I find theese two products interesting. I have seen that Active Skyhas some flight planning features. So I wonder if I buy Active Sky do I have any use for the flightplanning tool FSNavigator?

Hi,Many Active Sky users use both programs, FSNav for the actual flight plan, and then Active Sky to process that plan using real time weather and winds.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Support

You are incorrect in thinking that ActiveSky has flight planning features, it does not.ActiveSky is a program that downloads real weather data from the internet and puts that real weather into FS, a bit like the real weather feature built into FS but far superior. It even attempts to fix the FS weather built-in bugs, and so far Jim the latest build is doing quite a good job even over WideFS.From your other post in which I am involved jfri, you already know about FSNavigator and IMO it is the best flight planner around, others might disagree and prefer one of the other planners ;-)

I think you might have confused the "flightplanning" with its weather rader addon. It has an import function for already made *.pln flightplans from FS2004. These can be made with FSNav as well and exported.The flightplan import in AS is just used to get a visual on how the weather is along the planned route :)And I agree whole heartedly - FSNav is in my mind the best addon EVER made for flight simming.

So getting both seems to be a good idea.

Sure is!!Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Support

I use both and they really compliment each other. The FS Nav flight plan you simply export at FS9 format then import into AS2004 and you have pretty much seamless real world weather along your whole flightplan. They really add a whole new dimension to the flightsim--you won't be disappointed.billg

I also use both. I've been using FSNavigator since FS2000, and ActiveSky 2004 since this Fall.Flight simulator just wouldn't be the same without FSNavigator--it saves me from having to keep a stack of paper charts on my lap when simming--and ActiveSky certainly does a much better job creating weather than FS2004's default real weather.-- WaltFlying FS2004 at 1600x1200x32WideFS 6.101ActiveSky 2004 1.01a2FSUIPC 3.1.3.5 RegisteredLinksys Wireless Router 802.11bBASE SYSTEM (Running FS2004):Intel Pentium 4, 2.0 GHzWindows XP Pro512MB PC800 RDRAM,8100128MB ATI Radeon 9600 ProCATALYST Windows XP 3.10 video driverDirectX 9.0bViewSonic P95f+ 19 inch Ultrabrite CRT MonitorSound Blaster Audigy2 ZSCreative I-Trigue 2.1 3300 SpeakersMS ForceFeedback 2 joystickNETWORKED SYSTEM (Running WideFS Client & ActiveSky 2004):Intel Pentium 3, 850 MHzWindows 98 SE384 MB RAM

There is but one issue I would like to consider. And that is about realism. When I flightsim I wan't to learn something about real flying meaning I wan't as much realism as possible.In FSNavigator you just press F9 and have a map with your plane position marked on the map. But is this the case in real world? Right now I'm flying the Cessna. Has it such advanced equipment?In ActiveSky you have a weather radar. In real life I only have heard about the Concorde having such a thing. But I assume yoy can get weather forecast along your route.So if I find these tool interesting but also wan't realism shouldI restrict my use of some of their features?

>There is but one issue I would like to consider. And that is>about realism. When I flightsim I wan't to learn something>about real flying meaning I wan't as much realism as>possible.>In FSNavigator you just press F9 and have a map with your>plane position marked on the map. But is this the case in real>world? >Right now I'm flying the Cessna. Has it such advanced>equipment?The real plus with FS Navigator is that the whole thing can be tailored to do as much, or as little, work as you want it to. At the top end you can have it fly an entire flightplan, even down to approach and landing. At the basic level you can turn off all the unwanted display features and have it just like a real map spread across your knees. You can easily turn off the aircraft symbol.It can represent a sophisticated GPS or FMC, calculating fuel flows and TOD's, SIDS, STARS and holding patters or it can be stopwatch and string for the ancients. And anything in between.Get the download and try it for yourself - the demo runs for 20 sim sessions and is plenty of time for you to try before buy and experiement with the different settings.>In ActiveSky you have a weather radar. In real life I only>have heard about the Concorde having such a thing. But I>assume yoy can get weather forecast along your route.>>So if I find these tool interesting but also wan't realism>should>I restrict my use of some of their features?If you want to!Allcott

>Get the download and try it for yourself - the demo runs forI already have done so.>>So if I find these tool interesting but also wan't realism>>should>>I restrict my use of some of their features?>>If you want to!>I want to IF it means a more realistic flight sim.

>I want to IF it means a more realistic flight sim.>Then you should understand that there are many different interpretations of `real`, based on type of aircraft flown, manner in which it is flown, the equipment onboard that aircraft, whether that equipment is in use or not, the circumstances under which that equipment may NOT be used, ad infinitum. FS Navigator is flexible to suit YOUR needs, but it is not possible to create a simple definition of `real`, so you MUST decide for yourself how you choose to use it. It can be used as a paper map, flight planner, hand-held GPS, moving map display, full axis autopilot, auto throttle, even a Flight Management Computer, to name but a few of its facilities. But not all of the features would be `real` depending on the aircraft you are simming with at the time. That's why it is important to make full use of the 20 free trial period to experiment with a diverse range of aircraft in as many different scenarios as possible. I use FS Navigator as a map across my knees for basic VFR flight, as a hand-held GPS/moving map display backing up the onboard GPS in IFR with GA, and as a full function FMC in airliners. And none of those. Sometimes. There can be no denying that FS is NOT real - the functions of the GPS units are very different compare to the real things, the weather is not real, the feeling of flight is not real. But it is reasonably close. If you want it real, then FS Navigator is not a real-world navigation device and should not be used at all. Then again, all of its functions are available to a real pilot in different devices or through training.But then FS is not a real-world simulation device either :)Allcott

jfri, I get the feeling you are new to flight planning and did wonder if you were new to FS but see you have been a member since 2002 so doubt you are new to FS :-)Allcott has given you an excellent description of what FSNav can do for you.When you buy the program you might be best turning on everything it has to offer then once you get the hang of it turn off those functions you don't want.