....put in a DIRECT TO waypoint and fly there with a flightplan that is currently loaded and active without wiping out that flightplan? I did three attempts at loading DIRECT TO waypoints today and the a/c obeyed as instructed but I was subsequently unable to find my existing flightplan in the Garmin. It seemed to have vanished. Only the DIRECT TO waypoint remained.I am also trying to figure out how to undo or delete a DIRECT TO instruction if I change my mind. The mysteries of the GARMIN are many and always challenging !Appreciate posts, thanks!JS

This probably what differenciate the default GPS500 (game wise) from the unique GNS530 Simulation (reality wise). You may consider reading these comments (and many more in the same place):http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_post...p?TID=6287&PN=1Hope this helps!

Jean Luc:If the FS9 GARMIN worked like the real thing, then.....I'd have NO problem !Thanks anyway.JS

I think of the GPS500 as a wrapper around the FS9 flight planner, that looks a lot like, and works just a little bit like, the Garmin GPS500. As such, it's fine for most VFR work, but as you have found it falls down once you try to do anything more than fly the flight plan rigorously, or do a simple Direct To.It's not bad 'cause it's free. But the 530XP is my favorite FS add-on 'cause it nails the real unit's behavior.Dave Blevins

Dave:I am sure you are right. I have the GARMIN 530 trainer and manual and they are amazing. The real deal is worth it. Mebbe later for me.Meantime, no more DIRECT TO unless I am ready to kiss the plan goodbye till the next session!JS

JS,Though it's not my favorite pasttime, after activating a "Direct To" you can force the default 500 to display your original flight plan by filing an inflight IFR plan, reloading (and modifying if needs be) the original FP, and refusing to reposition the aircraft at the departure airport. I don't like to do this because it pauses the sim, but until you spring for the real deal...Hope this helps,Kevin

Thanks, Kevin, I understand. I shall desist; I didn't fully realize how limited the MSFS version is of the GARMIN 530.On further reflection, perhaps I shall spring for the real thing in the Reality XP a/c after all,.....Cheers! to you and everybody else for jumping in.JS

Here's a tip on the 530XP, should you decide to get it, regarding the Direct To function - I didn't know this until fairly recently, even though I'd been using it for a while. (This is probably in the Garmin GNS530 manual, but if so I missed it somehow.)Let's say you have a flight plan loaded into the 530XP, but want to do a temporary Direct To for some reason. So, you press the D-> button, enter in your desired destination, and merrily fly that route. Later, you want to resume your active flight plan - merely hit the D-> button again, press MENU, and then select the single "Cancel Direct-To Nav?" by pressing ENT. You are Returned To Your Regularly Scheduled Programming - i.e. the loaded flight plan.It's a fairly non-intuitive operation which is why I'm pointing it out.cheers,Dave Blevins

Dave:It's more intuitive than doing a DIRECT TO in the MSFS version of the Garmin and then finding....that you can't undo or delete it, nor can you find your flightplan!Anyway, for now, with the help of a masterful MSFS mate, I did find a way to simulate a DIRECT TO and keep my flightplan. You highlight the w/p, click MENU, click ACTIVATE, and that's it. In this way, the simulated DIRECT TO retains your flightplan and simply skips w/points as you desire. Then if you wish to resume the flightplan, you repeat the process and click your original waypoint you were heading to.JS