>If you want to maximize flying smaller aircraft in the VC, I>would strongly suggest getting a TrackIR if you can afford it.>It will be supported for FSX and raises the experience to a>whole new level of reality. Yes, I'am thinking about this already. Flying with a VC is probably easier with bigger planes where the autopilot flies most of the time and panning around using the mouse (and active camera) isn't an issue. I'am using a full thrustmaster hotas setup, so I'am able to use the throttle and all its switches with my left hand while using the mouse with the right. This is ok for flying a big jet as the stick isn't so important, but for small planes and VFR flying things are very different. Panning with one of the hat switches on the stick is just too slow (not related to low framerates, the actual movement is smooth, but the "turn rate" is just too low).So TrackIR looks like an awesome additon.

king air 200 is good, pc-12 is good, and so is the cirrus... those are my 3 favs... I actually just bought the cloud9 Phantom... wow that thing is lots of fun... I like it much more then the cpt sim f104...I would also say the tweet is fun too... its a good plane for GA and also do some 'higher' G manouvers :)my pick would be T37 tweet, and cloud9 phantom :)a cool challenge is flying cpt sim's c130 VFR (USCG around SE FL coast)man, I just noticed how much money I spent on this gameI could have put a downpayment on a bike or a jetski :( lol

>If you want to maximize flying smaller aircraft in the VC, I>would strongly suggest getting a TrackIR if you can afford it.> It will be supported for FSX and raises the experience to a>whole new level of reality. Yes TrackIR4 makes the whole FS flying experience totally immersive when flying from of good VC expecially in smaller GA planes where you are flying lower and slower.Right now you can get 30 dollars off of one on the simhq website add from gamespot. That brings the price down to about 149 instead of 179.

If you are getting the Meridian, spend another $10 and buy the Flight Video of this airplane. It walks you through a complete flight with a real life Meridian pilot... I found it really good.http://www.flightvideoproductions.com/meridian.htmSecondly, if you get tired of the panel selection icons on the screen (I found them distracting from an otherwise really pretty panel), let me know and I can send you a panel modification that moves the icons to a pop-up panel manager.Thirdly, set your GNS resolution to "fine" in the ini file!http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_post...8&KW=bert+pieke

>The F1 Piper Meridian looks very appealing to me, mainly>because of its "glass style" cockpit (I'am just very used to>this type of instruments, because of many, many hours in the>"big ones"). Also, it seems to be a good choice for both VFR>and IFR and the bundling with reality xp gauges (from which>I've heard only good things so far) is another good point.The Meridian was a nice add-on, but unfortunately, it's developer has orphaned it...it uses avionics integrated with a very old version of the RXP Garmin 530...the avionics are not compatible with the new version of the RXP Garmins. There lots of other good add-ons out there that are more current...perhaps the Meridian will rank among the better ones again if the developer (that'd be the same Reality XP that makes the gauges) ever provides some sort of path to compatibility with their own much-improved recent releases of the Garmin.I still don't understand why Jean Luc provides better support and upgradeability to Dreamfleet users than to users of his own product. I find the whole thing ridiculous.RegardsBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

I agree on the Meridian - I think JL has his somewhat valid reasons to keep "looking forward", mainly that his operation is not large enough to dedicate manpower to both supporting older products as well as developing and supporting new ones.Instead of the Meridian, get the Pilatus. More modern avionics, and I think you can swap out the GNS430 with a RXP unit if you so desire.For all the whiz-bang stuff, I like the Baron over the Bonanza b/c it comes with the RXP 530 and the Sandel 3308, while the Bonanza has the GNS430 and the weather radar (which is neat but not that useful in the FS world)>>>The F1 Piper Meridian looks very appealing to me, mainly>>because of its "glass style" cockpit (I'am just very used to>>this type of instruments, because of many, many hours in the>>"big ones"). Also, it seems to be a good choice for both VFR>>and IFR and the bundling with reality xp gauges (from which>>I've heard only good things so far) is another good point.>>The Meridian was a nice add-on, but unfortunately, it's>developer has orphaned it...it uses avionics integrated with a>very old version of the RXP Garmin 530...the avionics are not>compatible with the new version of the RXP Garmins. There>lots of other good add-ons out there that are more>current...perhaps the Meridian will rank among the better ones>again if the developer (that'd be the same Reality XP that>makes the gauges) ever provides some sort of path to>compatibility with their own much-improved recent releases of>the Garmin.>>I still don't understand why Jean Luc provides better support>and upgradeability to Dreamfleet users than to users of his>own product. I find the whole thing ridiculous.>>Regards>>Bob Scott>ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300>Santiago de Chile

>"The Meridian was a nice add-on, but unfortunately, it's developer >has orphaned it...">"I still don't understand why Jean Luc provides better support and >upgradeability to Dreamfleet users than to users of his own >product. I find the whole thing ridiculous."After reading the F1 forum it would seem that the F1 folks have not "orhaned" the Meridian. They posted that JL promised an update a long time ago.

Really it depends on how you want to fly...- Low and slow/bush flying: The RealAir Scout/Decathlon/Citabria package is fantastic. Second-to-none flight dynamics, the best VCs in the industry, just a whole lot of 100-knot 1500-foot-AGL fun. (Plus the Decathlon and Citabria are aerobatic if you need to knock the cobwebs out with a few snap rolls!) I also purchased the Aerosoft PA-18 Super Cub today; it's not as good in the VC as the Scout package, but there's something about it that I can't put my finger on that really, really drags me in. Maybe it's the sound. And, it's a real steal at US$16.- Piston singles/twins: Carenado's C182RG, C182Q, or C206. The 206 is currently my favorite piston single. Excellent VCs and sound, great flight dynamics, great modeling on all three. And they're all very easy on framerates and quite reasonably priced. I also have RealAir's SF.260 trainer (another great acro aircraft), and Dreamfleet's Bonanza and Baron, both of which are top-of-the-line and fitted with Reality XP avionics (but they're harder on my framerates). There's also a several excellent freeware piston birds available here--the Luscombe 8A Silvaire and Piper PA-22 Tripacer, both by Bill Lyons; the Spartan 7W Executive and the Aero Commander series by Milton Shupe and his design team; the Christen Eagle II aerobatic biplane and the Aeronca L-16 by Long Island Classics. Oh, and if you want to stick with glass cockpits, Eaglesoft's Cirruses are good. I have the SR22 and was very pleasantly surprised by it, especially by how well the glass cockpit system worked in the VC and how easy it was on frames.- Turboprops: I would avoid the Meridian. I have it and it pushed the bleeding edge when it came out a few years ago, but it's given me a lot of trouble with CTDs and other issues. The Flight One PC-12 is newer and better, although it's VERY hard on my somewhat marginal system. Aeroworx's Super King Air B200 is, quite simply, amazing, with a level of systems detail that rivals the high-end payware jetliners, several different variants (executive cabin and air ambulance, each with two different panels) and great documentation. And the Cheyenne, as recommended several times upthread, is wonderful. It's a good bit smaller than the King Air but no less detailed. It's a good time to be a GA fan...there's a LOT of great stuff out there to choose from. :)Lewis "Moose" GregoryRichmond, Virginia

>After reading the F1 forum it would seem that the F1 folks>have not "orhaned" the Meridian. They posted that JL promised>an update a long time ago.And given that in several years now he has never followed through on those promises, it's fair to consider the developer(s) (specifically Reality XP) to have orphaned the product. The issue is compounded in this case because I think there were multiple developers...but in the end the effect is the same. RegardsBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

>>After reading the F1 forum it would seem that the F1 folks>>have not "orhaned" the Meridian. They posted that JL>promised>>an update a long time ago.>>Come on now, Ron, you know very well the difference between a>publisher and a developer. >>I didn't say that Flight1--in this case the publisher of the>meridian--orphaned the product. >>I said that the developer--that's Reality XP--orphaned>it.>>Regards>>Bob Scott>ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300>Santiago de Chile>>>Bob you are correct. I do know the difference between a publisher and a developer.For your understanding, F1 has a development arm and a publishing arm. I am refering to the F1 development arm here.It is well known that RXP did not provide the Meridian model, textures, flight dynamics, documentation, or sounds, they only built the avionics for the Meridian.Search the F1 forums for yourself if you wish to know more on the subject.

The F1 development arm built, and F1 publishing arm published the Meridian...the avionics, according to F1 forums, were to be updated by JL.To our knowledge, RXP has never developed a complete aircraft. As you have said, it is fair to say, absent a promised update, that the avionics have been "orphaned".

Orphaned or not; I still like flying my Meridian...I do have the DF Baron58 with up to date RXP avionics as well as the stand alone Sandel 3308. It would be nice if JL updated the avionics; but even if he doesn't it doesn't take my joy away from flying this baby.Perhaps some other development house will take the Meridian on.