Well, considering he has 9000hrs, I think that's enough to know more or less how a BUFF flies, don't you think? If he's not certified to say that something's horrible, who is? A desktop flyer? :-lolDaniel P.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpgMember of SJU Photography. [A HREF=http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=9004]Click Here[/A] to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!The official psychotic AA painter. :)

If he wants to toot his own horn,beat his chest and make me feel like Im standing in the locker room scene during Top Gun, thats fine.Are we supposed to just write off the B-52 from alpha simply because he says so? Why does it suck? How is the flight model wrong? What can be improved? What doesnt feel right? None of the sim planes feel exactly like the real thing. Im mean come on its 20 bucks and its not exactly like there are dozens to choose from.

Umm, considering he is a real B-52 pilot, I'd say we should. If ANYONE knows how it flies, it's a pilot. It's not about feeling "exactly" like the real thing, but if you're gonna charge for it, at least make sure it's relatively close. If Drac says it ain't, that's as educated an opinion as any you'll get on this forum. If you're angry because he said he's "famous", I am pretty sure he threw that in there with no bad intent. The fact stands: A B-52 pilot with thousands of hours says it's not right. What other evidence could you possibly need to understand it's not realistic? Doesn't mean it isn't cool or whatever, it just isn't a realistic one. And I am sorry of this (also) offends you, but I'd take his word over yours anyday (and not because he's "famous"). :-lolDaniel P.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpgMember of SJU Photography. [A HREF=http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=9004]Click Here[/A] to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!The official psychotic AA painter. :)

I bought the B-52, more for sentimental reasons than anything else.I understand what Drac is saying because, on my first flight, I actually made a perfect landing. This is something I shouldn't be able to do.However, as a desktop flyer, I will say that I enjoy the B-52 and am happy I bought it.Kind Regards,Bobby

Hello All, First, let's cover JIMJAM's little 'famous' deal, keeping in mind it's a bit past 6 am here and I haven't had my coffee yet, I'll try to keep this a wee bit nice. Famous? That was said tongue in cheek. Was I a good pilot and knew the Buff like the back of my hand, you're damned straight!Yes, I guess I'm sort of famous in some circles, (if someone figures out which ones those are, let me know), and a total nobody in most others -- I don't take myself too seriously in the 'fame' department other than I've been there, done that and have the T shirt and lost it in a nasty divorce. Nuff said about that!On the AlphaSim Buff. It doesn't fly right -- not even close. Buff's take off tail first, NOT nose first as the ASBuff does. Also, they don't linger about on rotation, they just gain altitude, slowly and keep on chugging, depending upon the load and weapons weight.When comparing it to the freeware item listed earlier, the Yanko just does it much better. The smoke is too much at idle, can't see the aircraft at times, and you don't get that smoke until you are under semi to full throttle. Roll rate is wrong, pitch and yaw is wrong, gear assembly movement is wrong, no side air inlets in engines below 250kts, instrument panel is a good attempt if you could read it, (sorry, these old eyes have problems which could be mine and not the aircrafts), Spoiler movements are wrong, and the list could go on forever.I was very excited when I first saw this aircraft and really hoped that it would be dne right. Want to make me happy? fixt it! It has great possibilities but has a multitude of difficult, glitches which don't easially lend themseves to correction. Believe me, I played with all the cfgs for 4 hours last evening and didn't even get close.The idea is nice, the application is not even close. Sorry folks, I just call em as I see em, and this one, although a pretty package, isn't pretty when flying. Fix it and I'll gladly buy it, don't, and it will just become another attempt at constructing a most difficult aircraft for FS which didn 't work out.And as for pounding my chest, well, I was decorated 14 times during my AF service, I refer to those medals as 'chest trinkets', and nothing more. I appreciate getting them, but in the total scope of things, I would gladly trade them all for just one of my aircrew back alive which I lost. As I've stated many times before, I was NO hero, Ijust tried to do my job and get back alive -- all the hero's I know came back in a body bag and are burried in Arlington.To Alphasim: Nice try, no cigar, fix it, let me fly it and if it is right, I will gladly hand over my hard earned dollars and be glad to shout from the mountain how good it is.Best to all, and heading for my first cup of coffee,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Hello All, First, let's cover JIMJAM's little 'famous' deal, keeping in mind it's a bit past 6 am here and I haven't had my coffee yet, I'll try to keep this a wee bit nice. Famous? That was said tongue in cheek. Was I a good pilot and knew the Buff like the back of my hand, you're damned straight!Yes, I guess I'm sort of famous in some circles, (if someone figures out which ones those are, let me know), and a total nobody in most others -- I don't take myself too seriously in the 'fame' department other than I've been there, done that and have the T shirt and lost it in a nasty divorce. Nuff said about that!On the AlphaSim Buff. It doesn't fly right -- not even close. Buff's take off tail first, NOT nose first as the ASBuff does. Also, they don't linger about on rotation, they just gain altitude, slowly and keep on chugging, depending upon the load and weapons weight.When comparing it to the freeware item listed earlier, the Yanko just does it much better. The smoke is too much at idle, can't see the aircraft at times, and you don't get that smoke until you are under semi to full throttle. Roll rate is wrong, pitch and yaw is wrong, gear assembly movement is wrong, no side air inlets in engines below 250kts, instrument panel is a good attempt if you could read it, (sorry, these old eyes have problems which could be mine and not the aircrafts), Spoiler movements are wrong, and the list could go on forever.I was very excited when I first saw this aircraft and really hoped that it would be dne right. Want to make me happy? fixt it! It has great possibilities but has a multitude of difficult, glitches which don't easially lend themseves to correction. Believe me, I played with all the cfgs for 4 hours last evening and didn't even get close.The idea is nice, the application is not even close. Sorry folks, I just call em as I see em, and this one, although a pretty package, isn't pretty when flying. Fix it and I'll gladly buy it, don't, and it will just become another attempt at constructing a most difficult aircraft for FS which didn 't work out.And as for pounding my chest, well, I was decorated 14 times during my AF service, I refer to those medals as 'chest trinkets', and nothing more. I appreciate getting them, but in the total scope of things, I would gladly trade them all for just one of my aircrew back alive which I lost. As I've stated many times before, I was NO hero, Ijust tried to do my job and get back alive -- all the hero's I know came back in a body bag and are burried in Arlington.To Alphasim: Nice try, no cigar, fix it, let me fly it and if it is right, I will gladly hand over my hard earned dollars and be glad to shout from the mountain how good it is.Best to all, and heading for my first cup of coffee,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Hello All, First, let's cover JIMJAM's little 'famous' deal, keeping in mind it's a bit past 6 am here and I haven't had my coffee yet, I'll try to keep this a wee bit nice. Famous? That was said tongue in cheek. Was I a good pilot and knew the Buff like the back of my hand, you're damned straight!Yes, I guess I'm sort of famous in some circles, (if someone figures out which ones those are, let me know), and a total nobody in most others -- I don't take myself too seriously in the 'fame' department other than I've been there, done that and have the T shirt and lost it in a nasty divorce. Nuff said about that!On the AlphaSim Buff. It doesn't fly right -- not even close. Buff's take off tail first, NOT nose first as the ASBuff does. Also, they don't linger about on rotation, they just gain altitude, slowly and keep on chugging, depending upon the load and weapons weight.When comparing it to the freeware item listed earlier, the Yanko just does it much better. The smoke is too much at idle, can't see the aircraft at times, and you don't get that smoke until you are under semi to full throttle. Roll rate is wrong, pitch and yaw is wrong, gear assembly movement is wrong, no side air inlets in engines below 250kts, instrument panel is a good attempt if you could read it, (sorry, these old eyes have problems which could be mine and not the aircrafts), Spoiler movements are wrong, and the list could go on forever.I was very excited when I first saw this aircraft and really hoped that it would be dne right. Want to make me happy? fixt it! It has great possibilities but has a multitude of difficult, glitches which don't easially lend themseves to correction. Believe me, I played with all the cfgs for 4 hours last evening and didn't even get close.The idea is nice, the application is not even close. Sorry folks, I just call em as I see em, and this one, although a pretty package, isn't pretty when flying. Fix it and I'll gladly buy it, don't, and it will just become another attempt at constructing a most difficult aircraft for FS which didn 't work out.And as for pounding my chest, well, I was decorated 14 times during my AF service, I refer to those medals as 'chest trinkets', and nothing more. I appreciate getting them, but in the total scope of things, I would gladly trade them all for just one of my aircrew back alive which I lost. As I've stated many times before, I was NO hero, Ijust tried to do my job and get back alive -- all the hero's I know came back in a body bag and are burried in Arlington.To Alphasim: Nice try, no cigar, fix it, let me fly it and if it is right, I will gladly hand over my hard earned dollars and be glad to shout from the mountain how good it is.Best to all, and heading for my first cup of coffee,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

very sorry about the tripple post, have NO iedea how that happened,Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Hi Clay. How are you mate. Do you know if you were flying the easy or advanced flight model when you tried the buff?

Hey Kane,I tried both, same results. Even tried tweeking some more the other night on it, and it just doesn't seem to want to do what is right or I am at the other end of the ball park.Clayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Greetings Drac!Well then, your opinion is good enough for me: I'll not be buying the AlphaSim B-52. It really is THAT simple, guys: in one of the first messages in this tread I asked Drac to evaluate the add-on for us because he knows how to fly the real thing better than any of us here. So if Drac says it ain't good enough, I accept that it ain't good enough and I won't buy it. Life's pretty simple if you listen every now and then to the guys with hands-on experience. "(...) sort of famous in some circles, (if someone figures out which ones those are, let me know) (...)"No thank you (wide and wicked grin)! Even if I knew (which I don't), I wouldn't let you know I knew! Next month I'll be 60, a joyful feat made possible by, among other things, never having tried to "figure out" too much, but simply cherishing (some of) the memories of the few things I actually DID know. Like having been, for a very short but extremely entertaining time back in the late sixties, the youngest bird colonel in the US Army on account of an American military cloak-and-dagger project I suddenly found myself partaking in. This was, although it shall not further be named, a MACV operation that hid under the "cloak" of research into weather balloons, while secretly brandishing its "dagger" in the form of various highly advanced weapon systems. It didn't do much good in the end, but back then we really thought that it would help our friends to return home from Vietnam quicker and safer. Well... some did. Others did not.Anyway, the whole operation was as gloriously fake as only an official, governmentally maintained and funded, fake can be. Nothing about it was what it seemed, not even me (wide grin)! I seemed to be military, but I wasn't... most of the time. I didn't seem to be American, but I was... some of the time. I seemed to be an upright guy, but I wasn't... none of the time. I didn't seem to be enjoying myself, but I was... all of the time!So, Drac, I might make a couple of guesses... but they wouldn't necessarily be educated (grin)!Thanks for your comments on the B52, you just saved me twenty bucks!Be well!Jaap Verduijn.

I hope they end up doing an version with the "H" model. By the way, Jeff, what crew position are you? I fly on the AWACS as well.Best Regards,Phil Geddes

This isn't too surprising for Alphasim. I've bought a few of their products in the past, and more often than not either the model wasn't accurate (not talking rivets here), or the markings weren't correct, or both. But the price was pretty reasonable so it was easy to overlook some things for a while. But now that they are pushing the price up the same accuracy issues are still there. I get the impression that the models are just churned out without any feedback or input from someone who might know how it is really supposed to look. I finally got frustrated with their incorrect insignia a few years ago and sent them one to use, free of charge of course. They STILL can't get it right. And contrary to the post above, my experiences with customer relations has been dreadful. I saw some pretty glaring errors on a preview shot in their forum, and politely mentioned it, only to get a snotty response from Phil. So for me Alphasim is out of the question when I consider handing over my money. But if you aren't too fussy about how the model or paint scheme looks, I guess you'll be pretty happy with them. But in my view, if it's payware, those things have to be right. Todd

Jaap,Yeah, been there, done that, got the T shirt, lost it in a divorce, and now only the memory's exist . . .and the older I get, the better I use to be ROTFLMAO.Yep, after 26, Dec 1972, some wacked out full bird came to see me in Hospiatl in first Siagon and then in Tokyo -- he finally admitted that he worked for 'the boys in Langely', and promptly had me figured out -- LOL Anyways, got sheep dipped, and everything from there said I worked for McDonnell Douglas -- or perhaps thats that was Lockheed? -- or even perhaps NASA, who knows as the paychecks came from a bunch of different sources. I was always a wonder WHO I was working for this month. Isn't plausable denyability wonderful LOL. you know the drill -- so yep, I fully understand that one.On the Buff, I've offered to help them out, will sit back and see if they think they need any help -- Best to you and yours,Drachttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Dear JimJam,somewhere along the line I missed your question of 'why' it doesn't fly corectly -- I am sorry that I didn't reply, it was an oversight. I think the best way to reply to you on this is in an e mail I sent to an individual who knows the developer where I attempted to explain to him the problems and offered assistance for free, not even wanting a free copy.Hopefully he won't be upset with my posting my reply to his e mail:____________________________________________________________________Dear Gerry, Most of my problems with the Alphasim Buff are that it just does not fly correctly. As most know I am a real world pilot with over 9k hours in B52's -- all versions. To start, on trim, which is VERY important on take off, there is a hash mark on the rear elevator which the crew chief will make sure that the trim is set properly for takeoff. This aircraft takes off tail first, meaning the rear of the aircraft lifts off first, then the nose follows. After nose/runway separation, then the pilot cranks in more positive trim and 'yokes' back a bit more to about 8 degrees and the climb is continued. The aircraft lands in the same exact way, as when you cut power at the threshold, the tail settles and if you are good enough, you get an all point touch down. For the Alpha sim offering, tuning the flight tuning section doesn't seem to get this job done. It has to be in the hard code, and I'm not a hard code programing type of guy. I'm just a pilot. I would love to help out to get all this straight as I think its great that someone has done a payware model of the B52, however, Yanko's freeware model is quite good, and you all could take some hints from that. Additionally there are many items which in a payware aircraft have been left off the Alpha sim model -- visual eye candy items--. Once you solve the takeoff and landing problems I will be glad to go over those on a one by one basis. This could be a great offering to the payware market, and I am willing to help for no pay, no freebies, just to get the model right. And believe me, (not tooting my horn here, just being accurate), my say on B52's and 727's in this community is taken as the gospel . . . because I know what I am talking about. I'm 59, long past any ego trip and just want to give back to the community which has given me so much pleasure. I have yet to buy the Alpha model, because I know it is NOT right, however my neighbor, who is a retired 747 captain has, and if you want to send me modified files, I can transfer them to his unit which I tried several times. Together, we will work to get this right -- get it right, and you have another instant customeer who will spend his money. If and when you get this thing right, I will be the first one to get on all the forums and say, 'This is the one, guys, you need to buy it'! And Alpha needs not give me anything for my efforts -- I need nothing other than the satisfaction of trying to fix what could be a great aircraft for FS Let me know, I am willing to be of assistance if you need it. Best to you and yours, Clayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major USAF (retired)'Drac'Sundance Quarter Horses__________________________________________________________________Now, JIMJAM, the ball is in their court and if they would desire the help of an individual who knows the aircraft quite well and is willing to be of assistance for nothing in return, I am at their service -- added to that list, by the way is stall speed, cruise altitude speed, fuel usage, assorted graphic correctness on the 'eye candy' model, spoileron usage -- the list can go on, and on. This isn't meant to slam, it is an honest attempt to offer some assistance and turn thier offering into a hit and a classic: it has the beginnings, it needs only some attention and tender loving care.Best,[email protected]http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"