Bearracing

metamarty,This is a question for either metamarty or anyone, but I'm quite curious about this active camera I keep seeing individuals mentioning. Last summer, when the "Active Camera" was uploaded into the AVSIM library, I received several (4 or 5) emails questioning my having NOT picked it for my weekly Bear Picks. A couple of those emails suggested that I should have awarded the author my "Gold Award", but I honestly didn't feel it was even worthy of being a pick of the week, let alone giving it either my "Bear Approved" or "Gold Award". Because I keep seeing so many people mentioning it so much, I'm beginning to suspect that maybe I'm missing something here! I recently reinstalled it as it came with the LAGO Ultra-Light package, but I still don't get it? What is it about this "Active Camera" that everyone keeps talking about? I'm very serious here guys, as I personally have found that the default "Tower" view to be far more useful and certainly more adjustable for your control over your view positions, but once again, as I've already mentioned, I simply don't get what is so great about this "Active Camera", so, what am I doing wrong? My list of the most innovative or progressive achievements so far in FS addons:RealAir SF.260 (most advanced and accurately designed flight modeling yet)LAGO's Emma Field Scenery package (first use of FSsounds with a highly dynamic and random motion scenery activity)Ed Truthan's Ocean-Lake-River dynamic Water Textures (freeware)Gerrish Grey's Autogen replacement buildings and trees (freeware)Lee Swordy's AI freeware filesPILOT's "Boeing 314 Clipper" and LAGO's "Lucky Lindbergh" addons for their uniqueness for designing addons that make use of Flight Simulator as an inter-active educational package relating to aviation history and those that made it.Bill Lyons and the Golden Eagle Squadron group for the WindRider Hot Air Balloon (freeware), for having designed the only authentically working hot air balloon ever for FS (package released right after all the air file gurus said it wasn't possible to do in FS). In addition, Bill's freeware Goodyear "Defender" blimp is equally as unique and extraordinary in its own right, that it bares mentioning also. Plus, it was Bill Lyons that first made use of a dynamic Virtual Panel-Cockpit (FS98), years before anyone else, including Microsoft.Lennart Arrvidson for his FS2002 replacement ground texture freeware addon.Yannick Lavigne - Fred Banting - Rob Young for their Falcon50 by their setting the standards for all Virtual Cockpit comparisons to anything designed after them. Also a freeware package.Chris Willis for his SkyWorld cloudsRichard Goldstein for all of his scenery designs (some freeware and some payware) including: Emma Field, Spotted Bear USFS, Flying M Ranch, Bryce Canyon, Diamond Point, and Ranger Creek airports.Don Moser-David Erickson-Frank Betts-Naji for their truly unique bush sceneries (freeware)I'm sure I've missed some others too, but for now that will do!Bear!

Blujay,Just go to the "review" page (top of page menu) and then look at the upper left menu list for "mini-reviews". This will give you the complete listing of all of mini-reviews from the Bear Cave covering all of my picks from the very beginning.[/font color=red]Bear![/font]

Jack,No, I haven't gone into hibernation quite yet, but there are some dramatic changes going into effect concerning my weekly Bear picks. Over the last couple of months I was very busy with the Bush Flying in FS2002 feature and then my review of the RealAir Simulation SF.260! Since those were published, I've been working at getting my Bear Picks caught up. My picks covering the last 6 weeks should be up sometime next week, as I've already submitted them to my editor.I will be explaining the changes in detail on how my new Bear Picks will be implemented when the next edition is published, but to give you a brief idea of what is happening, I've had several changes in my personal life that have basically reduced my time available for flight simming by about 80% or so. Between a promotion at work and other items envolving my family, I simply do not have the time available to download, test, and review each and every file that gets uploaded each week and if you've noticed, the number of files (quality) that get uploaded each week are approaching 100s of files. In some cases the files have been as big as 100MB in size as well and considering I am stuck with a dial up modem (56K), it just isn't possible for me to check all the files that get uploaded.Based on the number of hits and from reader comments, I know that my weekly listing of Bear Picks is quite popular among AVSIM readers, so neither I nor the editoral staff at AVSIM wanted to eliminate the column, but for me to continue I did have to make some radical changes. I do believe that the changes we are incorporating will improve the benefit of the column to those looking for that missed file and will be a vehicle more attuned to highlighting those lesser known authors.Steve (Bear) CartwrightSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM Online

32.7GB, 209,508 files, 8,321 folders and my backup folders (CFS2, FS2000, and a special FS2002 build folder) are another 6.1GB on top of that.Like most, I've downloaded all of that with a 56K dial-up modem too!Bear!

Barry,Check out my tutorial on "Short Field" operations in my recently posted article on Bush Flying in FS2002. In that tutorial I describe the technique of flying the back-side of the power curve on approach. The combination of reading the book "Stick & Rudder" along with that tutorial should give you the necessary skill tools needed for this type of approach to landing. Good Luck! (-:Bear!

The Antonov AN-124 is available in the AVSIM library (FS2000) under the filename of antonovan-124.zip and it seems to work quite well in FS2002, although you will need to search for a panel (I'm currently using the default 747-400 panel).Bear!

Shay,You caught me! I and a couple of friends were discussing the article this morning and someone else mentioned that exact same thing! We (I) ommitted the DC-3 because I simply forgot to include it...oops! Bear!

Malves,I was merely responding to your original question!I have just one question: How in God's name a Bush Flying article does not include the best bush a/c of all time? The PORTER!!!I saw everything over there, but where is the Porter? There's one for d'load and it's free: The FSD Porter. One of the most d'loaded models ever, together with the J-3 Cub by Mr. Medel. BTW the J-3 Cub is a FSD model, too. Mr.Medel was part of the Team at the time of development. Just to let you know, 'cause it probably slipped from the Author attention.It seems to me you were criticizing me and my feature based your questions and now you're criticizing me for answering, hardly seems fair to me don't you think?Steve Cartwright

Chris,The intent of my "Bush Flying in FS2002" feature was for everyone's enjoyment and also with the intent of everyone being able to download scenery, utilities, and/or aircraft files from the AVSIM library to enhance their individual copy of FS2002. Of the 250+ files I have listed in that article, only about a dozen or so were not available in the AVSIM library and I supplied the link or filename (along with its library location) where needed. During the research for my feature, I simply did not look for the FSD Porter as I was not aware that it was still available in other libraries. Plus you will also notice that my article was related to bush flying in FS2002, so I only listed aircraft that were designed for FS2002, had conversion files available, or I had personally tested and found that they functioned correctly. (As an example, you will notice that I listed the taildragger and tricycle geared FS2000 Maules of Steven Grant's, but I omitted the float version! Why? Because it will not float correctly in FS2002 and I am unaware of any conversion files being available. Considering the complex nature of the airfile in the FSD Porter, I can assume that it possibily would have some issues, though I have no way of knowing one way or another.)There were two key things I was trying to get across with my feature; 1, Everything you need to enjoy bush flying is available as freeware, and 2, 99% of the files needed are available from the AVSIM library. I listed nothing that was shareware or payware.I would also like to note that I am merely a volunteer member of AVSIM and I simply write reviews and feature articles, period. I have no control over the AVSIM library whatsoever nor do I have any say in AVSIM's policies, political beliefs, or anything of that nature. I do know that all files (freeware) from FSD were requested to be removed from the AVSIM library (I did an extended search and it seems that request has/had been complied with) and I personally was asked to remove any FSD files that I may have on my harddrive (at the time it may have been a request for only the beta files I had, but I took it to mean anything from FSD). I removed everything, including any of the FSD FS98 or FS2000 FS aircraft I had at the time.I can not comment on why these actions were taken against AVSIM by the FSD team, specifically because I am not privey to them, but in the situation where I was personally asked to remove the FS aircraft files from my harddrive was merely a misunderstanding that lead to an assumption on my part, which in turn ultimately embarassed a member of the FSD team and I appologized for my error at the time. I will not comment or respond any further on that subject and I consider the matter closed.Steve Cartwright

Yes, you're correct, the FSD Porter was omitted or should I say purposely not included at the request of FSD. Specific members of FSD requested that their Porter be removed from the AVSIM library and specifically requested that I personally remove all FSD aircraft from my harddrive, I of course have complied with that request.The J-3 is a Mr. Medel original FS aircraft that a couple of members of the FSD team (at the time) provided some additional updates for.Steve Cartwright

I think that would be great Brian, can't believe how sparse the default looks! The problem with FSSE is that you don't have the choice of seasonal changes with the trees, so its always summer time at Andover, NJ! Using Airport and Gerrish Gray trees (v3) would really change this little airport. I would imagine that you live not too far from this airport do you? (Vermont looks pretty close to New Jersey on the map...hehehehe :-lol )Bear!

I spent about an hour with LAGO's FSSE (Flight Simulator Scenery Enhancer) just adding trees and 2 or 3 static aircraft. Though it is not completed yet, it is getting ever closer to the real photograph from airliners.net! What do you think?http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3dc5a75e32089bed.jpg On approach in a F33 Bonanza into Andover in New Jersey. http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3dc5a79932f6ca9c.jpgFrom the cockpit and from the parking area of the Flight1 Cessna 421!http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3dc5a7bc33783b13.jpg

>Don't you mean B-17G?

There are a couple of pretty good examples available, one payware and the others are freeware. AlphaSim is the payware site that has the really good B-17D model and back a year or so, the A.C.T. group had designed a very nice model and then had a repaint contest open to anyone. There are many outstanding models that appeared because of the repaint contest. Just do a search for ACT at Simviation.com, Flightsim.com, and AVSIM!Bear!The below shots are of both the Alphasim B-17D (note chin turrent) and 3 different repaints of the ACT version B-17F. At last count, I have about two dozen examples (different repaints) of the ACT B-17F.http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3db0af353456db76.jpg

What do I use Flightsim for?To test freeware files with, that's about all the time I have available in FS2002 for now!Bear!

Considering that I have over 1,200 aircraft on my harddrive, it is to be expected that occasionally a mix-up can occur. Usually it is not a problem, because I am pretty aware of most aircraft, but there are still some that I have never heard of or seen and this contributed to the error here. All is corrected now, so I suggest you check back at my mini-review and read about Dave Garwood's terrific Grob 115E!Bear!

>Hi, >>I sure hope the MS folks are monitoring this forum - I've >read loads of extremely relevant suggestions in this thread >! >Twister Twister,It was interesting to hear (during the Microsoft presentation at the AVSIM Conference & Exhibition) that Microsoft has two individuals that are paid to read every post here at AVSIM and, I assume, at other flight sim website forums as well. When a posting is of interest to them, they copy it and it is emailed to various mailboxes of the Flight Simulator Design Team. So, as I stated above, it is important that everyone post their ideas or wishes of changes, improvements, or features they would like to see in the next version, because the MSFS design team DOES read them. I think (in many ways), the Microsoft presentation was one of the most interesting at the conference, though many that attended felt it was a bit boring. Alex (from Microsoft) listed out their operational limitations and what their priority lists were in the development of FS2002. There were many items that I had not considered when it comes to designing a sim such as FS2002 or a simular piece of software. For future versions, one item they mentioned (as an example) is the demand by their distributors to use those newer small boxes for the product. This means that they cannot publish a printed manual, so it must be contained on one of the CDs in PDF or Word format (or both), but the days of a printed manual being included are gone. Another of the presenters at the conference was Dave Whittington of Boeing Aircraft Co. and he talked of Boeing's current interest in using FS2002 and the fact that they (Boeing) now realize that the FS Design Team at Microsoft is just across the river from them. Though nothing offical was said, it was quite obvious that Boeing is very interested in providing assistance, information, or whatever, directly to the MSFS design team on the next Flight Simulator software package. Bear!

Brian,It is pretty well set that it will be at MAMM, we just don't know when and all the other details yet, but we will be posting information as it becomes available. Our turn-out for Reno (Lake Tahoe) was quite good considering that Lake Tahoe is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, but MAMM is within 8 hours driving time of 60% of the US population, so I would imagine the next one will have a much higher number of registered attendees. Bear!

JS,You need to set your APP for "Back Course" and that should correct your wandering autopilot when approaching on the reciprocal runway heading. Bear!

Having to use just one aircraft would be a tough line to follow, but if that were the case, then I would have to go with Mike Stone's Grumman G21 Goose, JL Stubbs panel, Mike Hambly sounds, my own custom paint, and Heather Sherman's 8-channel radio!Bear!http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d8bed9e786d662f.jpg

Daniel,Though none of the details are worked out yet, it looks like it will be at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAMM) in Reading, PA.Bear!

Great shots Jim, especially the shots of Richard and Tara. My personal favorite though is of Marty giving the thumbs up when he's obviously parked that 737 off in the grass at the end of the runway at South Tahoe Airport.....:-lol!Steve (Bear)

Airbus,We are getting a frontpage news item put together that will include photos and will detail the entire weekend. The AVSIM staff is spread out all over the world and everyone is just getting home, so it will take a few days to get everything organized. My report on the results of the race day trip was easy to get completed and posted, because I only had to drive an hour to get home from the Horizon and was able to have that all written by Monday night (as soon as the official race results were published in the Reno Gazette newspaper). It will take a bit more for the rest of the report covering the whole of the conference and exhibition. In my opinion this 1st AVSIM Conference & Exhibition was a huge success and future events should be even bigger and better. I had the opportunity to talk to several individuals from the MS Flight Sim design team and it was quite interesting to find that they are as enthusastic about flight simming and aviation as a whole as anyone I have ever met. It was also interesting to find out that two of the fellows are very interested in Bush flying and both own nearly identical Maule Rockets (one of the guys flew his Maule down to South Lake Tahoe from Seattle for the conference). Personally I enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone about flight simming, but it was the private conversation I had with Richard Harvey that frankly I enjoyed the best, Richard is a real gentleman and a true flight sim enthusists! Bear!

Interesting to read through everyone's suggestions and I would be quite surprised if MS failed to implement some of these. I do say interesting, because the difference between the above suggestions and what was listed as improvements over FS2000 before FS2002 was released it quite extraordinary! :)By reading between the lines and looking closely at what they (MS) intend on doing with Combat Flight Simulator 3, can give you some areas of speculation or insight into their intent for FS2004. What has leaked out (from various interviews with the FS Team on CFS3), is that FS2004 will incorporate many major fundamental changes, starting from the baseline up. The most predominate being the requirement of Gmax modeling (for aircraft and scenery macros), which means you will have the inability to install aircraft files from FS98/FS2000/FS2002 that have not been designed using Gmax. In one interview with a CFS3 design member, it slipped out that aircraft and sceneries designed for CFS3 will not be compatable with the next version of Flight Simulator. It has also been announced that the new version of FS will not recognize bgl files, so sceneries designed for prior versions of FS will obviously not be compatable with FS2004 either. It has been stated (by the CFS3 design team) that CFS3 will not contain any aircraft with a 2D panel, the panels will all be 3D virtual panels-cockpits, but that may not necessarily be true with FS2004. One can assume that the FS design team has found a way to provide full control over the panel in the 3D mode (but remember, the requirements in design and functions for Flight Simulator panels are far more complex than the requirements for the simpler panels from a combat aircraft of the 1940s)I think (speculate) that the Flight Simulator design team that worked on FS2002, had already decided on the direction they needed to go with the Flight Simulator programming, but they elected to not include them with FS2002 because the changes would have been too dramatic at the time. Their biggest concern back then was to correct their mistakes and errors with FS2000 and to gain back their loyal fans, before throwing an entirely new version of Flight Simulator that basically obsoletes all previously (3rd party) designed aircraft and scenery packages.The best thing that all of us can do at this time is to begin listing our "wish list" here in the forums (like this thread), so that the design team at Microsoft can began considering ideas that may not have occurred to them, plus solidify the desire for those features they've already committed to.Steve (Bear) Cartwright

Being a person that is constantly using the Library here at AVSIM, I personally feel there are many good points about the way the new format works, but I also feel there is always room for improvement. I do like that feature (at Flightsim.com) of the world map for searching scenery files in a regional area, simply by clicking on a country or state. Though there are things about the AVSIM library that I like better also.I did like the idea of increasing the number of available categories, such as having the repaints seperate from the aircraft files, though there are always going to be some errors. Because of the changes (improvements) in the uploading process here at AVSIM, I think that over time each individual's search will become more fruitful, as long as the author uploading a file creates a complete description. To give you an example: the recent upload of the Grumman G21 Goose by Mike Stone, lead to a pretty fair number of repaints. Under the heading of "Quick Search" I typed in the keyword "Goose" and set the category to "FS2002 Aircraft Repaints & Textures" and my search yielded 33 seperate files, all of which were repaints for Mike Stone's G21 Goose, save for one repaint (KLM) of the default 777. Looking through the file description for that 777 repaint the words "..goose bumps!" was used by the author to describe his work. Someone above noted that they could not find a New York Air repaint of a Boeing, and when I tried it by the same method he used, I too had no results, but when I entered "New York" (including the quotes) I found several files referring to the city of New York and a New York Air (bright red) repaint of the default 737!One of the things that I do like about AVSIM's library is your ability to search an entire category (and you can set the view to date) without having to provide a key or search word. You can't do this at Flightsim.com, but you can at Train-Sim.com, go figure! I do know that the fellows that take care of the library are always open to new ideas to make searching the library easier, but its never quite perfect (if it could just read my mind for that perfect file that I'm searching for, now that would be great). I also believe that open discussions here in the forums is also the best way to find new ideas and just maybe discover new and better ways to have our library work for all of us. Bear!