Leafhopper

Well, I went ahead and removed this update just in case I want an addon that might be in conflict with this update. I read where this was an optional update and not considered critical anyway, so, I guess I am alright! Thanks for the information! Leafhopper

Well, I don't have SweetFX! Was the Win7 update problem only related to SweetFX?

The other day I was researching about why FSX will crash to desktop after varying lengths of flight time and I came across a thread about a Windows update that was found to cause this problem. I looked in the update records of my computer and found that I had this update, but, foolishly, I didn't remove it at that time. Now, I can't find the thread (even using the search function), to get the update number. I have had several CTD's after 30 minutes or sometimes even longer of flight. Not related to the menu crashes others had. When I get this crash, I can "alt/enter" and get the window back, but the window is black. Sometimes, I can then do "alt" again and get the menu bar and close FSX. Also, unrelated to above, I did the latest GeForce driver update and seem to have a problem with that, too. I have a GeForce GTX 650 card with 8 gig ram on board, and sometimes I get a weird graphics problem where the plane is not visible (virtual cockpit) and the scenery is blank except for a couple of autogen buildings floating in blank space. Is there a way to uninstall the new driver (not a beta) and return to the previous driver? Be kind, I'm a return flight simmer after several years of absence (due to health problems) and I don't remember all the tricks and tips I knew years ago. Also, when I was simming back then, I was using WinXP and am now trying to find my way around Win 7 home premium. Leafhopper

That did the trick! It is working great now...why, I don't know, but what the heck! I'm a happy camper! Leafhopper

I may have found the answer...I hope! I tried the peddle calibration tab and saw that the null zone was set to 0 on both peddles, so I increased the null to 50% and increased the sensitivity to full. I then tried the brakes and behold, the parking brake problem seemed to disappear.. I'll try a flight and see how it works. Why, on earth, would the toe brake (differential brakes) have anything to do with the parking brake?...Oh, well, if it works, JOY! I'll let you know after a few planes and ground taxi exercises. Leafhopper

Toe brakes axis assignments are reversed already. I changed sensitivity to 0 from about mid range and no difference...It's the left toe brake that sets the parking brake, the right one behaves properly.

I've really been enjoying getting back into flight simming, but, there is one thing that bugs me. I have all my Saitek stuff hooked up and setup. I've got toe brakes setup on my rudder pedals...;but, every time I use the differential brakes the parking brake is also applied. I can't figure it out. There is no entry on the parking brake that includes the rudder toe brakes. This makes it very difficult to taxi...almost impossible. Anyone had this problem and solved it?...PLEASE! Leafhopper

kiki: Thanks for the links. Great historical training films! I now have the C-47 and it is really well done. I love the sound set (separate download). I fell for the piper cub at A2A. Very nice with a lot of bells and whistles...Haven't had time to explore all of it yet. Leafhopper

I find OPUS very complicated and daunting! I think it is really meant for those into the tube-liners and flying virtual airlines. I just want to setup weather conditions or get current weather like FSX offers, but I want better cloud rendition than FSX provides. I also want better water textures...I live a 6 miles from the Pacific in Oregon and I have never seen the ocean the shade of blue that FSX shows. I downloaded FSWC for water rendition, but It doesn't seem to be doing anything. I wanted to get rid of the light blue water around Seattle and tried a few different settings in FSCW but nothing changed...probably did something wrong. They have a bunch of presets to choose from that look good in the preview window, but not in the sim. I know! I should read the instructions, right? I will, I will! I'm sure it's my fault! Dave

The Staggerwing and the Waco are fantstic! I also have the Carenado Cessna 152, which is a great plane and holds a favorite spot for me as I learned to fly in a 150. Really takes me back! I'm off to look at the A2A offerings today. Leafhopper

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Thank you rstough from REX! It is surly a wonder in this day to find a company that offers such wonderful customer service...and, I didn't even ask for it! But, I want everyone to know, REX is taking care of my problem! Leafhopper

Simmerhead, Oh, boy, that looks GREAT! Where will it be offered for download? Leafhopper

rstough: Thanks for the offer e-mail sent! Leafhopper

Oh, *@#*&@@! Well, it took 14 1/2 hours to download REXES...and the readme is unreadable and the windows installer is unrecognized and nothing happens when I click on setup...It appears that the download is corrupt! I'm not buying any software of that size (7.4GB) unless I can get it on disc. My DSL is only 54mbps (I live in the sticks), so I'm off to find something I can use that comes on a disc. Leafhopper

Thanks for the link! I did register and now I'm off to download!

Outstanding! I've got a full day of downloads ahead of me! Thanks so much guys! As usual, the forum at AVSIM is the place to get answers and helpful suggestions. It's so good to be back! Leafhopper

OMG! These are all my favorites!!! I had most of them on FS9 years back: The Connie, the Beech 18, Aero Commander 680, the Chipmonk, and the Spartan! How could I have forgotten all those great planes! Thanks for reminding me of them all! PaulJ: Can you give me a link to the DC3 file? I went to the forum and read all the glowing reports, but I can't find it listed in the downloads. I really want this one. I found a beta file...is that it or is there a final release?

Outstanding! I'm off to see what's what! Thanks a bunch, guys!

Okay, so I'm getting all set up with FSX and FS9 (after many years of absence). I really like the old piston prop planes like those of 20's through the end of WWII. Is there anyone making FSX high quality oldie moldies? I do have alabeo's Waco and Staggerwing, a very nice start. But I would like to have a Cessna Bobcat, a Beech Super 18, Cessna 310, and a Stearman. I am awaiting the release of the freeware DC3 that looks fantastic! As a kid, I lived close to our local airport (Alamosa, Colorado) and I would see on occasion John B. Maytag's converted A26 Invader making it's approach to land. Off I would go on bicycle to watch it land and then stand by it as the engines would crackle and pop as it cooled down....an A26 Invader would make my day in FSX! I had the MAAM C47 and B25 in FS9 and I probably still have the discs for which I am searching. Anyway, I digress...any good oldies out there for FSX? Leafhopper

Tom came through quick! All is good. Downloading as I type! Leafhopper

glenm: I was really considering REX and with the sale price, I went ahead and bought it...but! Avsim charged me the full price and didn't tell me where to get the software! I'm sure they will work it out and let me know, I guess I must have been the first or in the first few to jump on it,,,before they were ready for prime time. I'm sure they will sort it out...I hope. Leafhopper

AH HA! Now it comes back to me! FSGenesis is the mesh generator! Thanks! Okay, I think I'm getting the right picture. FSGenesis for mesh, UTX for vectors, ORBX PNW for scenery. Weather...More in depth research needed on my part. I have seen videos of several weather generators and, frankly, they all look pretty good. Adjusting and fiddling around I would like to avoid as much as possible. I remember FS9 and all my addons...hours upon hours of adjusting, tweaking, and fiddling for minutes upon minutes of flying. I'm old and cranky now, not sure I want to repeat that process. But, I know it's coming. I know I can get 2 FPS more if I just do this or change that. It's the "Return of Nightmare on My Street"! Why, oh why, do I do this to myself? Leafhopper

Thanks for the link, johnbow72! Is UTX the best terrain mesh generator? I remember, I think, that UT is strictly mesh and that I would need textures from another source or use the default textures.

I'll do that and try the FSGRW demo. Does it have it's own cloud textures or is it strictly a weather generator using default clouds? Johnbow 72, I'll check out the FTXG demo. I think this is the one I heard about the trees popping up and problems people had trying to uninstall. I'll go back and re-read these comments. I've read so much in the last couple of days, that, I might have things confused. I'll check it out. Leafhopper

I'm not sure about Orbx from the comments I've been reading. I was about to push the buy button but then I read about the problems with FTX from Orbx and got a little skittery. I don't want trees popping up in the rural airports I fly to. I haven't heard of FSGRW...I best check up on that. The realair Duke sounds like a good one, I had their Marchetti(sp) for FS9 and I loved it! Hmmm, I best check that out too, now that I think about it! Leafhopper