I've loved aeroplanes all my life. Through it all, I've loved one more than all others. Ever since that early morning in August of 1981 when mom and I first set foot on a B747 the Fat Girl has stolen my heart. Through the years it's been a continuous love story. I remember chatting with Hardy and Mel on CompuServe and Hardy telling me to buckle my seatbelt and hold on for the ride. That first beta of PS1 was amazing. Mel coached me on the finer points of driving her across the globe. His admonitions that she burns an average of 12T fuel/hour has been inviolate as a rough calculation- even on 12 hour routes. When I was first introduced to the PMDG 747-436 I thought I had reached the pinnacle of home flight simulation. When Mel passed on, I was fortunate enough to inherit his glareshield panel from Shirley. It flies today, in gentle remembrance of a great man. Cleaning the nicotine off the knobs was an act of honor and adoration. I tell you all this to impress upon you that FS9, with all its inherent shortcomings and idiosyncrasies- is what I have clung to. Through FSX and its updates, through other great software releases from PMDG that I've had the fortune to work with- I have stuck to FS9. I've beta tested the MD-11 (in FSX first) and despite being amazed by its systems and automation- returned to fly her in FS9. I've flown the J-41 far above the arctic circle, watching the bright night sky and gone home to roost in the cockpit of G-CIVX in FS9. That may change!Last November, my wife and I sat in BA's lounge at London, Gatwick eating a very English breakfast. While drinking lots of tea, and munching on beans and eggs, wiped up with toast slathered with butter I looked out the window down the row of triple sevens. I was bemoaning the fact that there wasn't a single 744 in sight (BA operates them out of EGLL) and all of a sudden a 737 trundled onto stand. She was a working girl and looked a bit worse for wear. I remember that moment clearly. More clearly now, because I have just spent the last couple of hours looking at the NGX. For the first time in my FS experience I looked at a Boeing 737-800NG. I have seen picture perfect paint jobs, and exacting work from many- but never until now have I felt as though I was looking out an an aeroplane. The difference is that Quixotic, ephemeral feeling that you are not looking at a flat screen with a simulated airframe on a large screen TV, but just that of looking at an aeroplane. The details abound- so much so that they in fact disappear. There is so much to look at- the eye stops checking and the brain starts believing. Despite the PMDG paint job (that I will replace as soon as possible with a proper red, white and blue one ;) ) I couldn't help but stare.Stepping onto the flight deck was surreal. I have stood in the doorway of many a 737 on the way to Vegas (we go out there 3-4 times a year on business) and each time I have marveled at the difference between the LCD displays of a real aeroplane, compared to what I saw at home. This time I rubbed my eyes in disbelief! It was there- that luminescent 3 dimensional glow on the PFD and ND. The only problem was I kept wanting to reach forward with a micro-fiber cloth and clean the screens. They say sounds transport people to exact moments in time- even more so than the eyes- I was moved to the last time I casually lingered in the forward galley area of a 737, fiddling with the trash can- so that my eyes could greedily take in the detail. It was all there- in astounding detail. I remember reading the casting number on the captains window handle and chuckling at foundry work in such a modern environment- I did so again. I remember the sounds and the feeling that it was a compact functional workspace. That too re-occured. I remember scanning the cockpit, taking in the exquisite reality that this time I wasn't simming- scarily that too was there- only this time I was at home. I kept feeling that if this was my aeroplane to captain, I'd have called cabin service to Hoover and dust! Looking around I can tell you that at night, when I dim the lights just so, and fiddle with the right earpiece of my headset, ensuring it is properly behind the ear (without pinching) I shall smile. That will have to wait a bit.I have been working very hard getting ready for this little girl. It has involved leaving G-CIVX at EGFF (after reminding her that she HAD to have her D check and that I would be back for her) and then spending time not flaming the Garretts on the J-41. I had forgotten what a gem this itty bitty aeroplane was. I got IVAO working, got all my controls programmed and only last night logged my first IVAO online flight in FSX. I have to admit I was happy with my experience on the J-41 in FSX. I'm not the sort of guy that looks for the pogo stick- but I am a bit fiddly about performance. In FS9 my holy grail of display performance was on pushback and turns. If she pushes without stutters and can turn right onto the outers at EGLL without any jerkiness- she will be fine in the air. I knew that I would be able to tell exactly how my FSX performance would be as soon as we pushed.The next hour was spent bending forward, peering at the CDU. I worked my way through the pages and pages of configuration menus and in short order had the flight-deck looking as it should ;). I was excited to find the Radio Altimeter and Decide call out options. Round radio altimeters were obviously selected. All the while I was surrounded in this cocoon of noise. Every eye-point movement resulted in the proper movement of sound. Again- so correctly that I forgot to listen and happily settled into my seat to get familiar with this line workhorse. Have you ever smelled the inside of a plane that works or a living? I'm not discussing pristine corporate aircraft here- rather, those line aeroplanes that accumulate cycles quicker than a blue-blooded debutant's dance card fills up at a fancy dress ball. That was the feeling I got- I wanted to lean forward and pick up the larger bits of twigs and dirt that the last captain brought in with him, and tidy up for my leg. All the requisite selections for fuel and ground servicing are in the CDU and once that was all sorted out we transferred to APU and on a smooth sine wave- aligned the IRS'. All the systems were brought online and with the proper glowing lights, the correct electronic noise and the feeling of sitting in something that surrounded me- I called for a push. That familiar RSR voice began its incantations (we have GOT to get a British accent Robert) and then nothing happened. I sat there and was about to make a note that something had gone wrong, when I realized we were moving! There had been an appropriate pause while the tug got itself tidied up! All of a sudden I was smiling- that mad uncontrollable outpouring of joy- nary a jerk or stutter- I FELT exactly as I did each time we pushed in real life- except this time- I got to execute. There's a solid feeling a good aeroplane gives you- the assurance that you are on something stolid and reliable- yet ethereal enough to levitate in some magical intertwined dance with the laws of Physics. Its hard to explain but its something any pilot can nod about- After my first few hours with the PMDG NGX- I'm nodding.So that's it. For now, we are pushed back, sitting on the Tarmac (love you Mel) and still on APU. We delayed starting engines as Ground mentioned a significant delay due to a fuel spill. We are solid and very real, beacon winking in the morning dew, sunlight streaming into the windows illuminating floaters in their shafts. Life is good on the other side of the Rubicon. If there is interest in this sort of commentary I shall continue. There are many more qualified to post superb photos and qualitative and quantative analysis's. I'm more captivated with the proper execution of procedure accompanied by the complete suspension of disbelief. I can tell you that I shall have more than a casual dalliance with this pretty little girl. As far as abandoning G-CIVX- that will never happen, we have too much history together. But, this baby Boeing has got my head turned and eyes affixed on her. More to follow in this vein........

Another wonderful post, thanks so much for the well written story. We cannot wait for this thing!

Wonderful post. I too remember the good old days of Hardy Heinlin and Mel Ott. Keep it up as I thoroughly enjoyed your commentary. :( Regards,jen noulet

YES! Please keep these kind of reports coming!Loved your well written story!

That was beautiful. Absolutely wonderfully written story! Thank you for sharing.

Nicely written CarlC

speechless...

No need for pictures when you make us shape them in our own minds! :) (The others can post pictures)Thanks!!Andy

Do you have a book published?Nice writeup.

Pictures are great but words have power and meaning.. love it! Keep these posts coming!

Is the MD-11 pushback voice RSR's?

Another good story, thanks.

Wonderful. I'd love to read more.

Carl, your post is darn near poetic. Keep it coming!

wauw... . Thanks!