at the end of that assembly line.So if you needed one more incentive to make it to the big show, flying the Turkey demo might just put you over the edge. We will restrain ourselves from predicting another release date until the package is complete, or nearly so, and in full beta testing.Thanks for your patience. We are as anxious as you are, believe me!Bill RambowMAAM-SIM http://www.fssupport.com/maam/hgrsm_blkani.gif

Naaada problem :DAlways wanting to hold out for the "complete" pack than the beta versions anyway :7 Can't make this one, but watch for me next year (after I get PPL, Im going to fly over for it)

I flew in once. The guy that went with me was itching to leave. (I wasn't ready to leave.) We were blocked in by Briefing Time, so we couldn't! I loved it!!

Last call! Last call! Be there or be square.Anyone requiring to be blocked in and unable to leave, please let us know and we'll talk to the Tower and event organizers :)MarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cx.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/avsimlogo.jpg[/a]

Mark and Bill,This year, I had the opposite problem- the entrance was blocked. It took more than a half hour in traffic just to get to a half mile from the exit off Rt.222. Actually, we only saw the 1/2 mile sign and couldn't even get to it. The traffic wasn't moving at all, so we decided to try other ways of getting in. When those methods proved just as bad, we decided to do other things. We passed by several hours later and the traffic was still badly backed up.Something must be done to alleviate the traffic problem. The police were out directing traffic, but I think the problem is that there is only one parking lot and only a two way public road to get there. I am very disappointed that I wasn't able to get there. I know it was an excellent show. Sorry I wasn't able to catch up with you guys.

If it makes you feel better, the big air show here in San Diego is the MCAS Miramar show and even with all of the MP's and a lot of the local Marines out directing traffic, there have been years that it's impossible to get into the show after 10:00 am. It got a lot better when they added a night-time show, but it's still tough in the afternoon, right up to when the Blue Angels (or this year, the Thunderbirds) fly.

Hi Railrunner,This is indeed something we have heard from a lot of people and I'm sure it is hurting us badly at the gate. There are actually a series of parking lots, but they are all along one road. Of course this is way outside my bailiwick as webmaster and flightsim guy at the museum, but that won't stop me from passing this on to Russ and giving my opinion. I do know that we are limited in what we can do and the access we can allow by the local authorities. The fact is we are located on "the far side" of the airport and in some respects our hands are tied by the road structure.I'll give you a tip, though, that may sound obvious and is not always possible, but you just have to come early! Mark and Dave were staying at the Inn at Reading, well up 222 from the airport, and they made it in NLT 0730 without any problem each norning. Although the advertised opening time for the show is 0900, we always have show-goers wandering around looking over our shoulders while we set up as early as 0730 every day. The volunteers who man the gates know they have to get in early, too, you see, and they are very liberal about letting people in early, especially if they have already got their advance sales tickets so they need not handle money before they are ready.So, next time, be an early bird, hit the gas/convenience store at the corner of Route 183 and Van Reed Road to get your coffee and donuts, and then get a close-in parking spot so you don't have a long hump to the gate, as the buses may not be running that early. It's also the best time to get good photos of the waking encampment and parked planes without crowd interference.I'll be reporting on the show on a PR a bit later on. There's a lot of mail to answer and other work to do, but I'll try to get it out before the weekend.CheersBill RambowMAAM-SIM http://www.fssupport.com/maam/hgrsm_blkani.gif

Bill,Thanks for passing that on. I'm usually one of the early birds, but this year I made the mistake of letting the girlfriend sleep in a little. (After hearing who was going to be there, she really wanted to attend.) Have a good one!Chris

>After>hearing who was going to be there, she really wanted to>attendTell her not to worry, Chris, I'll be there next year too. :DMarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cx.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/avsimlogo.jpg[/a]

I just read a very nice write-up of your WWII weekend in In Flight magazine. It was very appreciative of the re-enactors that attended and had nothing bad to say about the show. I think it's time for me to plan a trip out there. Also, dare I ask for an (guess) estimate when the TBM Avenger might release? Not that I want to bug you about it, or anything.