Hello all,I have received a number of emails, and read a number of forum posts relating to the presence of "gaps" at the rear of the VC in our recent freeware 172 release.I thought I should set the record straight here. Our 172 release is primarily a new flightmodel for the FS2002 default Cessna 172. Rob spent hundreds of hours developing this flightmodel, which I must stress is an all-new flightmodel, it's coding has nothing in common with the default FS2002 flightmodel.But the graphics on the other hand are solely based on the default FS2002 Cessna 172. We have not changed anything in the actual mdl file, we have simply created a custom exterior livery in the Kangan/ Batman TAFE colours, and added a few logos to the VC's panel.The gaps that are visible are present in the default Cessna 172, but they cannot be seen because the eye-level in the default Cessna is set lower than in our flight-model. Rob raised the eye-level simply to give an improved view over the VC panel, which also had the undesirable effect of exposing the gaps in the default C172 VC.If you load up the default FS2002 Cessna 172, pan the view around so you are looking rearwards, and then hold CTRL-ENTER to raise your eye-level, you will now see the same gaps as can be seen when using our C172 flight-model.It is likely that Microsoft created the VC in this way to minimise the number of polygons used in the C172 VC, in order to provide acceptable framerates in older systems with basic specifications.As existing mdl files cannot be modified in any way, the only way we could solve this issue is by creating an all-new 3D exterior model and VC model, which is unfortunately beyond the scope of a freeare project for us.Kind Regards,Sean Moloney,RealAir Simulations.www.realairsimulations.com

Thank you for the freebie your efforts have not gone unnoticed.If the gaps let in too much cool air a quick edit of the eye level in the aircraft.cfg will close them up.

In the immortal words of baseball pitcher Satchel Paige: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you!"Good advice, and especially applicable to flying airplanes as it's usually better to see where you are going rather than where you've been.Thanks for the gift RealAir, it is much appreciated.

Considering that this project by RealAir Sims is designed as a training aid (and a very good one at that). I don't give a jot about the visual model (or even reverse lettering on the port side). The fact that the air file is by Rob Young, a master of his art (Being part of the MAAM B-25 Beta team, I can testify to that) and that this model flies as much like a Cessna 172 as is possible to get, then thats fine with me.Rob and the team, thanks for all your efforts. I don't get much time to fly little Cessna's these days, but flying this one sure takes me back a few years. I've only done a few circuits in it so far but it surely feels right to me.RegardsTimEHAM

D I T T O>Considering that this project by RealAir Sims is designed as >a training aid (and a very good one at that). I don't give a >jot about the visual model (or even reverse lettering on the >port side). The fact that the air file is by Rob Young, a >master of his art (Being part of the MAAM B-25 Beta team, I >can testify to that) and that this model flies as much like >a Cessna 172 as is possible to get, then thats fine with me. >>Rob and the team, thanks for all your efforts. I don't get >much time to fly little Cessna's these days, but flying this >one sure takes me back a few years. I've only done a few >circuits in it so far but it surely feels right to me. >>Regards >Tim >EHAM Dick

Thank you, all of you. I hadn't noticed any "gaps." R-

GAPS?What gaps? ;)http://www.forefrontgrp.com/jayssigsmall.jpg "There is an art . . . to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss!"