I became hooked on VFR flying in MSFS with the introduction of Misty Fjords scenery and since then I have gone back to my roots, and started flying lower and slower with mostly GA aircraft. I have been reading on many of the forums lately, that many people are starting to fly VFR, due to the abundance of great scenery that is now available for MSFS. In the last week, I have also started to fly on Vatsim , which I really enjoy. One reason I haven't joined Vatsim in the past, was that there seemed to be no interest in VFR flying on the Vatsim network. Well they have started a club that will be specifically for VFR flying in the Vatsim world. Check it out....http://www.freewebs.com/vfrclub/

While some may disagree, the default ATC in the game is fine for VFR flying. VATSIM is good for airline IFR flying but honestly there isn't much for the controllers to do for you when your VFR. There has been time in RW flying when I have flown without flight following and only talked to the tower when I left the airport went to an uncontrolled field and then came back and had to talk to them again.

I beg to differ, I am a controller at ZNY (New York, C-1) on Vatsim and we love VFR. I have flown VFR tons of times on Vatsim and I think it really adds a lot, For exampleIn rw I have flown down from KMMU-KTTN and requested a practice ILS for KTTN, I have done the same thing on Vatsim. Vatsim is a chance to practice for the rw and just for fun. And if your bored with regular VFR try something new! Controllers love to be challenged (at least I do and everyone I know :D) Try Pop-up IFR, or maybe go into some airspace you havent tried before, request flight following from center, the options are endless.My 2 cents

I fly VFR on IVAO. America is rather quiet when it comes to ATC I have been there a lot of late. I tend to fly VFR about 95% of the time and of course no problem. When there has been ATC they have not been anywhere I was interested in visiting and never yet near British Columbia. Not terribly busy over there but I have a few friends who want to start visiting the USA a lot online so maybe if enough of us to do .... Of course both IVAO (www.ivao.org) and VATSIM are free so why not try both of them?Weekend of August 20th several pilots are flying a VFR race over 2 or 3 days from Santa Monica to Cleveland, Ohio so if you want to try out VFR feel free to come along I believe at least 3 pilots will be on IVAO. For that you would need to either check the Powder Puff Derby on my website or the Roaring Thirties forum here at AVSIM.Still planning but we will probably be around the Misty Fjords together soon for the first Poker Race (also VFR.Sorry nearly forgot.A few on AVSIM chat are on IVAO so ask them. One is a controller (almost) - AIRAC.Andrew BrownROARING THIRTIEShttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

>While some may disagree, the default ATC in the game is fine>for VFR flying. VATSIM is good for airline IFR flying but>honestly there isn't much for the controllers to do for you>when your VFR. There has been time in RW flying when I have>flown without flight following and only talked to the tower>when I left the airport went to an uncontrolled field and then>came back and had to talk to them again. When I fly RW, I take off talking to tower at a controlled field, then use Flight following and back to ATC at the arrival field . I don't see how Vatsim differs much from that. I have used the ATC in FS9 and think it does a pretty good job, but it can't be compared to a live controller , in my opinion. There is no flexibility to speak of.

What is the main difference in IVAO compared to Vatsim?

IVAO versus VATSIM .........I am a newbie with regard to flying with live ATC so it's rather hard for me to tell. Looking at the websites the closest I could come to as any difference is that there is more ATC in the USA on VATSIM than on IVAO. Not to say there is none! I know a few people who fly on IVAO and one controller there while I only know one guy who ever uses VATSIM which makes a difference.I will send you more in an email but not here :-)Andrew Brownhttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

>What is the main difference in IVAO compared to Vatsim? I hope people wont start shooting, but...VATSIM: professional, many rules (pro's and con's to that), very active in US and UK area.IVAO: Less rules, imho little bit more relaxed controllers, and once again imho, better for beginners. Little ATC coverage in the US.That's very short, you could write very long boring posts about this, but I think the above is the essence. Like Gordius said, both are free, which means free to try, to go, to leave, to watch. Just give it a try, don't like one, try the other and compare.