Thanks to W. Sieffert for leading in the right direction for this.I do believe one step may be bypassed however. It worked on my system anyway.W. Sieffert advised: "Rename your fs9.cfg...." I DID NOT do this step. I am sure he is far ahead of me in the knowledge of computer/FS9 knowledge, but this worked for me without creating a new fs9.cfg file. If one desires to retain their edited fs9.cfg unchanged, I thought that this might be helpful.NOTE: I do not mean by this that it is not a good idea to back up your file before doing anything. By all means DO!Note: this procedure assumes that you have edited your fs9.cfg to startup without showing the opening screen. If you have not done this, you can ignore steps 1-4 and 16-19.1. Open fs9.cfg in C:Documents and SettingsYour NameApplication DataMicrosoftFS9fs9.cfg2. Edit "SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=0" to be "SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1". (Under the STARTUP section).3. Save.4. Exit ("X") or select File>Close to exit the fs9.cfg file.5. Start FS9.6. As W. Sieffert advised hereafter: Select "Create A Flight" and select the options you prefer for your saved flight.7. Check the default box.8. Save9. Exit FS910. Start FS911. Select "Select a Flight"12. Select the flight you saved above.13 Check the default box.14. Select fly now.15. Exit FS916. Open fs9.cfg in C:Documents and SettingsYour NameApplication DataMicrosoftFS9fs9.cfg17. Edit "SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1" to be "SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=0".18. Save.19. Exit ("X") or select File>Close to exit the fs9.cfg file.20. Start FS9.When I did this, FS9 started up with my chosen default flight and aircraft. I was also now able to again select a new flight and save it as a default successfully with FS9 started up.Again a big thank you to W. Sieffert for the solution. The only thing I really changed was to skip creating a new fs9.cfg file as I found it not necessary on my system.Happy Flyting:RTH

Thank you for the step by step instructions. I didn't quite understand what had been said before by W. Sieffert. I read your post and thought "why and how should this work?" but did each step...and...voila! I can save a default flight now and it loads w/o the opening screen w/ my cold and dark cockpit. I wanted to be sure so after I did those steps I just saved and loaded my flight three times. It still worked! So I changed some settings within flight simulator, saved the flight within flight simulator, checked the save as default box, still within flight simulator, then closed it up. Waited a few minutes, loaded up fs9...and...and...(held breath, crossed fingers, toes) it still worked! My default flight save is back and working. Yessssssss! Thanks so much.

Happy to have been of any help.RTH

Try this,1) Save a flight, naming it whatever2) Go back to normal flight, no need to shut down3) Now reopen the flight above but before saying OK to go back to flying, check the "default flight" boxStart FS2004 and voila!CheersShez

Hi All,I recommended renaming the FS9.CFG file to ensure one didn't mess up their "finely tuned fs9.cfg" while testing the procedure I proposed. I should have made it clear to delete the new fs9.cfg and rename the old fs9.cfg to perform the procedure on it after one became comfortable following the procedure.I really hate having to reinstall tuned items to my fs9.cfg so I always make a habit of backing the original file before I try any new procedure.RTH has provided a much better step-by-step.W. Sieffert

Thank you W. Sieffert:I agree with your caution whole heartedly. In fact the first thing I do after installing FS before changing or adding anything is to back up all critical default folders and files calling them "Original Defaults". This includes anything that might be in doubt. The cost in diskspace and time is minimal and it can save a multitude of headaches somewhere down the line.Happy flying:RTH