Out of curiosity, why do these reviews take so long to appear after submission? Not malice - it's a straight question. Is it 'cos the editors have to check the checkers so to speak?

Given Al's experience, I doubt a significant editing or fact-checking is behind the Ariane review's delay. It could be a hang up on one thing someone's waiting for a clarification on, or it could be nothing more than the review editor's sense of when the right time for a particular review has come. Who knows? Maybe they're just building up the suspense :-)

AVSIM reviews are very meticulously scheduled, with deadline dates when they are due in and all that kind of stuff (there is a web section which tracks all that kind of thing for the reviewers). When I chose to do the Ariane review, it was completely off the cuff based on the popularity of a thread about it at the time (I was just as curious as everyone else about the thing). So when the AVSIM Reviews Editor said 'go for it' I presume he had some slot for it in mind, but because of it not being a regular review from the list, it would, of necessity, have to be shoehorned into the schedule. It's not too unusual for reviewers to cover something they have rather than a new product, but needless to say it can throw a spanner in the works as far as scheduling goes.Anyone who has ever done any editorial work will tell you that it is a constant battle to keep a fresh supply of stuff for the mill, and so there may indeed be a huge stack of reviews ready to rock, but an editor has to judge carefully when to release stuff lest he or she be left with not much in the pipeline. That may not be the case at the moment, but it gives you an idea that there is more to scheduling AVSIM content than simply firing stuff off the moment it is ready to go.Robert Whitwell (the AVSIM reviews editor) is probably privy to more information than most people when it comes to knowing about new FS products (all the main FS devs know him), and so I presume there is some method to the scheduling and timing based on what he knows. For example, one would probably not want six airliner reviews in a row, so if there are six airliner add-ons for FS coming out, that would be a reason (in fact there have been quite a few just recently, the Sky Sims DC-9 and the CS 767 being two I can think of straight away).It will show up, but I really can't say when that will be because I simply do not know. There will be some legitimate method behind the timing - it certainly won't be for any dubious reasons - because we are always encouraged to be honest and forthright when looking at stuff. Nevertheless, given the subject material and certain history, I imagine it will be carefully checked by Robert, and he would be right to do that.The sounds on my 900ER are pretty good Scott, but of course that is a matter of opinion in many respects. I do recall that some people were having issues with them kicking in properly which required a tweak of some kind to be done (I just remember seeing something about it on the Ariane forum, but mine are okay so I couldn't really tell you the details of what problems some were having as there wasn't really any need for me to look into it since I had no issue. But if you look on the Ariane forum I guess you will find the relevant thread.)Al

Wait for the PMDG version, This product is way overpriced for what you get. Some of us old timers will never forget......... http://www.avsim.com/pages/0902/pt_again.html

Some of us old timers will never forget.........

Well, life goes on, and price is relative. As for the quote: yeah, eventually you will forget, because that's what old-timers eventually do, and some old timers see the waiting game as a young man's sport ;-)

Wait for the PMDG version, This product is way overpriced for what you get. Some of us old timers will never forget......... http://www.avsim.com/pages/0902/pt_again.html

If that's your stance then fair enough. Personally I prefer to concentrate on the relative merits of the FSX product at hand, as opposed to continuing to constantly rehash something which - infamous though it may be - took place at a time when FS7 was the current version of Flight Simulator. Yes, it really was that long ago.I'm certainly not denying that those events took place - I can well remember them - but to keep trawling up something that took place what is now over seven years ago, rather than attempting to move on, is not something I think is particularly helpful, nor very healthy for flight simming at large, or even personally for that matter. Ariane Design can indeed be a bit weird and insular, and I think they could certainly do more to improve their relations. Nor am I a fan of everything they do in terms of policy, but when they are not given the chance to come in from the cold, by virtue of 'never forget' attitudes, then I have at least some empathy for them choosing to stay out there, in spite of past events.It's true there is a 737 NG on the way from PMDG, and I will almost certainly be coughing up for it, as I pretty much do with all FS 737s (and most other airliner add-ons to be honest). But we don't know when that will arrive (estimates currently range from 'about 6 months' to 'maybe as long as 2012'), nor do we know how good it will be, or how even much it will cost. Which means if we want an NG for FSX now, there are three choices; the Ariane version, the POSKY version, or some serious messing around with the default FSX 737.It is probably safe to assume the PMDG V2 737 NG (aka NGX) will be good, almost certainly it will be excellent, but let's not forget that when the original PMDG 737 NG came out, there were many who could not run it satisfactorily on the machines they had. It seems hard to imagine that was the case nowadays, but another thing old timers will remember, is that this was indeed so. You may also remember that PMDG were not immune from getting some flak themselves with regard to product activation and support at that time; but of course these days they are very good in that respect, proving that people can change. Thus it is not a given that the forthcoming PMDG NG will run on rails on a currently adequate computer, it may well do and frankly, I suspect it will given the commendable FPS improvements PMDG have demonstrated with the MD-11 over the QOS747, but we simply do not know for sure, and to assume otherwise is to, well, assume.With all that in mind, what we do not have to assume or speculate on, is that the Ariane NG is available now, it does run well, but on the downside it is fairly pricey and doesn't have every system modeled. But for those who want one now and who are prepared to take the good and the bad points of it on balance, then the price we pay is the price we pay, unless of course we want the POSKY version instead and some fun with 2D panels, or that default 737 (which is not as bad as some would claim actually).Nobody who has expressed a liking for the Ariane 737 has denied it is not perfect, nor have they glossed over the price; as it happens I agree with you that it is a bit over the odds price-wise, but not by so very much in today's terms, and ultimately it's a personal choice whether one chooses to pay that price if a 737 NG is what you want.As far as ancient history goes, there are some things we should of course never forget, but there comes a time when we have to let some stuff of the past remain there and allow people the opportunity to change. Imagine if you refused to get into a Volkswagen because it was originally the ###### 'people's car', or refused to drive a Mitsubishi because they made the planes that bombed Pearl Harbor? VWs and Mitsubishis are very usable products now; they are not as good as a Mercedes (as a really bad dude would doubtless confirm) but you don't have to swear allegiance to the Emperor or be a party member to appreciate that these days.Al

The livery package I got is kind of cute. It isn't just skins, it's true. I get to enjoy the revolting upholstery Qantas chose for their buy (I had no idea my wife had ever even been to Australia), there are little Qantas decals on the galley parts, etc. Outside, it is a nice paint, somewhat distressed. Not the best I've ever seen, but by far from the worst. What's nice about the package is I can now fly a realistic livery anywhere in the world, pretty much. Someone can come along and correct me, but I'd be surprised if these are McPhat paints in this particular set. I know they do the regional packs.I figured out what the thing to my right is (HGS controls). I was impressed that when it imported a FSX route, it wasn't just a string of waypoints, but the routing actually figured out the airways -- at least that's what it looked like, although I didn't track down a chart and double-check. I am impressed with the navdata. Apparently Navigraph is hemming and hawing about providing support. Just do it, Nav-guys.Qantas 796 from Melbourne to Alice Springs got aborted, unfortunately, because the whole purpose of the exercise (besides getting better acquainted with my 737, which I am liking more all the time) was to check out FS Altitude's Australia, and I don't think I was getting it to load up. Plus I had typically low REXibility, which was a mistake for my purposes.The flight attendant calls work fine, but I don't think mine came with an 8-track. No combination of button-pushing (I'm of the chimpanzees-pounding-the-typewriters-producing-the-works-of-Shakesepeare school of add-on study) will get music to play. I was also overspeed on climb and I wonder if that was a REX issue or because I had failed to dial in a significant headwind.

Oh, and PMDG is a great company. I have owned several of their products and currently own the MD-11 (and actually fly it some, but not recently). But every time someone says "only PMDG is worthy" God kills a kitten. This is a hobby. It is for relaxation and fun :-)Now put your popcorn away and go read Al's review.

Well said Tim, although if I can just correct you, actually God kills a kitten and it makes the Baby ******* cry.I am personally of the opinion that PMDG's Boeing 747-400 is the best add-on aeroplane that has ever been made for FS, but it does sometimes grate with me when people espouse that only PMDG's products are fully worthy of flawless merit. They are indeed excellent products, and as a company PMDG really push the envelope too, but they are not the only ones worthy of our admiration and their approach to simulation is not the only legitimate one.There is nothing wrong with liking or even loving a particular add-on, but when people get unnecessarily partisan about things, I sometimes think they ought to take a step back and remember that we are all here because we like flying pretend aeroplanes, and what floats one person's boat might sink someone else's, but that doesn't mean either person is necessarily right or wrong.Al

[two days later] Great review, Al!LOLSeriously, I enjoyed it. You certainly set the review bar high.Now maybe some other "closet Ariane-fliers" will poke their heads over the parapet and contribute to the discussion here. Oh, and I did finally get registered at their website, so now I can post. My first will probably be something like, "Hi, I'm the guy over at **** who had such a rollicking time making fun of your website! How's it going?" Well, at least I can't be accused of being an Ariane a really excited user when I say nice things about this airplane. I wasn't too cheap to buy some liveries, too. Since Illinois is not paying state employees (first missed paycheck today) and is apparently going to put a "Going Out of Business" sign over Chicago, I might wish I had that money for food now. At least I can spend some time in a flying kangaroo until the electric company shuts off the lights.Once you've mopped up after your review tell me how to make my music play :-)

Excellent review, Al! You've confirmed some of the points that are stopping me from buying it. If they can get the VNAV path to work correctly I'll seriously consider buying this thing. It is my major complaint about the CS 757 too. I just can't leave my PMDG and Level-D planes for others with VNAV that doesn't work equally well. For nearly a hundred dollars, there's no way I will settle for anything less.You mentioned that only 9000 airports were covered. Will that change when navigraph starts releasing updates for ariane? Also, will I need to pay for this new FMC manager to apply the navigraph updates (which I assume we will have to pay for too)? On that note, will Ariane provide the first navigraph update for free to all users? Using "free" and "Ariane" in the same sentence seems unrealistic LOL.Thanks for any answers you can provide and thanks for the great review!

Well, if you are poor, then consider it a way to make being a simulated airline pilot more realistic.With regard to the music, check to see if you have this file:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\ARIANE\SOUND\Flytunes_1It is an SFK file (whatever one of those is). If that is present, then on the galley control panel, switch it on with the switch on the extreme right, select 1 and hit the zero key on the keypad control. You should hear it play. alternatively, you can use the method I used to figure that out, which was to wildly click on stuff whilst swearing until it worked (note that swearing also makes the Baby ******* cry).EDIT: As far as I am aware, Navigraph is coming free (don't quote me on that, but I think that is the case), the patch is also free (when it arrives that is, don't hold your breath waiting though, but keep in mind that pressure from PMDG is geeing them up), the NDM is unlikely to be free as it will apparently need a bit of an FMC rewrite. They have something else in the pipeline too by the way, but I was told about it in confidence, so I can't say what it is (that definitely won't be free).Al

Here's my girl heading to The Alice.

I will check on the Ariane forums for the sound fix. In terms of the PMDG aircraft being better, I can't say for sure. The MD-11 is a really really nice to fly. As I spend more time with the 900ER I will have a more informed opinion. Right now, I am in the learning stages.

I'm certainly not denying that those events took place - I can well remember them - but to keep trawling up something that took place what is now over seven years ago, rather than attempting to move on, is not something I think is particularly helpful, nor very healthy for flight simming at large, or even Al

For me it was less than two years ago or so. ~$170AU for around 20 minutes of flying. I pay $180 per hour in real life! (not a 737 obviously :-)) Anyway it was a good review and I do agree that the guy who provides support on the support forum was fantastic, unfortunately the person responding to the email address I was told to contact was decidedly less helpful and there is no way known I will pay for a second activation. Maybe if others give this bird a go when it is finished and tell us they continue to have a positive experience with the aircraft and any activation processes it might change some of our minds. Either way, I suspect there are a few of us that are going let let others be the guinea pig until there is a decent amount of evidence that things have improved as once trust has been destroyed it takes evidence, not simply time to regain it. Steven.

I have the file, but all I get with that bottom key on the keypad is a cabin crew take seats for takeoff announcement. I guess the big knob labeled "MUSIC" doesn't figure in? Or the start / stop buttons? I want my money back!!! lol Oh well... wouldn't be the first time I've had sound issues with something.