On the Ariane web site I tried to view VC screenshots for the NG. I couldn't find any screenshots. Does anyone have Ariane VC a/c that can post some for me please?I want a beaut a/c with awesome VC cockpit. Is Ariane good?And the 747 for PMDG has a VC, is that going to be good?Is there a 777 VC out there, and is it any good?One last question, does the computer slow down FPS if you are using a VC, especially on Final Approach?Danielwww.danielmcaloon.tk

If you search the forums, you should find a number of threads, many comparing Ariane's product with PMDG. Recent threads have been pretty fair and have given Ariane some credit for its work. Ariane has numerous shots of the VC on their website--dig deeper, and you will find them. Of the people who note issues with Ariane, number one is the price, and the fact that you have to pay for every livery you add. But enthusiasts who like these types of add-ons may not be worried by that, just like I wouldn't blink twice to pay for a new system if that system offered something that appealed to me. I imagine the PMDG 747 VC will be very good, but it's not released yet, so I can only imagine :)Some VC's have a bigger impact on fps than others. I believe Ariane's VC is more fps friendly than others.One tip with any VC--if the GPS is displayed, commenting out that gauge and replacing it with a popup window can add several fps to the VC. The MSFS gps has a bit of an fps hit.-John

"I want a beaut a/c with awesome VC cockpit. Is Ariane good?"In addition to my other reply, I have noticed that periodically you've opened threads with this same question--something was familiar about your screen name so I did a thread search. Over many months you've been given several positive answers, so I suggest you just buy the product--asking the same question won't change people opinions from what you've already been offered in previous threads. Sooner or later, someone will accuse you of just trying to produce publicity and more screenshots for the product. If that isn't your intent, it's still hard to overlook the number of times you've asked this question.-John

I happen to be a new Ariane user (i purchased their 737-700 Vce w/2di) and can say that yes its true...alot of what the plane has to offer is very nice, there are lots of little features that really add to the immersion factor as far as modelled systems and eye candy. The flight model is smooooth and feels wonderfult to handfly on both takeoff and landings.That being said the one show stopper for me personally (because i fly only in 3d as im known for being a vc junkie) is the 3d gauge refresh rates...yup, the worst ive seen yet in any glass display jet craft for fs2004. we're talking about a refresh rate of approx 1 fps, which makes both takeoff and landings VERY frustrating if theyre not vfr....on the other hand if youre the type who wouldnt mind having to switch back to the 2d style panel view for takeoff and landing then theres no problem and you'll love the plane because the 2d gauges have the BEST refresh rate ive seen in any similar offering to date, were talkin baby butt smooth :-)...but for me its useless as i hate having to switch back to a 2d style view/cockpit.overall vc fps is at times smoother than other similar products and at other times certainly no worse or about the same.basically its a really nice job...well done and has a great photorealistic vc look to it, but the 3d gauges are a real problem and make the plane nearly useless for me, personally speaking.If they offered the ability for the user to adjust the gauge refresh rates id be happier (even at the expense of overall fps)....just my thoughts on itDave Kalin

Thanks for the warning, as I also fly in the VC only I will definately save my hard earned money! Using the gauge FPS tool that comes with the PMDG airplane I have extremely smooth gauges, and a fantastic VC although the overhead panel could have been easier to read without zooming in but thats only a minor problem.

That caught me by surprise since I thought I read that gauge updates seemed smoother in the Ariane VC. I don't think anyone could find once per second acceptable. Wonder if others could comment if they've had any different experience.

David's refresh rate with the 3d gauges is very surprising to me. I have the 700 and the refresh rate when in 3d view is very very good keeping in mind that no 3d gauges are as smooth as 2d view. When using the Ariane with the "2d" options the refresh rates are as good as any 2d cockpit. The price to me is still way too high and I still prefer the PMDG version.

dont get me wrong here...the view out the vc window is very smooth as far as "flight" is conerned, but the 3d gauges are a laugh here..at least on my machine...p4 3.06gig (HT disabled), 1024MB dual channel mem, ati9800pro, winxpsp2, running in 1280x1024res.The 2d gauges & popups are LIQUID smooth here...i wish i was a 2d flyer because id be in love right now:-)Another oddity ive recently noticed has to do with the VREF speeds comming from the fmc. Either the fmc is giving the wrong numbers OR the flight model is just not flying correctly as far as VREF is concerned. My fmc said that i needed 128VREF at flaps40, however the plane actually flew a 119vref flaps40 (this was with gross weight of around 120,000lbs)...perhaps ive made a mistake in operations somehow, but its impossible to tell because theres no docs on fmc usage.Dave

This statement from their website should give anyone thinking of spending money on ariane something to think about:"Any queries on the new data, as well as other support queries where answers cannot be found in our support knowledge database here on this page, should be directed to our support e-mail: ariane [email protected] and not on forums (we do not visit politically-motivated forums. (Like most real-world pilots, our interest is in flight and not politics)."ricardo

"no 3d gauges are as smooth as 2d view"I guess you haven't tried the latest releases from RealAir... :-roll "on the other hand if youre the type who wouldnt mind having to switch back to the 2d style panel view for takeoff and landing"Are we still talking about the Ariane 737NG here or what??? Last I checked there was no 2D Panel to speak of offered with this package. It's a VC only release. As far as gauge refresh rates are concerned, I get very good gauge refresh rates on my end (much more than 1 fps)... :-hmmm JohnCI I have no idea what these guys are talking about both on the 2D panel front nor on the VC gauge issue. It looks like some of you guys have added to the package and/or have a great many things wrong with your install... Either way you should have no 2D panel nor should you be getting the gauge performance problems your complaining about...To add to the point above, until every developer get's up to speed with what RealAir is doing the point above is true to some extent about the 2D/3D gauge performance comparison but this is all around and not limited to Ariane. The PMDG 737NG series is one of the worst performers when it comes to the VC than most of my other aircraft (better yet all of them except for Flight1's new PC12). Ariane easily out performes PMDG's 737NG VC in the framerates department all around (gauges included)... But by no means is the Ariane guage refresh rate as slow as what Dave Kalin is reporting...

I've changed my mind about the PMDG, at least on my system, when I crank the VC gauge FPS counter up to max using their menu I get extremely smooth gauges in the virtual cockpit. And about the Real Air aircraft with smooth gauges... no surprise as they are simple displays and not half as much detail as a 737 cockpit in terms of number of switches/displays, etc. Overall I have revisited the PMDG 737 using my new computer and have fallen in love again! Now if only more BBJ2 paints were out

>>Sooner or later, someone will accuse you of just trying to>produce publicity and more screenshots for the product.What comes to my mind that he is an Ariane stooge. This my be Ariane's way to whip up some discussion and get some free publicity. And no deception works better than a few questions asked in a very naive child-like manner. Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2

Yup, have the 260 and it's fantastic. Your talking apples and oranges here when you compare the simplicity of a GA aircraft and the complexity of a 737 as far as gauge info. Best 3D VC gauges out there in a airliner right now are the ones in the LDS767. They still aren't nearly as smooth as the RealAir and never will be IMHO.And PS Dillon, talking about the 2Di flat panel available with the package, and there IS a significant difference in refresh rates between the 3D and the 2Di( Flat panel with pop up gauges in it)

You may be right Michael, but it can still be a good discussion thread as long as folks keep it that way and not start calling folks "stooge" etc.;-)

Dillon...are you saying that you are getting different results than I am, or are you trying to say that im reporting innacurate results on my machine?....i certainly hope its not the latter...the truth of the matter is that what i reported is 100% accurate...and not from a bogged down system or an fs install chock full of process hogging addons...i have zero scenery addons and NO external programs running in the background, last year i stopped using weather addons as well and now use only the default real weather engine.The ONLY addons i use are fsuipc, active camera, and 3rd party payware planes...and thats it. Ive been an honest and very long time member of the flightsim internet community even before Avsim and other similar sites became popular...remember the old Microwings site?...i was one of their very first subscribing members, and by that time i had already been simming for close to 10 years...so im no stranger to MSFS or its quirks and troublesome areas.I also run a VERY clean machine here...i should be able to since ive been involved with all types of pc's as well as unix systems since 1983.The results ive reported ARE accurate for this type of machine while running the sim settings ranging from mid-level to max on certain settings (most settings mid-range, espcially AI and cloud drawing distance)...again simply put...the 3d gauge refresh rates are worse for ME than any other addon plane i own (and i own ALOT including PMDG, DF, Flt1, CS, ESDG, the list goes on). This doesnt mean youll get the same results obviously depending on your video card and sim settings. For me though its bad enough to consider trashing it, especially since Ariane admits the refresh rates arent good and have no intentions on offering a refresh utility to adjust it per user according to the email they sent me today....and i never said there was a 2d panel...if you read it again youll see i referred to it as a "2d style view"...technically speaking its called "2Di" and is basically a locked position 3d panel with 2d popup gauges fitted behind it, and if you move your view at all from the locked position it reverts right back to using the 3d gauges, weird...some like it...i dont though.By the way...wasnt it you who told me in another thread (regarding the ERJ PIC)...that i had nothing to worry about regarding the lack of VC lighting in that plane before i purchased?...and that the panel would still be readable in shadowy daylight and nite time? Well i took your advice and guess what...you were wrong, the sad fact is that there is NO panel lighting in that VC at all...only backlit gauges so you cant see the panel and certain knobs at all at nite or in dim daylight unless you really crank up your monitor or gamma settings, and as for the gauges being readable without using popups, only for those who are blessed with younger eyes im afraid...fact is i had to use popups constantly in that vc when it comes to changning headings and such where the numbers are too small to read comfortably while in mid flight in a vc environment....so its obvious we all seem to get different results for different addons...not much we can do about that i guess. One mans "junk" is another mans "riches" you might say, so i just offer to add my own little opinion to the pile regarding the -700 from Ariane...its all we can do, so please dont lead other to believe my results are to be thrown aside, as they are truly accurate in comparison to the other Glass type jets i own.Sorry for the rant! :-)now...back to the skies! LOLDave