JD, PSS's new Concorde 2004 is a fabulous aircraft, but.........with regards to RC's future version, I am wondering if there will be a call in to Center control about the need for, how do I put this... altitude deviance tolerance.... What I have discovered so far is that at Mach 2.00 cruise altitude can vary 1 or 2 thousand feet throughout the flight depending on a lot of factors which you cannot alter, mainly weather programs like ActiveSky. That kind of altitude deviation will drive RC3.1 crazy I'm sure. Now, I guess we could just use the Dev.Turb. menu item, but that's not really the reason, so I'm wondering how that could work in future versions?Randy Jura, KPDX

Randy,An an avid Concorde nut I've just bought this fantastic aircraft and I've been thinking exactly the same thing for the last 48 hours. You're quite right in thinking that RC will not like the aircraft descending from its asigned altitude. The only way around this problem that I can think of is once you're reached your assigned altitude - say FL570 - or have reached Mach 2.0 you switch to Mach Hold and Alt Hold. If you keep Max Climb engaged (with Max Cruise also engaged) the aircraft's altitude will vary to maintain Mach 2. When running RC it's more important to maintain your assigned altitude than maintaining your speed. By doing this you should be able to keep both your passengers and the RC controller happy.Bear in mind you do have some control over deviations. Check the Options page. You can vary the altitude value but what I think is important is that once you've reached an assigned altitude you don't start down until told to.It should prove an interesting experience and one I'll be testing with version 4.Cheers,

PSS just issued a new FDE for Concorde, I hope this helps!Randy Jura, KPDX

Well, the new FDE is just GREAT!........pretty much solves the problems and will make flying with RC much more feasible.Randy Jura, KPDX

JDDespite the new FDE - much better but I still have problems with RC3 and PSS Concorde because of need to allow for the acceleration phase at ~ FL260 where rate of climb is variable dependent on weight, weather etc etc and RC is very intolerant of the slow rate of climb and small deviations which occur between M 0.95 and 1.3 or so (FL260 - FL 360 usually)Could that be built into RC4 at this stage?? On another point I often find when using a subsonic aircraft - say A340 that RC 3 is intolerant of the deceleration when asked to descend and before the nose of the aircraft starts to pitch downwards - When flying in a 747, 777, A340 etc the engines usually spool down well ahead of the aircraft pitching down.Is this something that I am not doing or is this limited by trying to have a program that caters for all types of aircraft?? Thanks for a great programRichardCYHM

Richard,On the Concorde climb issue what you should do is file FL280 for your altitude and then request higher when at the accel point. Don't file FL570 or whatever because there's no guarantee you will get there and of course you need to level out subsonically for a while. RC will be happy with a climb rate of 100fpm or higher when climbing supersonically.In v4 there will be a Pilot Discretion option which will allow you to remain at cruise level until you want to start down (within limits of course - eventually you WILL be ordered lower). You can use that period to decellerate the aircraft in readiness for the descent.I haven't flown v3 in ages but perhaps JD can suggest a method that will keep RC3 happy.Cheers,