Thank you for bringing this software up.I like the fact that it calculates fuel loading and files a suitable flight plan for you.What about passenger and baggage loading too? I currently use TopCat for all these parameters (except the flight plan of course).I wonder if is it possible to use all these features but specify your own start and destination?As I mostly fly VA this is a deal breaker.By the way I'm not too keen on not being able to try all the software features out fully before handing over the cash.Limiting the demo to 10 flights is surely sufficient without disabling important features upon which people are going to be judging the software!Thanks

Hi,I am on the fence with this one. I read this thread concerning weather, radar contact, fs limiter and it concerns me that many of your questions do not seem to be addressed on the dev site. Their FAQ do not contain these questions and many more that I am sure will come up in the future. For me anyway there does not seem to be any mention of limitations or mention of using other products with Ideal flight. I think the program is great but I worry about support now and in the future. Basically I think that there needs to at least be a forum on their site which would help and also it would provide a little confidence for the community that someone is there. I recently bought a fairly expensive addon, I wont mention the product now because I am giving the dev ample time to respond, but without a fair level of support I am really hesitant to invest.RegardsBob

Bob,I understand your concerns. This software is pre-release now, and very close to release. I can assure you that I saw updates to the program every two days since I decided to pay for it, and these updates not only ironed out bugs, but added new or expanded features to Ideal Flight (amongst those some I proposed).Now, to some of the questions asked here:Yes, it is possible to specify your own departure and destination. Or just your departure or just your destination. You can also specify NO destination and do just a fun trip.I just finished a flight with ASE and RC from Vienna to Athens in Ideal Flight. Absolutely no problem - I have the IF weather turned off and use real weather data. Flight plans can imported into RC with ease, they are fully comaptible.Passenger and baggage loading is done by IF, too, but so far you cannot influence how much you load. IF gave me 67 passengers and baggage on the flight to Athens.Regrading the limitations of the demo: It's correct that you do not see everything the program is able to do - but this shouldn't turn you off, in my opinion.For me, the most important feature is that the program remembers where I parked my aircraft and lets me choose to fly them later. Most of the time, I pick one from an airport I landed at (I started at a single airport and "conquered" additional airports afterwards *g*), tell IF where I would like to go to (or let IF choose an airport for me), and then just start FSX. I am placed at the right gate, at the correct time, with the appropriate flight plan loaded. I always start my planes cold and dark, and have a lot of fun flying them to their destination.I think that the program will be officially released within the next two weeks, and it will be available through Simmarket and maybe other online stores as well...

Hi,It sounds like you are really enjoying it! I thought it had gone gold as you can purchase from the developer. Even this early in development, and I am not here to provide advice, but it really would have got more attention and media if some of the upfront questions were answered on the site. With the wealth of addons, most avid FSX users are going to ask questions. Whether it be the heavy flyers or the bush pilot, most have one thing in common and that is addons and they want to continue to use them, and the questions will fly (no pun intended). I use ASE also, and RC (just learning this one though), but it seems like the developer talks alot about the IF weather generator. What is unique about their weather generator and what would you lose out on by using a 3rd pary Generator. I certainly know what you gain by using ASE, I was just curious about the biggest benefit of using IF weather. I too like the idea of the autosave features as you can just continue on from there if you like. Bob

Bob,I understand your concerns. This software is pre-release now, and very close to release. I can assure you that I saw updates to the program every two days since I decided to pay for it, and these updates not only ironed out bugs, but added new or expanded features to Ideal Flight (amongst those some I proposed).Now, to some of the questions asked here:Yes, it is possible to specify your own departure and destination. Or just your departure or just your destination. You can also specify NO destination and do just a fun trip.I just finished a flight with ASE and RC from Vienna to Athens in Ideal Flight. Absolutely no problem - I have the IF weather turned off and use real weather data. Flight plans can imported into RC with ease, they are fully comaptible.Passenger and baggage loading is done by IF, too, but so far you cannot influence how much you load. IF gave me 67 passengers and baggage on the flight to Athens.Regrading the limitations of the demo: It's correct that you do not see everything the program is able to do - but this shouldn't turn you off, in my opinion.For me, the most important feature is that the program remembers where I parked my aircraft and lets me choose to fly them later. Most of the time, I pick one from an airport I landed at (I started at a single airport and "conquered" additional airports afterwards *g*), tell IF where I would like to go to (or let IF choose an airport for me), and then just start FSX. I am placed at the right gate, at the correct time, with the appropriate flight plan loaded. I always start my planes cold and dark, and have a lot of fun flying them to their destination.I think that the program will be officially released within the next two weeks, and it will be available through Simmarket and maybe other online stores as well...

Actually, I have NO idea what the benefeits if IF weather are - I simply don't use it. What I can tell from the author's website is that it will be credible and consistent weather all over your flight - so it should be better than FSX weather, I suppose.It might be that it is especially useful with another feature of IF: you can "skip" time on longer flights. Let's say you go transatlantic, once you have reached cruise level, you can "turn the clock forward" for - for example - five hours in the IF menu in FSX, and your plane will advance five hours on the flight plan, as will the time and the weather for the route. It's not acceleration, but a jump forward with recalculated position and circumstances.

Thanks for the update, I've been using it on and off and it really does show promise. I'll probably get it once realeased.

Hey,Yes I saw the time forward feature. I don't know where some of these guys get the time to fly a flight for more than 3 hours, but I guess some do. I really enjoy the bush stuff but also learning IFR (What a challenge). RegardsBob

Actually, I have NO idea what the benefeits if IF weather are - I simply don't use it. What I can tell from the author's website is that it will be credible and consistent weather all over your flight - so it should be better than FSX weather, I suppose.It might be that it is especially useful with another feature of IF: you can "skip" time on longer flights. Let's say you go transatlantic, once you have reached cruise level, you can "turn the clock forward" for - for example - five hours in the IF menu in FSX, and your plane will advance five hours on the flight plan, as will the time and the weather for the route. It's not acceleration, but a jump forward with recalculated position and circumstances.

I'm not sure what sure what this statement means. "Note: This is the Release Candidate and will expire in Feb. 2011. "Also, I did not see any mention of intalling IF on a client and running via FSwide. I assume you cannot? Thanks.Bob.. :)

I like the idea, although it seems most boxes I have clicked on are disabled in the demo version so it is hard to see if it is worth getting or not..... G

Hi Where did it go wrong, i selected one of the flights in the demo (EGFF - LIMC) from my home airport in the uk but upon near arrival the plan i was allocated, decened me straight ino the alps. I might try and refly the route using FSX atc as i used radar contact, what diffirence it will make i dont know as i assume all the altidudes built into the plan will be the same no matter what atc i use. Has any one else experienced anything simular. Cheers Shaun

Hi,It is really difficult to get a feel as so many of the options are disabled in the demo. It has some nice features but there are many questions at this time, but the docs and website really have not divulged much information. I had mentioned in an earlier email that the devs/company did not anticipate, or decide not to offer up any documentation that would be helpful to the average user. Terrain avoidance is not somthing FSX does well anyway at least when routes or headings are issued by ATC. I will wait to see where this goes and would like to see a timed demo rather than block xx% of the features.Bob

Hi Where did it go wrong, i selected one of the flights in the demo (EGFF - LIMC) from my home airport in the uk but upon near arrival the plan i was allocated, decened me straight ino the alps. I might try and refly the route using FSX atc as i used radar contact, what diffirence it will make i dont know as i assume all the altidudes built into the plan will be the same no matter what atc i use. Has any one else experienced anything simular. Cheers Shaun

Hello Gentlemen,Ideal Flight is one of the most complicated mechanisms created for FSX and upgrades FSX in every quarter. You may find it essential to your flight simming in some way or other.Ideal Flight is moving steadily from release candidate to general release. However, software will be ready “when it’s ready, but more than that; IF has incorporated several additional requested features and the design has moved on to accommodate them. None the less, an ETA by the end of February 2011 is very much still on the cards. Therefore the website, forum, pictures, and explanations, will be more accurate and satisfying when the product is ready.You can download and purchase it now because a necessary part of the development is to process your feature requests. The locked version gives you a very good idea of what IF is all about so you don’t have to pay for it first to find out. You can download Ideal Flight, you can introduce yourself via the codelegend.com contact page, and you can talk directly to me about it.Ideal Flight will stay in development until FSX is forgotten.For more information please read of the technical notes on the FSN website: Please also read the help system installed with IF (press F1).http://www.flightsim...technical-notesPassenger and Cargo loads:You set the amount of passengers and cargo by percentage load. If you have 8 seats and want 4 filled, set 50% load.Addons and Ideal Flight:Use IF with any other add-on; for example; Air Hauler is enhanced a great deal with IF. You run Air Hauler, choose your job, generate an IF flight exactly as the job requires; date, time and load. Set the fuel in AH as calculated by IF and launch FSX with Air Hauler. Then run IF’s FSX launcher, now pull down the addon menu and choose Ideal Flight “Restart Flight” menu item. IF then hijacks Air Hauler and you do the flight with IF weather, navs set, fuel loaded, engines started, start on runway, and so on.More on weather:The weather is a global simulation generating realistic weather around the world without the need for aerodrome reports that must be enhanced in some way to look more natural. Instead IF creates natural looking weather in the first place. You can go to an area unpopulated by aerodrome weather stations, and since the weather there is simulated as it is everywhere else, IF placing temporary weather stations will keep the weather seamless. Weather can be kept “interesting” since real world weather can remain uninspiring for weeks on end. Enhanced atmospheric conditions are also simulated from the ground right up to space with all types of winds too. The visibility engine, based on humidity and temperature, is of a finer resolution than any other weather available and produces better looking sky without additional cloud textures.This approach to weather also lends itself to other possibilities; if you want West winds to land with, set winds to blow from the West! If you want 20 knots set 20! The unique thermals and air currents engine works slightly better with the IF weather engine with winds, temperatures, humidity and cumulous effects.Another way to enhance the experience is to angle the wind into your favourite hillside for lift when gliding. When gliding; (or in any aircraft) you look out of the window at the ground for real land types and hot/cold areas providing lift and sink rather than looking for green springs in the sky.When going back to FSX without IF, the aircraft seems dead. With IF seamless air currents the aircraft is kept alive. For example let’s say you are on an approach. Hot air rises over the airport, cool air rushes in to replace the hot air. You feel the aircraft sink in the cool air as you approach the runway. Let’s say you are cruising just above the hill tops, you feel each hill as you pass over them.More on gliding at FSN:http://www.flightsim...th-ideal-flightMore on routes and plans:The routes are 3 dimensional; flight plans know about your aircraft cruise speed and altitude. They are computed with your load and fuel calculation. The fuel calculation is the most accurate available and also takes into account the weather effects on the aircraft (IF weather only). Plus the briefing to go with the plan is comprehensive. See this page at FSN for more details:http://www.flightsim...uel-calculationEnough for now…Best regards; Steve

On terrain avoidance:The descent and approaces are not included in the flight plans, although time is allocated for them. You must study the approach manual for the airports you are flying to.If you choose a VOR to VOR route, the route simply joins the dots and may fly you into a mountain, whereas the Intersections would guide you round them. The minimum altitude shown in the briefing route table may not be perfectly accurate where the terrain is very peaky. Adding 1000ft to the minimum altitude on VOR-VOR routes may be a good idea over high mountains. Regards; Steve

I'm not sure what sure what this statement means. "Note: This is the Release Candidate and will expire in Feb. 2011. "Also, I did not see any mention of intalling IF on a client and running via FSwide. I assume you cannot? Thanks.Bob.. :)

Hi Bob, for the time being, Ideal Flight runs on the same PC as FSX; it enhances FSX and directly interacts with the system as if it were FSX. Think of IF as part of FSX; FSX+IF.The current code out there will cease to function after the end of Feb 2011, just so there are no old versions in circulation. The underlying structure and db's could still change yet, although at this stage; unlikely. A replacement will be available before then which will run for as long as you have an operational copy of FSX.Best regards; Steve

Hi Where did it go wrong, i selected one of the flights in the demo (EGFF - LIMC) from my home airport in the uk but upon near arrival the plan i was allocated, decened me straight ino the alps. I might try and refly the route using FSX atc as i used radar contact, what diffirence it will make i dont know as i assume all the altidudes built into the plan will be the same no matter what atc i use. Has any one else experienced anything simular. Cheers Shaun

Hi Shaun, IF plans adhere to FSX ATC as closely as possible. If the conditions change and you get to your destination with the winds turned, you may need to dial in a different runway, and the last leg of the flight will also be different to that of the calculation in the briefing. The starting runway found by the IF flight generator can also have changed by the time you "get in the aircraft". Best regards; Steve

I just did my first experimentation with it last night, and that was enough for me to purchase a license. It won't be for everybody, but I'm really impressed with the features. Sometimes you just want to get in and go!

Hi Bill, thanks for your kind words about Ideal Flight. I'm sure you know by now that not only does IF get you in the cockpit super quick, but it's got a full gamut of cold and dark features that leave you to get immersed in your aircraft before pushback. Set your preparation time in the flight generator. Best regards; Steve