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Here's a few I've used for a long time ...USA: Severe Weather WarningsWorld: Severe World Weather WatchTropical Storm Watch: Typhoons, Hurricanes & CyclonesRegards'Garett

I see there also looking for a new PM to head up the team ...."Join the team responsible for building the most fun and rewarding flying experiences available on Games for Windows Live. Microsoft Game Studios is looking for a veteran Lead Program Manager/Producer to help lead the development of a new broad-attraction flight-oriented game on the PC."http://members.microsoft.com/careers/searc...;SortOrder=DescThe "a new broad-attraction flight-oriented game" says alot. Woo ho - can't wait to fly the Red Baron from the default tail camera shooting balloons. :( Let us have our simulation that has made them money and us happy over the years, and crank out the arcade crap as well if you must. But don't replace the simulation with it ... Regards'Garett

Mike are you nut's !! I can't believe you went for it....There's taking one for the team, but self mutilation is not required LOL.I thought I've seen bad service over the years, but there is no doubt they are the worst I've ever encountered. I wonder if when they were dealing with ACES building the F-18 model, if they used the same tone, responces & attitude when ACES had any questions or problems .... And on that note, thank god Aces didn't get them to do the gauge/system modeling along with the F-18 model ....Regards'Garett

Wind shift issue?It's well known & discussed that FSX has brutal wind shifting since RTM, sometimes 180 degree in a second throwing your plane all over the place when you cross the layers. Is it related to this possibly?Pete Dowson has updated his FSUIPC to 4.28, and this last version he was able to smooth things out for FSX, via his 3PD offerings.I'd give that a try, if your not already using the latest version.Regards'Garett

Thank you Frank for your kind words, and for sharing that interesting story. No doubt an very interesting career, with front row seats to observe the majority evolution of the aircraft engine - and all the advancement's and changes made up to today.LOL, with training the "new" generation of young guys in my shop - I'd be happy if they could at least get down the most basic of moto's:"Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty"Just wish someone would have come up with one for putting the darn tools away, clean of course would be a bonus...Well no doubt you know how things have changed, and since you know engines - here's a link you might get a good chuckle from, it does for me every time I see it. :) Enjoy your flights !Best Regards'Garett

Thank's for that Jim,That's one that I really notice up around places in Alaska. Some lights where almost as high as the wing on the Cessna. And as you stated the mid point of the runways are okay. I thought it's was the mesh, but disabling it had no effect. I had noticed this right after my SP2 update.Regards'Garett

Thanks Steve,Yes it is, I had found that site when trying to dig up info on the serials. It took me two months to figure out if his was "Blue" or the "Pink" camotint. As the pics I had are B/W, and honestly you could not tell from them.But Peter's (AB-316) was blue, and I'm sure from the stories Grandpa had told me - He would have mentioned if it was pink LOL. I used pics I had, Peter's plane, refererences of marking & locations from various locations, conversations with my family, and used that pic for confirmation of the scheme.LOL - I had already made a pink version of the AB-316 ready to go just in case (plus I really felt for those guys, as it is well noted the amount of vulnerablity they felt flying those birds. The color scheme was great for under overcast skys, but above - a sitting duck), but I will try and match up a actual serial to put on it before I upload it.Side note: It's interesting after doing research on this, how many variances exist from various sources. Prime example - Record's show that peter's AB-315 was switched off to fighter duty in late 44 before it was SOC (Struck off Charge), but the fact is his was lost on a PR sortie over Burma (Pilot was captured, and returned many months later) only a few months after he arrived in India. I think it had a total of 82 sorties on it before it was lost.And thank you for your interest and doing some digging. I hope your having fun with the package, as well the history.Best Regards'Garett

Yike'sLet just hope that after all this is sorted out, the point is taken how important that vNext has ONE logo, that being FSXI.Then everybody can focus on "one" version ..I'm still trying to figure out what SP2 did to my CH-53 that "is" a FSX native model (released right before SP2) . As after SP2, my landing lights no longer shine on the ground. Wonder what sticker that model should be?Regards'Garett

Thanks' Just hope the scenery isn't to bad for a first timer.Now if only I could figure out how to have AI that if they saw you they'd hunt you down, then I could have built in the constant state of fear & panic (let alone getting lost) to help set the mood in your unarmed plane ...One of his stories I'll never forget is when he told me about the time he dam near cooked the engine and ran out himself out of fuel as he was sure he was being followed/pursued and was trying to evade. After a good hour of his best efforts to elude his pursuer, he realized it was a dam "spot" on his canopy. LOLRegards'Garett

Dropping a quick line for those that were interested in the package, it's now available in the library. I can only imagine being 20 years old and doing what these recce

Thanks' for the emails, the package has been sent off.Regards'Garett

Hi,I've just finished up a package I've made for those who have the RealAir spit. I would really like someone to try it before I upload it to make sure all the flights/scenery works etc.Here's a short version of the package I've done as sort of a "adventure/history lesson/tribute" instead of just the repaint:My grandfather was a Recce pilot with the 681 during WW2. The 681 was in based in Dum Dum (India), thus these pilots had to fly a 7000 mile flight to get there from the PRU base @ Benson, England. The trip was done solo, in unarmed a/c, using only maps, clock & compass - at the height of WW2. The package has the repaint of my grandfrather's AB315 plane (includes modified bumpmaps for the camera), saved flights & flightplans done to the actual date/times, some scenery for all the stops (about 18), (includes making the Portreath airbase), and various historical documents (logbook scans, plane reciepts, squadron, plane & airbase photo's & excepts from a fellow 681 members book written about the legs of the flight.)The package is 10mb, not sure where I could put it private temporarily (ideas?) so I'd probally just email it to you as two parts.If your interested in giving it a quick test run for me, please email me. My email is in my profile.Best Regards'Garett

Good point's ..And in doing so, I'd like to see the priorties ironed out as well.Load the the mesh & ground textures, then autogen. If things slow down, let it be the autogen and whatever else (jetways, birds etc)that can't keep up.And increase our LOD rings, for just the mesh & textures.Dynamics, Ground, Sky, then the "accessories & extra stuff".Regards'Garett

My Picks are,Payware: Dodosim Realstart 206Freeware: Jordan Moore's 412Lots of other's, but I'd class those as my favorites for each choice. Go over to Hovercontrol, lot's of good birds in their library. Nemeth designs has good paywear (and freeware) stuff as well. I think the EC120 & MD500 are here in the library too.Regards'Garett

I'll vouch for the Majestic.I contemplated the price for it, but looking back for me it was good deal. Everything works & is simulated, without bugs period. While the panel texture is a little dated, it's "fully" functional from both 2d & VC, and includes full systems simulation & working weather radar. I get frames on this almost as good as the default stuff.And, the sounds are simply the best out there IMHO, and on take off my Z-5500 speakers shake everything pretty well off the desk (simulating the shake inside the cabin LOL) and the sound pitch etc are spot on. Sound responds to pitch .. ;)There's some add-ons out there costing way more than this one, but at least this one is bug free & flys as well as it sounds - and has the extra's like cabin calls etc. That alone is worth a few bucks to me LOL.I had the PSS Dash, spent all my time trying to make it sound right, and then not being able to fly from VC sucked. The Maj it twice the bird and then some of the PSS, reduced panel textures or not.EDIT - And they updated it for FSX (RTM & SP2) for free, if you've got it. It's frames are as good as the default stuff in FSX as well. Regards'Garetthttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/187453.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/187454.jpg

I get this with texture resolution set at 7cm as well. Driver's wont help. (Noticed this with every driver to date anyways)I believe it has to to with the default blend masks, as they are alot less obtrusive if you set your texture resolution to 60cm. Then you just get little block instead of what your seeing.Also, looks like you have detailed texture checked, I usually leave that off so you don't get that additional pattern (not the one your refering too) over your ground textures.Regards'Garett

LOL, Yep forum is down. Definitely must be to much "negative" publicity going on. I noticed they still haven't linked Avsim's latest review of the 130X as they had done within a day when they got the 5 star one (questionable to say the least) for the 757. Probably didn't like the well put comments about their customer service, delay in fixing bugs, sound issue etc for the overall price there of.While I have the 757 (got sucked in back in spr06) I have no interest in the block f/d anymore. If it only gets 15fps with their ecais gauge programming (fsx, fs9 not so bad), I probably won't even be able to load it with "full systems programming".While opinions vary, I just choose not to support dev

Just to clarify, while there has been changes to the lookup.bgl and "some" of the class to texture maps in FSX, these changes have not altered the positive "effect" of using Holger's LC FS9 files in FSX. The benefit comes from him adding better "resolution" around the mountains, instead of vast areas being blanketed with "rock and sand" as default. And on the most part, rock, ice, snow, conifer's, sage, scrub, mire bog still remained the same classes in both versions.I'm using his LC files layered over UT, as UT mainly focuses on adding urban areas and his stuff fixes (at greater detail) the mountains around. Holger's LC layer's well on top of UT, giving you better textures all the way around for the areas. With or without UT, there in no reason to shy away from using his LC files (to improve upon the default) as no negative result is going to occur.Here's default FSX, default textures, Roger's Pass BC ...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/186923.jpgHolger's Landclass, default textures Roger's Pass BC....http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/186924.jpgRegards'Garett

"Is there any "want-to-have" wilderness scenery that I should download in preparation? For example, I remember that Holger's Northwest meshes were recommended by several sites for FS9"Here's a link that lists what and how (with file listings) to use to Holger's Land class files in FSX. They are definatly an improvment to the default. It's an easy addon to do, and you'll intsantly notice a vast improvement if you intend to fly any of the area's covered. Also, there's more and more small scenery's and airports croppin gup all the time in the library. Search Alaska or British Columbia and that should be a good start. I also recommend you pick up Bella Coola for FSX, as this was the first one Holger has updated for our new FS.http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?f=231&t=57041Regards'Garett

Hi Travis,All I use FSX for is flying bush & G/A. Yes the resolution is way higher in FSX (thus looks better than FS9), but you'll really need to address the textures and landclass to get the best out of it. Hi res desert textures most places in the mountains from the default install is not going to impress you. (if your used to FS9 bush flying) Also Alaska & Canada are really missing alot of water/rivers with FSX that was in FS9, due to the new place they got the data from I think.The short version is, FSX is very fixable and IMHO worth the work. I'm sure once UT Alaska comes out, and Holger's updates his magic for these regions (he already did Bella Coola) it will look even better. There's plenty of good bush planes to use in FSX, with the Carenado 206, FSD Porter, Aerosoft Twotter & Beaver just some of the ones I use regularly (including the default B206 & Beaver too!)There's a bunch of lanclass out there available (I have 3 of them), but to be honest I'm still using the default as the base. I had made a batch program way back to swap out more applicable textures within FSX to better match up to the default landclass and get rid of the desert amoungst a few things, and still am using that. I haven't tried any of the new texture packages, as for me I'm quite happy with how FSX looks now looks anyways. (I intend to try GEX down the road though). Also, I am using all of Holger's land class files from his FS9 projects, UT Can/AK FS9 Ported (LC/WC/River data only) & FSG Mesh.And BTW FSX is very easy to create your own stuff. (Really) In about 2hr's I edited the land class about 40 miles around Haines Junction, added airport buildings & some static stuff, added a few "STOL" landing zones with people/props etc along the rivers, glaciers and "ideal" fishing spots to do some pick ups & drop off's. This was using sbuilder & the default object placement tool within the SDK. I've done this for a half a dozen "frequent flyer" places.I guess Travis I'm just trying to say "I" think it is worth the work you have to put into it (and it's not really all that much). Perfromance is NOT and issue in these regions or with that type of flying, and FSX really does look dam good once it's tweaked up visually. For the record I'm still using both, but most of my bush flying is all done in FSX. And as mentioned, I can't wait to see what UT Alaska for FSX is going to look like ...Here's a few pics for you. Kinbasket lake (BC) & Twin Lakes (AK)Regards'Garetthttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/186856.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/186858.jpg

"When I start the game everything looks fantastic but then slowly but surely this is what happens."While your system is able to load everything in it's glory at first load (noticed how long that takes), it's unable to keep it up.While everyone's going to tell you (rightly so) "lower your sliders" (lots of guides around to show you which ones are the "expensive ones") When doing so here's a tip:Maybe build yourself a few saved configs. FSX you can save/load your settings, so I have a G/A setting, and a Heavy setting. The first is cranked up an much as I can so I can fly around in the helo's or cessnas etc @ 140knots and every thing keeps up. The latter I lower stuff as much as needed so I can fly around at 300+ knots and stuff keeps up. Flying low and slow or at 300knots @ 30K feet usually you are looking for diffent things, so you can tune the settings to serve both flight types. It takes some time to do, but you'll enjoy the sim alot more if you put in the time to get your settings right for the limits of your system.Even if you go and drop a grand on hardware, your still going to find you'll be doing the above - you'll just have each batch of settings a little higher.Regards'Garett

Thank Phil, I knew you stated quite a while ago that you had sent info to Nvidia "about" the problem the users where having, but was wondering if there was something that had noticably changed in SP2 that may lead them down the right path. Seems just wierd that it's tied to the menu of all things.I wish them the best of luck trying to resolve this, as I wonder how many in here run a vanilla install of FSX, or are ready to reinstall to have one - then play beta tester for Nvidia as this stage of the game. I don't have the issue (thanks for the tip anyways though Nick)but feel for those that can't get a descent flight in because of it.Since Oct 06, I've now got FSX pretty well "looking" and "working" as best I think this version will, and been trying to spend more time actually flying it. I'm thoroughly enjoying it as my GA sim bouncing in an out of my cabins etc in Alaska, and trying to spend my time looking out the cockpit, instead of at cfg files, filemon logs, and crash reports LOL. Sure I'm still tweaking stuff to build my FS utopia once and awhile, but I try and spend more time flying my flight sim as that's my hobby, not testing & tweaking them ... But when your forever searching for the FS holy grail - they sometimes go hand in hand. ;)I'll be the first to admit though when it all comes together, FSX really is something to behold. (Still like to see more emphisis on the ground texture display priority in vNext though - nudge nudge .. ;))Regards'Garetthttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/186560.jpg

"I'd love to know what the underlying issue on this one is, and what it was that changed between SP1 and SP2 menus wise to expose such a weakness in the nvidia drivers."Exactly, and if ACES could send off to Nvidia what they changed, it may give them a point/direction to investigate for a fix. Or maybe the menu crash is just a side effect from some type of lost focus on the app, or calls being made the driver can't handle? I agree it would be interesting why the issue only after SP2. One things for sure, both parties have a mutual gain by resolving the issue LOL.Regards'Garett

"The board is filled with such complaints."Yikes, if that's all their doing to look into the reported problems with these cards - no doubt people are going to be po'd. What's the next tech KB solution, make sure you have the power on LOL.Knock on wood I don't have the menu crash, but my 8800GTX is not without it's issues. Anyways, thanks for the info Geofa.Garett

Hey Geofa is that the right link? That's a fix (more of a reminder actually) for FS2000 reported in 2005. If it is, is that actually what Nvidia tech support is telling people to do to try fix thier 8800GTX's in FSX !! LOL - I wish it was that simple.Regards'Garett