Hi all,I just wanted to put up a quick post, with my thoughts about the Ariane 738 X2.So activation was within the day (10 hours), not bad. Did take two chasers and quoting "Attn Ed" but ultimately, I have little to moan about. I do feel that this manual means of activation is quite poor for customers but I guess there's the whole other side of the debate regarding piracy, etc. In short, I got activated without too much stress and impatience!Sadly, the Ariane 737-800 X2 is not for me........ It has an excellent level of functionality and as a die hard 'complex simmer' that's enjoyed mastering everything from the Coolsky MD-80 to the PMDG 747X, I do appreciate the level of systems coverage that Ariane have put in to the product. I was disappointed with the poor quality of VC texturing - there are some areas of the VC (ie... above the MCP) that don't make FS9 texturing standards in my book. Some switches are an odd shape and highly pixelated. My real issue is again, the lack of the ability to use key commands - I just cannot enjoy flying this aircraft, when having to fiddle around so much to turn the Heading Knob in flight. Ariane need to get at least some commands mapped in. Maybe not the customs ones like LNAV / VNAV (although why not, these can be mapped in PMDGs 737 of 2003?), but at the very least, things like the Heading knob. Custom or default FSX - many developers have shown that functions CAN be mapped to key commands.I also found the sounds HUGELY disappointing, considering how much Ariane have marketed the new sounds. Even though I followed their recommended settings, the sounds were just a wishy washy mess of phasey, airey noises. No nice spool up when hitting TO/GA. Talking about TO/GA, it's an example of one or two areas where I found the plane did not seem to perform correctly. The manual advises using the standard assignment for setting TO/GA. I checked this was assiged ok in Settings/Control, then with the aircraft correctly set up and configures, and the A/T armed, I hit the appropriate key on take-off. My engines did spool up but only to 77% N1, which was not correct for my settings in the FMC. There was also no TO/GA annunciation on the FMA ??......Could not start the engines, even though I had everything set up correctly, with APU running, Bleed Air, Packs Off, etc, etc ..... I had to CTRL-E, then cut the engines, in order to be able to start them properly. Overall, I just felt that this product lacked quality in some key areas for me. It is nowhere near the quality of the likes of the PMDG MD-11 for me.Uninstalled and I would struggle very hard to recommend any flight simmer paying 69.00 pounds for this add-on.I look forward to the PMDG 737NGX, which I know will deliver the quality that I would expect, that the Ariane offering lacked.Thanks,David.

Some good points there David, and you hit the nail on the head with regard to where the Ariane 737 is coming from, it really is geared to mouse clicking in the VC. I personally like that, so for me it is a plus, but clearly it does not ring your bell. That's one of the reasons why the texturing is not over the top in the VC, to keep frame rates up. Not an approach that everyone is going to love, although I personally appreciated it, so another case of horses for courses.It is worth pointing out that the engine start issue is related to loading up a default aircraft first (or saving a file that has the aircraft in that post-default state), to ensure that everything works. I find that if I don't do that, it makes it difficult to crank the engines and the fuel pump warning lights are tricky to address. It's not alone in that behavior by any stretch of the imagination, and whilst it is a pain in the &@($*, it's more a limitation of putting complex aircraft into FSX than a real fault of that in particular, and usually easily resolved.I guess the sounds are a matter of opinion, I think they are good, but 'ear of the beholder' and all that is going to come into play on that score. Your opinions are just as valid as mine David, even though they differ, so if anyone is considering the Ariane 737, I would regard Astradan's experiences and comments as worth taking note of.Ultimately, I was happy to pay that price because it 'does it' for me, but 70 quid is a lot to gamble on whether it will do it for you, and as Astradan notes, that's not guaranteed.Al

David,I agree with what you stated about this product. I too was highly dissapointed. Ariane 738 x2 is a big and total BUST for me! I wasted a lot of money for a product that to me is just, well worthless. This of course is my point of view. I too am waiting for PMDG's version. I don't think I can go wrong with their products since I purchased and fly both the 747 and MD-11.To all who read this and may even consider buying Ariane's products, please read and check all SIM forums for other opinions before purchasing. Who knows, you may like it.

David,Like Al says, the Ariane is designed specifically for flight within the VC cockpit and for those who enjoy that. This does make it not for everyone. Definitely perfect for me, because I don't have any desire to use Qwerty keys or modules to operate my sim. I don't think Ariane works good with either, although I do have my TO/GA button set on my yoke.Check out RealAir's new Beechcraft Duke and Aerosoft CatalinaX...outstanding sims, but only VC. I believe Razbam's A6 Intruder is the same way. VC is the coming thing, so if you like 2d, then hold on to your Level D (although it does have a good VC now too :( )If you have any blurries within the cockpit, check you display settings. My cockpit looks great. Even the idiot list on the yoke and the flap speed placecard are very clear. Even the fuses on the back panels can be read on mine. I am strictly a TrackIR man and Ariane is perfect for that, but I can see how it may not be for everybody. If your engines did not start, it has nothing to do with the sim. I always start my engines by procedures, using the fuel cut-off valves and never, never use Ctrl+E.Check to be sure your "Master Battery" switch (default Microsoft FSX) is not shut off and definitely load the Microsoft 737 before loading any complex sim. That will give FSX a chance to load the basic things it needs to before loading the more complex aircraft. Complex simulations do not use the default FSX Master Battery switch and have no way of controlling it.Also Ariane's TO/GA switch works very good for me and exactly as Bill Bulfer's manual says it should.Push the throttles up to around 70% N1 before pushing TO/GA, but make sure that you push it right around reaching 50kts, but not after. If you have derated thrust set in the FMS, you will see it capture that percentage.Bob