Spend the next 3 years learning Gmax! :-lolI think it's the only thing that prevents FS burn out for me.It's always been about the aircraft for me, since i was a kid. Not so much flying them, but the way a radial engine looks inside a cowl, how it sounds, how it feels.it can be very rewarding.there's just something about flying/to your own creations...joe

I agree!Scott :-)

Do you know if there are ny tutorials on creating an aircraft with gmax? Thanks.

I get this time to time, I find the best way is just to grab the FS9 defualt cub, and do an hours flight in it, just meandering around looking at the terrain.I was starting to get on the verge of total burnout but I went back to the part of flightsimming that always appealed to me from the start. Map Reading.I have about 30 VFR charts now, and I love just choosing two random airports on one of them, and flying following locations on the map, whether it be a road, railroad, river etc. it's a lot of fun.

Hi Jason;1. If you enjoy challenges download the FSDZIGNS Connie and visitTom Gibsons site to try to fly it "by the book". This ain't no Jet.2. Have you tried "Doherty's Difficult and Dangerous Approaches"from the library?3. Fly the default C172 into KUBX with the published App @400ft and1/4 mi, with winds 270@10 G25.4. Consume not less than 250ml of good "drinkin whiskey" and complete#3 :+5. Land a C118 @ Wiesbaden with WX BELOW Minimums in light freezingdrizzle with a RCR of .05 (a flight I was actually on). EEK!6. Go down to Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School, fork out about 3Grand and get an NHRA Alky Dragster Certification. STRIKE that last one, just another obsession to get over :-xxrotflmao Wishing you a Happy New Year! Denny

Several posters have mentoned joining a VA. I found that by doing that (with British Airways Virtual) and later becoming BAV Airbus Training Captain I had no time to get bored as over the last two years I have spent far far more time researching and answering questions about simulated and real world Airbus flying and procedures than I have spent actually flying on the simulator.

"My advice to you is to drink heavily"-B. Blutarski

Hehe We Have lots of hobbies in comman Brian! :-)I also:Am an accomplished saxophonistFly dual line stunt kitesPlay strategy games such as Civ3BowlingGolf.. Not in the winter though. Brrrrrr. :-lolTake my toy out to the track (04' Mazda RX-8, Also run the OKC RX Club)I'm also not attached, 25, with no dog! :-lolAs far as FlightSim I've cut back to 2 flights a week for now. One during the week, and one on the weekend.-Jason Peters E-3 AWACS Flight Engineer USAF (Former B-52H Crew Chief) [email protected]http://www.feelthere.com/banner/erjpilot.jpg

Denny,In regards to #5:As a Flight Engineer, I'll have to first and formost agree with the "EEK!" and second, respectfully say He** No! :-lolPS- Wait 12 hours on #4 four before attempting #3! :-beerchug-Jason Peters E-3 AWACS Flight Engineer USAF (Former B-52H Crew Chief) [email protected]http://www.feelthere.com/banner/erjpilot.jpg

Same here; even a brand new rig didn't do the trick. I'm hoping the new track-ir will bring back the wow factor (saw a demo with the tu 134), who knows.....one things seems evident; the imagination seems to fade with age.....used to believe in what I was doing and seeing in the sim....I was sure vr would make all the difference, but now I wonder...nah, still think it would be the best way to truly experience fs..if only I live to see it happen...cpu/gpu power has to soar, helmets usable/affordable etc etc.

<<>> On place to begin might be an article on flightsim.com It reviews using GMAX, has some links for info, may help you.

Jason,Questioning your manliness because you can't keep your flight sim interest up? Relax, it happens to all of us sooner or later. Drugs don't always help here. The doctor prescribes a short break from simming, sleep, and an interest in flowers. After this regimen, I can quarantee you'll come screaming back to that computer and joystick.When you do return, suggestions for renewed excitement include:1. Fly in the really bad real-time winter weather with snow, rain, and especially fog. This never fails to get my interest. FSMeteo does a great job of doing the weather here.2. Get some really good regional scenery that includes multiple quality airports and fly in that region. (Try anywhere in Europe, or my personal favorite, Aerosoft's collection of insanely great sceneries around the Mediterranean including Spain, Balearic Islands, Portugal, France, and the Canary Islands. 3. I like your idea of the short routes. I like the airplanes you use, but try some different jets that fit this bill like the DC-9 and MD-80's, then fly an actual airline scheduled flight for a day. (Take a Spanair or AeBal flight around the Med.)4. Try to find great sound and a great panel for your airplanes. They make all the difference. A great panel doesn't have to be really complex, just fun. An old DC-9 sound set I have has that loud jet noise that really gets my blood pumping when that subwoofer starts rattling my chair. Today's quiet engines put me to sleep.5. Fly with ATC, and I mean either online or Radar Contact. It really improves the atmosphere.6. Fly at dawn and dusk. See the lights.7. Get lots of AI traffic for the region in which you fly.8. Fly on days when your local weather is poor, then you won't feel bad about being inside at the computer. 9. Think about your flight ahead of time, so you anticipate it.10. Get inspired by watching airline videos, and learn from what the real pilots are doing. 11. Check your flight sim setup to see if needs changing or improvement. Do you feel like you're in an airplane?12. You have to create the mental environment, which includes all of the above. Good luck.Bill

>>>there's just something about flying/to your own creations... Must be, my Grandfather built one in New Bedford MA, and towed it to Brockton MA with a horse. Then installed the engine, and flew it from the Brockton Fairgrounds. When WWI began, the govt asked for donations of aircraft for the new AAF school in Ohio. It was flown there for several years, before some student crashed it... He was always very inthusiastic about flying, gave me my first ride in a Biplane at the Brockton Fairgrounds in 1937...

Practicing Precision Aerobatics can hone your interest! Went to an airshow in Vegas a few years ago, and saw Patty Wagstaff put on a show. Now they really limited her airspace, so she had to really stay inside the box they allowed her. Until then, I'd never have believed you could do what she did with the Extra... Came back and practiced for months, it was a LOT of fun.

Try a Loop on approach, with a 35kt cross wind! Years ago saw a FS movie of just that feet. Practiced it at Meigs where he did it. He came out of the loop, lined up perfectly with the runway. First I practiced that with a 5 kt cross wind, then a 10, then 15, and never could make it lined up at 15... Watched a real pilot for UPS, make a pass at Ontario CA, with 35kt winds gusting to 55.... He did one go around, and made it down on the second attempt. Practiced that also, am still trying to hit the centerline with a 35kt wind... can set it down close, but have yet to have the nose on the centerline as he did.