Opening Day at Sun-n'-Fun

[lcseale53]

We had a beautiful opening day here in Lakeland with great weather and many safe arrivals. This is the first time the event has begun mid-week but it seems everyone is game and the turn-out so far is big. All of the regulars (venders, manufacturers, etc.) are here and much color and glitter abounds (oh if I only had a sack-full of money).Microsoft is here with a very large display set-up in a pavillion. They have three (that I saw) Wright Flyer simulators with prone-position operation and the large monitors. I watched a number of folks attempt to fly that thing, and all I've read is true. It rotates and begins a slow climb fairly easily, but the moment you begin a turn you'd better be correcting the other way. If the bank exceeds 10 degrees (or so) it's all over - no recovery. If you try to fly straight ahead the sim will wiggle you just enough to force a correction - boom! No one I watched survived more than a minute, and most only a few seconds. The Wright brothers were exceptional pilots, but also quickly recognized a need to evolve the airplane.Other stations were set up with (I believe) the upcoming FS release. The graphics were stunning (to me anyway) but the PCs were slow so I was unable to tell much about performance. Anyway, just thought I'd share the day.Regards,Leon