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...I've decided to pin a few topics to the top of the forum celebrating the great freeware contributions given to the Flight Simulator community over the years by some very talented developers, Of course, we'll be limiting these topics to freeware offerings for FS9, for those of us to whom this version is still our simulator of choice. One of the most oft asked questions in the forums is "what is the best....?" My hope is that by putting these topics right up front, newcomers to FS9 (Yes, there really are some), as well as those of us who've been around for a while, will find it a helpful and convenient resource for making our simming experience "as real as it gets." The first of these topics is The Best Freeware Airports and Scenery. I've weeded out the extraneous comments so all that remains are the suggestions themselves. In coming days I'll be adding topics for the best freeware aircraft and the best freeware utilities. Please feel free to add your favorites to these threads if they haven't yet been mentioned, preferably with links to the files, if possible. To keep these topics on message and as concise as possible, please refrain from asking questions in these threads. If you have general comments, or an issue with a particular scenery mentioned, by all means pose your questions and comments by starting a new topic. Questions and off topic comments in these threads will be deleted without comment. There is also a topic dedicated to the work of Milton Shupe. Milton and his team have been creating flight simulator freeware for many years. There, you will find a link to the website, generously hosted by long time AVSIM member Garry Smith, that will hopefully preserve these files well into the future. I sincerely hope that everyone will find this to be a useful addition to our forum. Cheers, Jeff :smile:

We moved the Crash to Desktop (CTD) and 'All About Us' sub-forums to the AVSIM Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Section today. They were formerly located as sub-forums to the FSX Forum. It will make it easier for members to locate the CTD Forum and allow members to post crashes not only while using FSX but any flightsim. If you have a crash while using FSX, P3D, FS9, Microsoft Flight and X-Plane please post the details of the crash there so members will not have to dig through a lot of non-crash topics to see a related problem they might be having. We have also moved the 'All About Us' to the FBO Section. This will allow members who not only visit the FSX Forum but any forum on AVSIM to post information about themselves. We hope this move will provide better service to our membership. Best regards,

Attention FS2Crew NGX 'REBOOT' Drivers: The Version 3.4 update has been released with new special support for Ultimate Ground Crew X! This is a FREE update! The V3.4 update is for the P3D V4 version only! VERSION 3.4 IS BUILT INTO THE MAIN INSTALLER ONLY. YOU WILL NEED TO LOGIN TO YOUR FS2CREW ACCOUNT AND RE-DOWNLOAD THE MAIN INSTALLER AGAIN. LOGIN TO YOUR FS2CREW ACCOUNT AND CLICK "COMPLETED ORDERS". YOU DO NOT NEED TO UNINSTALL NGX REBOOT FIRST. IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE, SEND US A SUPPORT TICKET VIA: WWW.FS2CREW.COM IF YOU PURCHASED VIA A 3RD PARTY VENDOR, YOU WILL NEED TO REDOWNLOAD NGX REBOOT FROM THEM. GIVE THEM A FEW DAYS TO GET THE UPDATED FILE ON THEIR SERVER. CHANGE LOG: VERSION 3.4 (P3D V4 VERSION ONLY!) 18 OCTOBER 2019 Ultimate Ground Crew X Integration: 1. When UGCX Voice Control is active, FS2Crew NGX Reboot ramp agents should no longer respond to any detected voice commands that are intended for the UGCX ramp agents.This saves you the hassle of pressing "Hard Mute" on the FS2Crew Main Panel when you wish to communicate with the UGCX ramp agents to avoid triggering the ramps agents in both programs at the same time.2. When using Hand Signals only (Engine Start Up without Pushback scenario), UGCX can now remove the PMDG chocks and GPU from the PMDG 737 when you trigger the associated hand signal.This is done via FS2Crew internally. The Chocks and GPU are removed via the PMDG FMC menu, so the aircraft must have some power. Ensure the "UGCX Option" on the FS2Crew NGX Reboot Config Panel is set to YES. Other Misc changes:1. You can no longer select WAI in the Departure Brief since WAI serves no purpose on the ground.2. "Set Engine Bleed 2 On" and "Set Dome Light Off" voice commands fixed. VERSION 3.3 (P3D V4 VERSION ONLY!) 26 JANUARY 2019 1. Bug fixes VERSION 3.2 (P3D V4 VERSION ONLY!) 8 DECEMBER 2018 1. "Cancel checklist" command removed as it could trigger audio loss. 2. New Config Option: FO enters Vref during the arrival setup (SOP1 Only). 3. SOP 3: EFIS "Airport" Button during Station Setup fixed. 4. Suppress Flap movement check config option saved option working now. 5. Ground Crew voice in the USA region (fueller had an Aussi accent previously). 6. Bug fixes. VERSION 3.1 13 JANUARY 2017 1. 'ATC Client Xponder' Config Option state will now save properly. Previously it would reset if you press the CFG button. 2. Per user request, you can now toggle the SECONDARY PANEL via a hotkey or joystick button. Assign a button to: NITROUS TANK VALVE TOGGLE. 3. Slight pause fixed after calling for the Secure Checklist. 4. Eliminated that possibility the "Master Caution - Hydraulics" could play in SOP3 during Engine Start with Emergencies enabled. 5. If SOFT or HARD MUTE active, Green Bar will no longer appear on the screen when speech is detected <- THIS ONE IS SIGNIFICANT. 6. Flap Movement Check option fixed. 7. Global Voice Set (UK Voice Set 2) "Landing Checklist" sound fixed. 8. If using the spoiler to trigger the After Landing Flow, the new minimum ground speed to trigger the flow is 50 knots up from 20. 9. New CFG option to disable the FO's timer during Engine Start. A user reported he experienced the occasional CTD during Engine Start. We linked it to the 737's FO's timer. If it's ever an issue for your, just disable this option. VERSION 3.0 17 SEPT 2016 NEW! 1. Support for the new NGX Reboot Global FO Voice Pack. 2. KLM airlines Config option: Taxi Lights will be turned off during the runway entry flow. 3. Key Board/ Joystick button command to pause the Crew audio per user request. To toggle the audio pause function, assign a keyboard/joystick button to WING FOLD command. When active, note the new flashing symbology on the Main Panel: AUDIO! 4. GOL airlines cfg option: When announcing "LAND", THE FO will turn on the Retractable landing lights. 5. Minor symbology on the SECONDARY panel updated per user request. 6. New voice callouts to which the FO will reply "checked": GREEN LIGHT ON THE AERO BRIDGE MARSHALLER IN SIGHT MY AIRPLANE MY THROTTLES AUTOPILOT COMING OUT CHANGED: 1. FO now starts 3 minute timer as the first step in his after landing flow per user request. FIXED: 1. SOP 3: Should no longer get a 'MASTER CAUTION HYDRAULICS' when starting engines. 2. FO should no longer announce "Cabin Crew Seats for Landing" when calling for flaps five during a touch and go. Note: The circuits are meant to be flown at flaps 5, so you really should't be calling for flaps five anyway. 3. "LETS TAXI BACK TO THE RUNWAY" command should now no longer result in a stuck mode after an RTO. 4. During 2nd sector, FO should now turn on the wheel well light as appropriate. 5. SOP 2 AFTER LANDING FLOW XPONDER user option now auto saves when you exit FS per user request. 6. Per user request, trigger for FO to start his after landing flow changed from 30 knots to 50 knots if stowing the spoiler is defined as the trigger. 7. If military option selected, FO will no longer inform you the cabin is not secure during takeoff. 8. Set Packs On/ Off and Auto voice commands removed per user request. 9. You should now be able to call for a Go Around during Rollout. 10. UK audio fixed for FULL UP and FULL DOWN. 11. Volume of ACARS printer reduced. VERSION 2.0 15 APRIL 2016 New! 1. Emergency NGX! Functionality (a FREE 24.95 EUR value!) The full set of Emergency NGX! procedures were ported over to Reboot. We promised when we released Reboot NGX that we would give all Reboot users Emergency NGX! for free, and we delivered on our promise The new failures / non-normals functionality works with the AU voice set and it's designed for use with SOP 2, but you can also use it with SOP 1 and 2. The failures only work with Voice Control, not Button Control. Aborted Engine Starts APU Fault APU Fire Bleed Trip Off Cabin Altitude Warning or Rapid Depressurization Cargo Fire Drive EEC Alternate Mode Emergency Descent Engine Failure or Shutdown Engine Fire or Severe Damage Engine In Flight Start Evacuation Hydraulic Pump Overheat Loss of Hyd System A Loss of Hyd System B Off Schedule Descent One Engine Inoperative Landing Partial or All Gear Up Landing Probe Heat Reverser Standby Power Off Tailstrike TR Unit Transfer Bus Off Window Overheat 2. Geographic detection system update to better detect appropriate voice accent region for ground crew. 3. New CFG Options: SOP 2: Option to have the FO set the transponder during his After Landing flow instead of during the Shutdown flow (which is the actual way that do it at that airline ) Option to suppress the Flap Movement check during cold weather operations. 4. Voice Control: If the speedbrake is deliberately not armed during the Landing Checklist (for example, when flying circuits): speak "Down Detent" for the Speedbrake challenge. 5. Button Control: Gear down command skipped if gear already down. 6. If the Jetway CFG option is selected, the Jetway will now connect during gate arrival in SOP 3, even though this airline never uses gates in the real-world. The trigger is the "Cabin Crew Disarm Doors and Crosscheck" voice command. 7. On-Line ATC automatic transponder control option in the CFG menus renamed to: "On Line ATC XPNDR - YES/ NO" to prevent confusion. Remember that Prepar 3D Version 3 users should always set this option to NO due to a technical issue with P3D V3 if flying on-line using a pilot client. 8. During his Secure flow, the FO will now turn off some cockpit lights on his side. 9. De-playing sound will shut-off when the forward cabin door is (manually) closed if not doing a thru-flight, or when you call for the Secure Checklist. 10. New "Systems Check" button in the Config Manager. This function designed to help you quickly identify and troubleshoot any potential installation issues. FIXED: 1. Button Control: Descent Mode not terminating. It will now shut off during the After Landing flow. 2. SOP 2 Button Control: "Cabin Crew Prepare for Landing at 20,000" PA should now play. 3. No flap retraction during the FO's After Landing flow under certain temperature conditions. 4. "Let's Taxi Back to the Runway" command during a Reject Takeoff should work properly now. 5. Button Control: Flaps 40 speed check added. 6. Button Control: If skipping direct to the Descent or Approach mode, the Before Start Checklist will no longer play. 7. FA's "Happy to release the Cabin?" should now play on the 2nd leg. MANUAL UPDATED: 1. Set Course On My Side/ Set Course on Your Side added. VERSION 1.1 OCTOBER 17 2015 NEW FEATURES/ COMMANDS / OPTIONS P3D V3 Support. Independent “GEAR DOWN” command (separate from other verbiage). New CONFIG Option per user request: Option to have the FO not ask to release the Cabin Crew. New CONFIG Option per user request: Option to allow MCP commands (Heading, Speed and Alt) to function while on the ground. New CONFIG Option: “ON LINE ATC CLIENT”. By default it is set to off. When set to off, FS2Crew will not send a transponder signal to Squawkbox. New PA per user request: “TURBULENCE”. SOP 3 new possible response to the Flaps challenge in the Before Taxi Checklist: "CHECK UP FORTY UP". Used when freezing conditions are present and you wish to taxi to the runway with the flaps up after doing a flaps movement check. FIXED Updated Configuration Manager. A few users could never get it to open due to Dot Net problems on their end. This issue should now be fixed. UK Voice Set: "Before Takeoff Checklist" spoken instead of "Before Taxi Checklist". Button Control: Missing FA Cabin PA when starting Engine 1. Button Control: Pressurization Mode Selector position referred to as "Auto", not "On'. SOP 3: Runway lights will now turn off during the 10 Checks in the Climb. Takeoff Sequence PA's fixed. EU Voice set: When the FA asks if you're ready to board, the same female FA will now respond. Flap 5 Match Speed command. SOP 3: VSD was going on even if associated VSD CFG option set to Off. SOP 3: The FO will hold the After Takeoff checklist at altimeters during the After Takeoff checklist if the MCP Altitude window value is less than or equal to the Transition Altitude. The FO will not hold at the altimeter challenge if the MCP altitude window is greater than the Transition Altitude. SOP 3 No Engine Bleeds After Takeoff Section fixed and manual updated. Missed Approach Altitude of 10,000 feet will now be verbalized during the Approach Brief. When playing the Departure Brief, the crew status value no longer automatically changes. Removed possibility FO could attempt to turn on the VSD twice in SOP3 during either the “Ten Checks” or the Approach Checklist. SOP 3: If the Before Start checklist was run very late, the FO shall no longer prompt you for the flight deck windows and doors challenge after you ask the FA to close the cockpit door. UPDATED Pre Flight Checklist available even if the FO does not run the main Pre Flight procedure. FO's After Landing Procedure (trigger: spoiler down) now uses GPS ground speed (less than or equal to 20 knots) instead of indicated airspeed as a necessary condition. For the benefit of on-line ATC users, FO will set the transponder to Standby instead of Alt Off even if ASDEX selected to yes during the Before Taxi procedure. Button Control: Full Up/Down added to the Flight Controls check. SOP 1: FO will now only turn on the Beacon during his Before Start flow. FO will now turn on the wheel well light during the walk around. If you do not run the Pre Flight events, the FO should now set the landing altitude in the pressurization controller during his Descent Flow. SOP 3 Before Taxi Checklists: Stab trim challenge now accepts an actual value., i.e., 5.4 units. SOP 3: Randomized FO’s response for releasing the cabin crew to ‘okay’ or ‘check’.

Here are the latest topic views for your perusal. During this period we had 2,186,596 topic views! All of the forums are not listed here.

We are pleased to set up a new forum for those interested in Shared Cockpits. Dave Hodges (DaveCT2003) has volunteered to moderate this forum mainly for Shared Cockpit users but also those who want to use your flight simulator to fly with others using the multiplayer features. This forum was formerly set up under FSX but we decided to move it out from under FSX so that it might generate more interest and users of other flight simulators can participate too. It is realized the features may not be available for all flight simulators at this time but that could change in the future. Dave hopes to get more members in the flight simulation community involved in shared cockpits and multiplaying.

Please welcome Dave Hodges to the AVSIM Moderating Team. Dave was the Moderator for the Shared Cockpits for FSX/P3D Forum here at AVSIM and will remain as the lead moderator for that forum. Now his duties will encompass all of the non-commercial forums on AVSIM as well as Shared Cockpits. Dave has been involved in flight simulation for 30 plus years and became a member here at AVSIM in 2010. He has pilot experience in several aircraft including the PA-28, Cessna 172 and the P-3C Orion. He retired from the US Naval Submarine Force and flew in a Naval Flight Officer billet as a Navigator/Communication and Tactical Coordinator for over four months. Thank Dave for his service!! He is the expert in the shared cockpit areas of flight simulation and you will see him frequently on VATSIM. We think AVSIM is another excellent asset to the Moderator Team here at AVSIM and I'm proud to welcome him to the team. Best wishes for continued success Dave!

Be a member of the AVSIM Team!! AVSIM is in need of more volunteers as Library Managers starting immediately (there will be a brief training period). More details, including requirements, duties, and how to apply at the following link - http://www.avsim.com...brary-managers/.

We moved the Crash to Desktop (CTD) and 'All About Us' sub-forums to the AVSIM Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Section today. They were formerly located as sub-forums to the FSX Forum. It will make it easier for members to locate the CTD Forum and allow members to post crashes not only while using FSX but any flightsim. If you have a crash while using FSX, P3D, FS9, and X-Plane please post the details of the crash there so members will not have to dig through a lot of non-crash topics to see a related problem they might be having. We have also moved the 'All About Us' to the FBO Section. This will allow members who not only visit the Prepar3D Forum but any forum on AVSIM to post information about themselves. We hope this move will provide better service to our membership. Best regards,

We moved the Crash to Desktop (CTD) and 'All About Us' sub-forums to the AVSIM Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Section today. They were formerly located as sub-forums to the FSX Forum. It will make it easier for members to locate the CTD Forum and allow members to post crashes not only while using FSX but any flightsim. If you have a crash while using FSX, P3D, FS9, Microsoft Flight and X-Plane please post the details of the crash there so members will not have to dig through a lot of non-crash topics to see a related problem they might be having. We have also moved the 'All About Us' to the FBO Section. This will allow members who not only visit the Microsoft Flight Forum but any forum on AVSIM to post information about themselves. We hope this move will provide better service to our membership. Best regards,

I've decided to merge the Sim Director, scenery and aircraft forums into the P3D General Forums. So, in the future we will have just the P3D and the Tips and Tricks Forum. I would encourage everyone to still post hardware questions in the hardware forums and any CTD's in the AVSIM CTD Forum but we will not be moving any of these topics out of the P3D Forum. Screenshots of your favorite P3D adventure, scenery, aircraft and videos will continue to be moved to the screenshot and video forums so please do not post them here. The topic tag system will be very important when creating new posts so that members can better search for the information they are seeking. We hope this will make it easier for new members (and old members) to decide the best forum to use to post their questions. Thanks for making AVSIM one of the best resources for flight simulation discussions and entertainment. We appreciate it!