Can anyone offer a brief objective "pros and cons" of the various flight/nav managers...I really would rather only use one, esp. if a free one offers everything. I understand that most excel in different areas, but I am limiting myself to 2 at most. Right now I have FSbuild and NAV3.1... but then there's SFP, FSNav, IFR someting, and a couple others (included on the RC3 CD I just purchased). Am I still missing something by not having purchased FSNav? Any insights into these others would be greatly appreciated. FWIW - I use FSFlightMax and RealityXP FLA...Thanks,Gino

I once owned a copy of FSNAV (payware) a couple of years back but, then, I found my knowledge did not match up the the capablities of the program! :-lol So I went for NAV3 (freeware) which I could get my head around! I still use it, as it is a no nonsense, no frills planner that also has a moving map feature (displays AI traffic also), somthing that I have running on a second pc. However if you are the sort of simmer that likes it "as real as it gets", to coin a phrase, then (& I'm sure an owner of this exellent add-on will jump in & list it's may features) you should get your CC out & consider purchasing FSNAV.

Hi Gino,I have found Nav3 or FSnav to both be excellent flight planners. Nav3 is free and somewhat less complex than FSnav.Sidney Schwartz [KPDX]Horizon Flights--flight plans and scenery for FS2002http://sidneyschwartz.homestead.com/index.html

Gino,I use use Nav3 for quick refernece and quick planning if I need to see distances or routes when not flying.I use FSNav when I fly because, unlike any other planner, it's integrated into FS. I personally cannot live without FSNav when I'm flying or need to move my aircraft quickly (either in the air or to a new groundf location). FSNav just has so many useful features, not the least of which is the autopilot control and Nav radio setting from the peogram.FSNav uses a simple program to make the database. Nav is slightly more complicated (as you know). FSNav does not display AI, and Nav does. For me, however, the AI display in Nav bogs FS down badly, so I wouldn't use it anyway.They are both excellent planners and both have excellent features. It's up to what you really need, but you can always test out FSNav (shareware, not payware) and see if you like it and how it compatres to Nav. Being free though, Nav is hard to beat.

I use Nav3 for my initial plan. Then I look at my Airport/Facility Directory and check to see if a Preferred IFR Route is required. If it is, I file it by editing my Nav3 plan. If a Preferred IFR Route is not required, I look at my giant Chart, framed on the wall, a U.S. High Altitude Controller Chart. I then use it to find the Jet Route I want to fly, again editing my Nav3 plan. Of course I have all ready checked the winds aloft to determine the best wind route... :-lolLarry

---

http://www.jdtllc.com/images/RCbeta.jpg

Gino,As you can see even my fellow RC tester buddies have different approaches to flight planners. Here is mine (he he). FSNav for me is the best (IMHO).Now let me tell you why, FSNAV is accurate for any city pairs all over the world. It does very excellent auto flight planning with navaids. The learning curve is not steep, but is is not somthing you can just sit down and use easily the first time.Many people like to talk about STARS and SIDS and how to put them into their flight plan. FSNav makes this a breeze, you just do the flight plan, then modify it at both ends for the published departure airport SID and then the STAR at the arrival airport. I have almost a hundred routes saved in FSNav and modify them for my routes and weather. The author of FSNev Heldge will help you through any problem you are having.In addition it is toally compatible with RCv3 and produces a nice flight plan printed copy to follow if you want.As you can see, it works for me and more than happy to help anyone through its use.Bob JohnsonRC Beta Tester

Thanks to everyone for their input, feedback, and opinions...I definitely have a variety of perspectives to draw from. Unfortunately, I'm now somewhat interested in FSNav - only unfortunate because I'll need to dish out MORE $$ for FS2K2!!! One other concern...please chime in...is the ability to allow a second PC to run the flight planner so as to not tap into FS2K2 resources. I know NAV3.0 can do this...but I don't believe FSNav can. Is this really something to be concerned about? Currently I'm setting up WideFS on my laptop to run FSMeteo, FSFlightMax, and Nav3...maybe even RC3, but then I won't have very good speakers for the voices.

NAV 3.1 does SIDS and STARS. (They call it DP/STAR) and the button will appear if it is available for the airport.

Hi there,I use FSNav almost constantly (like Scott I wouldn't be without it). It doesn't run on a second PC (like you I have my laptop set up to run RC etc) but I don't find this an issue. I've never seen a performance hit from FSNav.Nav3 is much more effective on the second PC but FSNav remains my normal planner. Despite a couple of comments above I find it very quick ands easy to use ;-)All the best,John