I bought the Volume 2 (sic) not version2 of E-Jets Embraer 175/195 this week. This is a neat little regional jet without an identity. Embraer dropped the Regional as in ERJs from their ID about 10 years ago, now they are just E-Jets. They look kinda like a baby Airbus in the way a cheerio looks like a doughnut. Major difference in size but, not so much in speed or complexity. They both are fly by wire, but looks like FeelThere's approach must have been different than Aerosofts on the FBW model and CDU. The E-Jets CDU appears to be capable of just about anything ask of it. Now, that is a whole new game in knowing just how to ask or tell or request or query it. Totally foreign concept if you grew up in the Boeing camp.The twin jets come with a 100+ page pdf manual that could be condensed to about half that if you took out the reference materials like the Vspeeds, abbreviations, tutorial flight, map!, Call!, etc. The manual is riddled with typos and just plain errors, but, a seasoned simmer can usually recognize the glaring errors and just have to wonder about the others. I started in the middle on page 62 with a 45 minute introductory flight. After about an hour of inputting the CPU and following along with the do this, then that, then look here kinda instructions (which I acutally prefer on on new, complicated flight decks) I was ready to taxi.The flight deck is a mix of really great looking stuff and some FS9 looking stuff. My big disappointment was the multitude of buttons on the Guidance Panel (GP) have lights but they do not light up when you press them. Duh! The manual says in several places "this is not a bug, it was intended this way". You gotta be kidding me. Seems most of the operators opt out of that feature. Now, we can press buttons and look someplace else for the action "just like real Embraer pilots do". Yea, right.The takeoff was real smooth, climb as expected, then I made a 90 to the left, turned on the AP, HDG, and VNAV and while I was trying to figure out if I had indeed pressed the button or not (no lights, remember) I managed to get off course enough that the FMS/CDU thought I was probably a terriorist that had stolen the plane and refused to do anything I thought was necessary for flight. I hit the famous P key and took my screenshot and compiled my email to the support forum. The new split the sheets with Wilco feelThere support forum is just like the old Wilco no forum support. No support, just a reply to "read the manual". The one with all those typos and errors. But, I did. I marked it up and with red ink and read it again. Back in the air about 10 minutes faster this time and locked on my path with Magenta colored stuff. In the Embraer, the only color better than green is magenta. Magenta means the FMS know what the pilot wants and is hard at work making it happen. Cyan means the pilot is responsible for those items. I forgot what white means but I think it is something like Armed for green or magenta. Anyway, it appears to be pretty solid southern hemisphere logic.The 45 minute tutorial has about a jillion changes and updates in a extremely short period of time. Somewhere between Dulles and Raleigh-Durham I missed something because I came down from FL220 right on the money and made all my mandatory waypoints - except I missed the airport and the ILS never came to life. Third time I do it all correctly and looked great. The intro flight has you making a manual landing but the system is fully capable of Cat1 full autoland. I think, might be a typo.After completing the intro flight, which is a nice, 45 minute regional flight between KIAD and KRDU (I told you earlier the cities) with about an hour pre-flight and startup time, I started looking for some decent repaints. This is the weakest part of the Volume2 pack. I'm not totally sure, but, I think McPhat Studios did the repaints to get their foot in the door to market their very nice high end HD textures for the Emb E175/195. For about the price of the package you can get upgraded repaints in a Combi pack from McPhat that cover 25 or 30 liveries. It a good thing too, because the choice and quality of the supplied liveries would make a FS2002 customer mad. You only get 4 for each model and they have exotic names like Rollout, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Trip, Azul, Windrose, Royal Jordanian Airlines (not a typo) you get one for the 175 and an identical one for the 195 (stretch model), and another Rollout for the 195, just like the 175. Excitement galore. The Intro flight uses the Rollout E-175 model. Check out the outstanding quality in the screenshot at the bottom of this post.I found a couple of nice looking repaints over at FlightSim for FS9 Embraer 170 models so I did a cut and paste and stretch to fit adaptation and came up with a decent looking US Air paint scheme. I posted the screenshot on the feelThere forum and Wham, Bam, all of a sudden It's like I just put a baby ruth in the punch bowl. I get a pm from the feelThere Professional telling me I'm in violation of all rules known to mankind and He is going to delete this that and the other. He never gave me a chance to tell him I was in contact with the orignal author and we were going to release the repaint for the 175 as a dual deal. I think the idea is to supply these "exotic" paints and if you would like something kinda nice or something you ever heard of before, you should spend you money at the McPhat Studios credit card department. Short story, I deleted all my posts at the site, including my long one with the errors in the manual (just in the Intro Flight pages) and said goodbye. Nothing gained, nothing lost.I do think the new feelThere forum will acheive Wilco status in no time at all. Think slap in face with cold fish. That is how I felt.But, the good news is they ain't the only forum in town. I figure if I can't figure it out after reading the manual I can post on one of the other sites and get direct help from the embraer simmers. There are so many versions, mostly FS9, of Canadian Geese, not geese, jets, regional jets, Legacy ERJs, regional Legacy ERJ jets, ERJs, ERJs ver2, etc. that surely there is something in common with this latest Volume2. I think I read at Wiki that all these miniture Airbus' have about 90% commonality in the flight deck.So, bottom line is this is a neat little regional jet with its own brand of CDU (unlike any other) that will or should do most anything you ask of it. The plane flys very smooth, manual and automatic. Flight deck looks good except for the dumb decision not to include little green lights for GP buttons. who cares what the real E-Jets pilots have to put up with. They are just working their way up to a real pilots job at Delta anyway. I honestly think we should think like we are own our own when it comes to support, that way we won't be disappointed.I posted over at Orbx that I had spend the last couple of days trying to work my way thru the tutorial flight when I got an email from CaptSim telling me about yet another price cut for the 707 and that the next project would be a 737-100, 200. I'm taking bets on which will be out the door first, the CaptainSim 737-100 or the PMDG 737NGx.Pride and joy of feelThere. Ray

:(

LOL. Enjoyed the read. In this hobby (or game) (or whatever), it's RTM or else for the most part when dealing directly (or indirectly) with the developers. They don't cotton to people having issues with their products unless it's a real defect and causes your computer to go CTD. Even having a forum to discuss likes and dislikes about the product is nothing they want to put up with. I have to mostly agree with that concept. It's easy for someone like me not knowledgeable about flight, physics, gauges, engines, etc., to have questions and maybe not fully understand what's in the manual. But I know, for the most part, that if I try to question a programmer/developers expertise, I'm asking for trouble unless it's a valid issue with the aircraft/product AND it has never been discussed before. I sometimes marvel at the PMDG team (for instance) that take on discussions after discussions about their aircraft with people voicing their likes and dislikes. Day after day. There are many fellow simmers, like you and me, who might know the answer and will respond instead of the developer. That's okay with me! There are many other developers who have forums too but usually don't respond when the answer is in the manual or it has already been discussed (sometimes several times) in the forum. When I buy an aircraft and have an issue, I definitely read the manual concerning THAT issue as reading the manual, front to back is usually a totally waste of time. For instance, I may have a problem programming the FMS so I read up on the FMS. If I don't find a solution, then I'll start checking out the developers forum or look for similar issues discussed here at AVSIM. If I don't find an answer to my problem, I'll just put the product away until a solution is discovered by the developer OR another expert (like maybe you!). I'm a patient man... But, comments like yours may help the developer's team in making the product better and less complicated in the future and that's why I appreciate your comments/frustrations put forth in your post. Perhaps they will eventually put out a SP to fix most of the items you discussed, especially the "typos and just plain errors" in the manual. I own the ERJ and got it when it first came out. I flew it 2 or 3 times, tried the tutorial, didn't care for it, and it's still sitting in my hangar. For me, it's a bit more complicated than flying a 737, 767 or 757. I will try to fly it again sometime in the near future though as I really do like the aircraft and panel. But, right now I have a million other things to do, like golf and fix up my new home. Thanks again for the enjoyable post!Best regards,Jim

You know Scoob, if you didn't spend so much time trying to cover all the shortcoming and being rude to people, you might realize this is a very positive review of your flagship product this month. I like the plane a lot, I said so, and I think an advanced simmer can really enjoy flying it. The screenshots should be good for your marketing, except for the paint strip up front that don't match up and the dumb decision not to put the little green lights in the GP.Ray

LOL. Enjoyed the read. In this hobby (or game) (or whatever), it's RTM or else for the most part when dealing directly (or indirectly) with the developers. They don't cotton to people having issues with their products unless it's a real defect and causes your computer to go CTD. Even having a forum to discuss likes and dislikes about the product is nothing they want to put up with. I have to mostly agree with that concept. It's easy for someone like me not knowledgeable about flight, physics, gauges, engines, etc., to have questions and maybe not fully understand what's in the manual. But I know, for the most part, that if I try to question a programmer/developers expertise, I'm asking for trouble unless it's a valid issue with the aircraft/product AND it has never been discussed before. I sometimes marvel at the PMDG team (for instance) that take on discussions after discussions about their aircraft with people voicing their likes and dislikes. Day after day. There are many fellow simmers, like you and me, who might know the answer and will respond instead of the developer. That's okay with me! There are many other developers who have forums too but usually don't respond when the answer is in the manual or it has already been discussed (sometimes several times) in the forum. When I buy an aircraft and have an issue, I definitely read the manual concerning THAT issue as reading the manual, front to back is usually a totally waste of time. For instance, I may have a problem programming the FMS so I read up on the FMS. If I don't find a solution, then I'll start checking out the developers forum or look for similar issues discussed here at AVSIM. If I don't find an answer to my problem, I'll just put the product away until a solution is discovered by the developer OR another expert (like maybe you!). I'm a patient man... But, comments like yours may help the developer's team in making the product better and less complicated in the future and that's why I appreciate your comments/frustrations put forth in your post. Perhaps they will eventually put out a SP to fix most of the items you discussed, especially the "typos and just plain errors" in the manual. I own the ERJ and got it when it first came out. I flew it 2 or 3 times, tried the tutorial, didn't care for it, and it's still sitting in my hangar. For me, it's a bit more complicated than flying a 737, 767 or 757. I will try to fly it again sometime in the near future though as I really do like the aircraft and panel. But, right now I have a million other things to do, like golf and fix up my new home. Thanks again for the enjoyable post!Best regards,Jim

Thanks Jim for all the positive remarks, That was my intention in writing the post, mostly enjoyment, a little insight. Glad you are enjoying golf, that is where I was when I got the email from Scoob and he was .....on one leg and kicking it off with the other about the possible free nice repaints. Oh my.BTW, I hope you break out your ERJ package and fly it some more. You are right, this is a lot more work intensive than anything starting with a 7. You have to compute the Vspeeds from tables and add them to the CDU. Welcome to 2010. Get up to speed when you can, I will have one more reliable source for support.RayM

Here in South America, we like the magenta color:I don´t know why!!!!! But, serious, i don´t agree with all you said raymar, but you have a point in your arguments. The Ft E-jet is a very nice addon. There IS some issues with it and the customers do report back them in the foruns. The way they are treated is that i think can be better worked out. Thanks for your post! And please, people, the first part of my post is only a joke! Don´t take it serious!!!

Here in South America, we like the magenta color:I don´t know why!!!!! But, serious, i don´t agree with all you said raymar, but you have a point in your arguments. The Ft E-jet is a very nice addon. There IS some issues with it and the customers do report back them in the foruns. The way they are treated is that i think can be better worked out. Thanks for your post! And please, people, the first part of my post is only a joke! Don´t take it serious!!!

Hey, FlavioSSA, like I said I think Magenta is what you are looking for. This picture just has too much of it. Ha. I agree, the fT E-Jet is a very nice addon and I plan to enjoy learning to fly it while I wait for the PMDG 737NGx to get finished. Heck, by that time I may be too old to fly it. Thanks for the post. A vida é grande, vamos ter algum divertimento.Ray

I think the aircraft is great. My one and only gripe is lack of free airline paints. I wish they would release the paint kit for it.

They have, sorta. You can download a paintkit. Big legal disclaimer attached. I forgot where I found it, but, it is out there. Start at the feelThere.com site. Probably at the forum site you will find a link for the paintkit.Ray EDITI went looking for the link for the paintkit and it must be at the forum site. I have been temporarily Suspended for 10 years or so. I guess Scoob didn't like the review. So childish.

LOL. Enjoyed the read. In this hobby (or game) (or whatever), it's RTM or else for the most part when dealing directly (or indirectly) with the developers. They don't cotton to people having issues with their products unless it's a real defect and causes your computer to go CTD. Even having a forum to discuss likes and dislikes about the product is nothing they want to put up with. I have to mostly agree with that concept. It's easy for someone like me not knowledgeable about flight, physics, gauges, engines, etc., to have questions and maybe not fully understand what's in the manual. But I know, for the most part, that if I try to question a programmer/developers expertise, I'm asking for trouble unless it's a valid issue with the aircraft/product AND it has never been discussed before. I sometimes marvel at the PMDG team (for instance) that take on discussions after discussions about their aircraft with people voicing their likes and dislikes. Day after day. There are many fellow simmers, like you and me, who might know the answer and will respond instead of the developer. That's okay with me! There are many other developers who have forums too but usually don't respond when the answer is in the manual or it has already been discussed (sometimes several times) in the forum. When I buy an aircraft and have an issue, I definitely read the manual concerning THAT issue as reading the manual, front to back is usually a totally waste of time. For instance, I may have a problem programming the FMS so I read up on the FMS. If I don't find a solution, then I'll start checking out the developers forum or look for similar issues discussed here at AVSIM. If I don't find an answer to my problem, I'll just put the product away until a solution is discovered by the developer OR another expert (like maybe you!). I'm a patient man... But, comments like yours may help the developer's team in making the product better and less complicated in the future and that's why I appreciate your comments/frustrations put forth in your post. Perhaps they will eventually put out a SP to fix most of the items you discussed, especially the "typos and just plain errors" in the manual. I own the ERJ and got it when it first came out. I flew it 2 or 3 times, tried the tutorial, didn't care for it, and it's still sitting in my hangar. For me, it's a bit more complicated than flying a 737, 767 or 757. I will try to fly it again sometime in the near future though as I really do like the aircraft and panel. But, right now I have a million other things to do, like golf and fix up my new home. Thanks again for the enjoyable post!Best regards,Jim

Paragraphs.

I think the aircraft is great. My one and only gripe is lack of free airline paints. I wish they would release the paint kit for it.

Looks like it is an unofficial paintkit from an individual. Try here.www.mk-studios.com.pl

They have, sorta. You can download a paintkit. Big legal disclaimer attached. I forgot where I found it, but, it is out there. Start at the feelThere.com site. Probably at the forum site you will find a link for the paintkit.Ray EDITI went looking for the link for the paintkit and it must be at the forum site. I have been temporarily Suspended for 10 years or so. I guess Scoob didn't like the review. So childish.

Your review was cool to read. I don't own the aircraft as have too many other things to learn/play with.The pic above made me laugh my coffee out of my mouth and just missed my keyboard! Banned until 2020? #####?

Fun review. It's also a bit surprising that they banned you for it. Either you've done something more on their forums that you're not telling us, or they're vendictive little children with no sense of PR or customer relations whatsoever.

Scoob removed his rant I see, shame about your treatment as a customer, doesn't inspire one with much confidence does it? banned until 2020? :(

... I honestly think we should think like we are own our own when it comes to support, that way we won't be disappointed..

@ RayGood post. Poor support is not so uncommon among addon developers nowadays.It's actually easier to count those that offer decent support rather than the other way round.What is surprising is that they claim they offer good support even if it is as clear as day their support is no good.You don't need to go far away to find blatant examples of bs support.Overhyped addon developers are the first ones in line. Go to their forums and say support is bad and you will in no time get flamed by the a really excited user and 24/7 praise singers who will tell you how wrong you are and to prove that support blows.If you don't sign your post you have the forum parrot that tells you that you have to sign with your full name as per forum rules.Yes the little people with the brown nose are way busy.If you are lucky enough you will also get a rep from the company that will come to the rescue and tell you that support is good but you need to check your spambox, maybe your isp provider is blocking them or other fairy tales that they make up on the spot.Live and learn.Vic