Hello Gang!Can someone please guide me in the right direction to the best 3rd party flight planning program available for FS-2004? I am an ex-user of NAV, but unfortunately, they do not have a version compatible with FS9.I've downloaded FSNavigator, but I'm finding it too darn difficult to use. I can't even get started in creating a flight plan.Any help is appreciated.Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

FSNavigator is probably the best.What help do you need with using it? I have used it since FS2K2 and still love it.

Hey Dan!Thanks for your quick reply!Man! I don't know how to build a flight plan. I've gotten the aircraft selection window, the altitude and speed window, but whn it comes time to build the plan, or let FSNav build it for me, I don't even know where to get started.Any help os appreciated!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

The help file within FSnavigator should get you started by clicking on the Index tab and typing 'flightplan' in the box, select it from the list and then selecting 'overview' in the next window. From there, you'll see a section on how to create a flightplan by drag and drop or right clicking over any nav aid and choosing 'to flightplan' in the popup window.Really a fabulous add-on for FS. Hope this helps.

Hmmm, I was going to suggest FSBuild but it's more difficult to use than FSNavigator is.I use both but I love FSNavigator for it's map features.Will

Hi Dennis and gang,Yes FSBuild's learning curve may be higher than other planners, but its function is so rich. One must remember that with ease is some loss of function.FSBuild is full of function. I have used all of these planners and bar none, FSBuild is just richer in function. Ernie Alston will answer almost any question a user has.Once you get used to the program, you find out many little functions that are not quickly ID'ed when you get the program. For example, FSBuild has a function where it uses the real world FAA prefered routes between city pairs. This route when loaded into FSBUild will give the pilot a really direct routing that the average pilot would have never known was available. I flew a route today from KORD to KDEN that I have never used before, but was really much better due to winds etc.I HIGHLY recommend that you try FSBUild v2, very good flight planner.Bob Johnson

Correct, FSBuild 2 is the way to go for IFR planning. For VFR planning a VFR chart of the area in question is all you need (or a roadmap if you don't have a VFR chart).

Have to agree. I've used FSBuild for years now. Integration of real world routes is great. I usually create my IFR plan in FSBuild, export it to FSNav (better map), tweak it with newer DP/STAR info (if needed) and then export it from FSNav to SB or FS9 depending on how I'll fly.FSNav is a good flight planner for drag and drop work, but FSBuild wins the realism contest.MDavis

I have both FSNAV and FSbuild and no longer use FSNAV. I use Reality XP's Garmin 530 for map navigation and FSbuild for flight planning. The export feature allows the creation of one flight plan for everything I own (w/e of the Garmin - hint hint Earnie!). BobP :)

>Hey Dan!>>Thanks for your quick reply!>>Man! I don't know how to build a flight plan. I've gotten>the aircraft selection window, the altitude and speed window,>but whn it comes time to build the plan, or let FSNav build it>for me, I don't even know where to get started.>>Any help os appreciated!I think I know what might be your problem. This is one of those features that is hidden in the default screen display and not documented well in the FSNav documentation.http://www.fsbuild.com/dl/fsnpln.jpg1) Drag the left edge of the screen next to reveal the 'Id' edit box 2) Enter the Dep/Dest Id's. 3) Then drag the Dep/Dest Id's respectively into the waypoint table.4) After the Dep/Dest has been entered into the table, Go to the 'Plan' menu where the 'Calculate Auto Route' menu option should now be revealed.Regards.Ernie.

this may be the first time I've seen anyone supporting a competing product here :)

Dennis,I have recently started simming again after a five year pause using FS98. I found with FS2002 there is MUCH to learn. I find FSNav a great tool. There is a very good tutorial that you can walk through to learn to use FSNav, written by Fred at Air Bohemia. It is in the Avsim files under fsn-t1.zip, but there are seven files to download I believe. It is about thirty pages to print out. It will seem a bit overwelming at first, but take it a sentence at a time and go though it. If you are patient you will learn a great deal in a short amount of time. You may have to spend a full day or two doing it, but it will be worth the time as you will learn much and your enjoyment of the sim will increase a lot.I can't speak for FSBuild as I have not used it, but it sound like it might be worth checking out too. If you haven't used many of your 20 free loads you may wish to give the tutorial a try and then decide.Hope this helps,StudabakerHawk

>Yes FSBuild's learning curve may be higher than other>planners, but its function is so rich. One must remember that>with ease is some loss of function.>I HIGHLY recommend that you try FSBUild v2, very good flight>planner.-----Okay. I have FSNavigator but I would like to try FSBuild v2.There's the rub. Where is it? I looked in AVSIM's library and the best I could come up with was "FSBuild assistant Ver1.0", by Graham Summer. Is this it? (It is clearly ver1.0 though)Thanks for any guidance.Regards,DonaldS

FSBuild comes in two flavors: payware and freeware. You can find both version at www.fsbuild.com. Highly recommend the payware flavor, version 2. I've used FSBuild for quite a while; it is indispensable. Dave Vega

Hello, "FSNavigator is probably the best"Absolutly right, I can't live without it.BestEric