LOL Anthony! Your killin me :)

>Yep, and no competition means they can save marketing costs...>by not attending happenings like Oshkosh.>What's the purpose? They don't have a "new" model to sale. When they do, they're usually there.L.Adamson

Well, I don't think that I would be ringing the alarm bell just yet, but even if MS were to throw in the towel, there is always X-Plane. While X-Plane has always been a solid 2 generations behind MS in it's development, I think that once most of the 3rd party developers would switch over to the new platform, it would blossom into a fine product rivaling any flight sim ever made.Actually, in a sick sort of way, I wouldn't mind seeing the MSFS series end. This way, I could get a part of my life back that I continually "waste" messing around with it. :-lol Tim13

"What's the purpose? They don't have a "new" model to sale. When they do, they're usually there."Nothing gets by you.Greg

Actually Elite, On top, and Flight One had booths there-that makes three...Chproducts also-probably a few more I am forgetting.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Actually not silly-I got a ride in a Lake Amphibian. Today's flight back today was molto interesting-but I won't go there! :-)http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

>Well, I don't think that I would be ringing the alarm bell>just yet, but even if MS were to throw in the towel, there is>always X-Plane. While X-Plane has always been a solid 2>generations behind MS in it's development, I think that once>most of the 3rd party developers would switch over to the new>platform, it would blossom into a fine product rivaling any>flight sim ever made.>>Actually, in a sick sort of way, I wouldn't mind seeing the>MSFS series end. This way, I could get a part of my life back>that I continually "waste" messing around with it. :-lol >>Tim13I have X-plane, and it just sits on the shelf, it just doesn't push the right buttons for me, I dunno how to say it...always looks/feels like I am flying an RC or something!

Even after having bought xplane's last verion I can't share much enthusiasm for it myself no matter how many 3rd party developers might get involved.The point is-lots of people noticed and commented on the lack of Microsoft's presence at the worlds largest convention of pilots.It has been a familiar site, and one of the most popular setups at Oshkosh in the past.Whether Microsoft has a new version or not-it has been present in the past shows (even without a new version)-and certainly is a major contributor to the pursuit of real aviation . The lack of presense at Oshkosh at the very least is a signal of bean cutters deciding that there is no importance to fs other than the number of boxes (bottom line )it sells-and at the worse-it could be worse......Either way it shows a departure from past precedence -and an unhappy one imho.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

You know, the same things were said about Microsoft Train Simulator. Some people felt that MS were giving up with Trainsim, others said "No, they've sold too many to give up on MSTS" .... and look what happened! :( Train Simulator was abandoned by Microsoft!I think MS are moving into a new direction. MS would have mentioned FS2006 by now.........The recent Microsoft.ie questionnaire wasn't connected to the "FS team". FS2006 isn't for sure!

Geofa,The Microsoft Flight Simulator team DID intend to come to Oshkosh, in fact they were going to fly there directly. It would seem that the team ran into several obstacles along the way, however, that has precluded their presence at Oskosh.Firstly, they crashed their Microsoft Piper Cub on takeoff when it apparently made an uncontrollable ground loop.Then, after switching planes, they encountered severe wind shears aloft (the wind speed and direction changed abruptly over and over), and they kept overspeeding and crashing. After Microsoft's insurance premiums shot through the roof, Bill Gates decided to have the whole team melted down and donated to stem cell research.

I think Geof A., and Larry A. **should** both know a better reason why MS might not be there.Geof, Larry, drop me an e-mail, and say hello. ;-)Regards,Lou

>I think Geof A., and Larry A. **should** both know a better>reason why MS might not be there.>>Geof, Larry, drop me an e-mail, and say hello. ;-)>>Regards,>>Lou :)

Lou,In regards to your comment,"I think Geof A., and Larry A. **should** both know a better reason why MS might not be there."Will you share with the rest of use the "**should**" reason MS is not at Oshkoshi.Thanks.

They would have been at Osh, but they had to learn to fly first from Rod Machado. Unfortunatly, they all "seemed to be distracted" and their lessons were canceled.

>Actually Elite, On top, and Flight One had booths there-that>makes three...Chproducts also-probably a few more I am>forgetting.Well, most of the Eaglesoft DG crew were there, but as 'attendees,' not exhibitors.We plan to be there next year as exhibitors... :)