Sorry i have forgot to sign my previous postReal

Well I guess I will wait for PMDG and forget about Ariane.... I'd like to try a 737, it's just a nice size.Isn't it strange that some business people just don't understand the basics of human relations. Aggression - however slight or misguided - will almost always be rewarded with a response which escalates that aggression, and if the "business person" doesn't instantly pick up on it, and make an effort to mollify the client - it will always end badly - and both parties lose. The customer is not always right, but he/she must be made to feel he/she is right. Successful businesses have employees - including the owner/s - who will put their ego's on the shelf and simply "turn the other cheek", doing whatever it takes to make the customer happy. :(

Well I guess I will wait for PMDG and forget about Ariane.... I'd like to try a 737, it's just a nice size.Isn't it strange that some business people just don't understand the basics of human relations. Aggression - however slight or misguided - will almost always be rewarded with a response which escalates that aggression, and if the "business person" doesn't instantly pick up on it, and make an effort to mollify the client - it will always end badly - and both parties lose. The customer is not always right, but he/she must be made to feel he/she is right. Successful businesses have employees - including the owner/s - who will put their ego's on the shelf and simply "turn the other cheek", doing whatever it takes to make the customer happy. :(

Heh, right on. Someone should tell the Flight1 Mustang support staff this stuff. I've never found a more hostile group of developers. Then again, I've never bought an Ariane product. Heh. At least with Flight1 you can return it if it blows chunks.

Someone should tell the Flight1 Mustang support staff this stuff. I've never found a more hostile group of developers.

hah, hah, we know something about it don't we? :(

I guess "JimboG" can't get it to start! Or maybe he's still waiting for the key? :(

Guys I have the -800 X2 since a few weeks, I can say the following:- my activation arrived with an hour or so (probably depends on your time zone)- the VNAV needs some work (ie. respecting constraints: word is it's being worked on)- documentation is excellent- I'm really happy with the aircraft, there are features other 737s don't have (like CDU switching, IRS allign) - there are no 2D panels, but you can create views from the VC which serves the same purpose, this is innovative in my view- there is no commercial nav data source yet but it's on the way I believe- it's not an FPS hogNo add-on is perfect, no add-on includes 100% of all real aircraft features - for what's left out some people are not happy, but that's part of weighing up the overall features of the add-on.I was doing autolands no problem from the beginning with the -800 X2, I like the quality, don't have any issues with the FMC. Don' t have any problems with the way they offer basic plus airline packs - others are doing the same - it's a growing trend.The support forum can be a little slow, but serious issues/concerns are answered even if it takes a couple of days. Less serious issues, normally solved by reading the manual, don't get the same level of support - isn't this what ticks off most developers - the RTFM response is often justified. It seems to me their private user customer base is quite limited (perhaps they have commercial clients) but it is growing. As word gets out that the products are good I guess this is inevitable and then the customer support can grow accordingly.You know customer forum support is a difficult one - there are cultural and language barriers to get around - but being around many forums I see that where a two way relationship is required and sensitivity on both sides essential, the customer's attitude is just as important as the developer's if things are to work. The dev's are not always to blame. I have my favourites and those I wouldn't like to deal with as much, but regarding this particular add-on I'm glad I read between the lines and took some of the feedback I saw on Ariane with a pinch of salt.I'm really happy with my -800X2, looking forward to an update to the FMC VNAV functions and availability of navdata sources.I'm happy to try to answer any specific questions anyone might have about this 737, I'm no expect but I can do a flight if it helps answer any doubts.jlm

Where did James go? This thread was getting interesting.I've got their older -900 NG V2.0 that needs re-activating.No complaints with the product, but there is an annoying CTD bug when clearing the current flight plan.Before everyone jumps on the Ariane CTD bandwagon as if they have a monopoly, I get CTDs with the Flight1 ATR, and PMDG 737, so don't use this as a guide as to how good/bad a developer is.Overall I found it to run quickly, was very smooth (even in the VC), and generally to be very detailed. Support was the biggest killer of this company. If they at least had a customer forum they visited, I think things might be better.As I understand it, Ariane are a UK company, which is why their products are generally a bit more expensive than those created in the US.I don't work for Ariane, etc.. - I'm just saying what I see. Take it as you like, but as far as the product went, I enjoyed flying it. The activation and support was the major killer. I'll reserve judgment on whether this has improved until I've contacted them to re-activate the -900.Best regards,Robin.

Well, at least we've got two intelligent, objective semi-reviews out of this: thanks, Robin & jlm. {From the Araiane blurb} it certainly looks like a very nice aircraft, and, like the positive posts re CaptainSim's 757 that I've read - maybe it actually is a purchase that won't be regretted after all... :(

- it's not an FPS hog

jlm, can you quantify that? How does it compare to the stock CRJ700 in an identical situation?

If they add navdata from navigraph and fix the LNAV bugs I would definitely buy her

jlm, can you quantify that? How does it compare to the stock CRJ700 in an identical situation?

Petraeus, I checked that out, flying out of YBCS, rwy15, daytime, I have FTX, ASX & REX installed on my Q6600 2.4GHz Nvidia 8500GT system but weather set to mostly clear and performed back-to-back flights with default CRJ700 then Ariane 737-800 X2. My WOAI traffic is set to 70%, fps limited to 33, most sliders to high for this fairly autogen rich environment.Here are results taken over a couple of circuits with these types (default crj in brackets), all data from vc view, fmc fully programmed (for Ariane) with a representative SID then ILS arrival, tried to capture the max/min but no stutter as this transient range is very rapid, just trying to be honest here, but perhaps the max each time would be a fair comparison.Terminal area 12-15 (16-19)Taxi towards active 13-15 (18)T-O roll 14-15 (16_19)Climbing turn 14-18 (18-20)level out at 4000 17-21 (22-26)short finals 12-16 (20)This fps is a little better than the Flight 1 mustang on my system, but I usually fly with fps set to unlimited which I find for the 737-800 & Mustang offers better performance especially in overcast / poor weather and on short finals where traffic and terminals come into view.most serious FSX simmers (I mostly use fs9 for larger airliners, light twins in FSX) would have a better video card so could expect better performance than myself hope this helpsjlm

Here are results taken over a couple of circuits with these types....

So, how did you work around the gross weight fmc issue? I've read many posts about this returning an "invalid entry" message regardless of the steps outlined in the help sections. Did you experience this bug?

So, how did you work around the gross weight fmc issue? I've read many posts about this returning an "invalid entry" message regardless of the steps outlined in the help sections. Did you experience this bug?

From what I've read, there is no work-around at the moment. As a result of not being able to enter Gross Weight into the FMC, everything that depends on it does not work either. So:- no pressing the VNAV button and getting a managed climb and descent- no automatic obeying of altitude constaints - no calculation of V-speeds- no calculation of Vref on approachReading the FAQ's is quite a comedy :( (unless you've shelled out over $100 dollars on this package, in which case it's a tragedy. :( I was tempted to part with some money until my researches turned up this 'dead VNAV feature' in the software). The same question comes up a number of times in the FAQ's, and the response is each time is some variation on:- RTFM- this is sophisticated software, so don't expect it to work the same as some other 737 / Boeing FMC package you've flown before- this FMC has been checked out by real-world pilots, unlike with other products that Ariane condescendingly refer to in their FAQ as 'simtoys'- make sure you enter the number correctly, i.e. like 174.505 (even though the entry boxes only allow for xxx.x, and since when did the Boeing FMC require the input of any weights to three decimal places of klbs?) - (My personal favourite!). If the engines are running, then the Gross Weight is decreasing even as you key in the numbers, so press 'Pause', key in the numbers, because now they are not changing, and then unpause. :(Sadly, none of these answers works, because people keep coming back with the same question.It wouldn't be rocket science to fix a simple data input problem, and I have two theories why they haven't yet. The first is the obvious one that they've got your money (and indeed lots) so now you can kiss off, sucker. The second theory is more devious, but bear in mind that this is a very arrogant company charging premium prices for what they claim to be replica Boeings, and it is that Ariane have a fundamental problem getting VNAV to work as it should, (as other vendors have in the past) and so they are camouflaging it with this apparently more basic problem. Either way, it's pathetic, and you expect a $100+ piece of software to work at least as well as a $15 Friendly Panels FMC.How long to wait for the PMDG 737? (Which Ariane would no doubt describe as a 'simtoy'.)

To expensive!

When you compare the price with say that of PMDG MD11 or B747 they are in the same ballpark. What PMDG is to their aircraft, well, Ariane is to the B737ng. It is the most advanced B737ng available for msfs. The docs are excellent. My experience with customer service has been nothing but great. If you have a problem, discuss it with them, politely, proffesionally, the same way you would like to be talked to. If you think there is a bug somewhere in the product document your findings and contact them with the information.....they want the product to be its' absolute best as does any customer. My experience with them goes back a couple of years, several aircraft, both fs9 and fsx and I am a most pleased customer.dbw