I'm guessing that no addon aircraft, designed for FSX, will run on FS9? If so then I can stop visiting aircraft designer's websites for the next year or so, looking for possible purchases. I have no immediate interest in FSX, I am not spending money on a new system anytime soon and I'll wait for all the bugs to be worked out, the definitive "tweaking" FAQ to be finalized...and the inevitable "patch". I figure 2 years...about the time FS11 is announced. Are the developers going to give a discount on FS9 products? I might go for that. After 11 years of chasing MSFS, with more "candy" and less "performance", every time...I have decided to go with the "End of model year" theory of purchasing. When everybody is buying "quad core" systems, with 8 GPU's and 12 mb of RAM, and FS11...I should be able to round up a deal on FSX and an "old" dual core Vista system? I'm done chasing the ghost...at full price. Unfortunately the DC8 I have been awaiting for a year, from one of my favorite payware providers, is probably moot...they are designing it for FSX only, I understand. Ah, well...there are advantages and disadvantages to being "at the back of the pack". The advantages have finally outweighed. I'll look for FSX on Ebay in 2008.

A sensible approach at last!!!

Look no further than 'Carenado' FSX and FS9.Give the others a chance to catch up?

A voice of reason! good post!I too am hoping for backwards compatibility, or even FS9 exclusive?

Models designed and built for FSX taking advantage of the new features and .mdl structure (animation and texture differences, separate exterior and interior models) will not be backward compatible. Many FS9 models will run well and look great in FSX (i.e. compatible, but not built to take advantage of FSX features, whatever they are). All the design tools and SDK's are not yet released.

Well then...it seems that designers have two choices:1. Design for FSX only, hoping we all jump to it in the next few months (RIGHT!).2. Realize that a LARGE amount of us will not be switching to FSX any time soon (I keep hearing 1 to 2 YEARS, from very many people at various forums...including myself) and keep designing stuff for both. I realize that designing aircraft for both FS9 and FSX is a very expensive proposition...and I don't envy their position, right about now. They are going to lose (as a W.A.G.) almost 1/3 (or more) of their customers, over the next 1 to 2 years, if they design only for FSX. I can only say that, perhaps, they should be talking to MS a little more...or did this "lack of FSX enthusiasm" I'm seeing all over the place...catch everyone by surprise? I'll be honest, I was waiting for it like everyone else. I was dreaming of what it would be like to fly in a 2D panel (I won't fly any other way) and be able to look out my window and see terrain...not having to wait for it. I was dreaming about how AI would be able to load instantly...without waiting for the textures and having them RELOAD as I panned around. I was dreaming about how scenery at major airports wouldn't drag down the FPS so much. I was dreaming about how a new, dual core and SLI system might accomplish this. I was dreaming, that's for sure, because none of it is happening, from the comments I'm seeing. A note to Microsoft: Keep your fancy eye candy, cabin views, enhanced VC, "missions" and all the rest. I FLY the aircraft, from the flight deck! I want a 2D panel (WITHOUT the drain of a now unremoveable VC!), I want better texture loading and better FPS. I want you to take FULL advantage of the new technology...not what I'm hearing, at this point. You didn't take full advantage of "hyperthreading" in FS9, and, now, you can't take full advantage of dual core tech? You still insist on hogging the CPU, instead of moving the graphics to the GPU...this would cut down on most "stutters" as the other parts of the program (sound, etc.) would have a "cleaner" pipe? Why are you always "one step behind" and yet WE, the loyal FS buyers, are always having to stay "one step ahead" by buying new hardware (that YOU don't fully use)?? In closing, let me just say one more thing...I freakin' LOVE my MS Flight Simulator! Do you think I would be so upset if I didn't? Does anyone believe I would say a word if I didn't give a darn? Does anyone believe that I would have spent the last 11 years tweakin' and tryin' and buyin' if I didn't enjoy FS? Nope...this is my "thing", my learning experience, my relaxation (if you don't count Saturday's stall in a Howard 500...sheesh!). This is one of the things I LOVE to do...so I DO give a ####. Vic