Re:

[oldtimepilot]

I am really sorry to see all of the frustration being expressed over the issue
of "joining" this site just to have quicker access. The truth is that the
number of hobbiests using the site has increased over the years and like
anything else will slow down access to the site. I understand the frustration,
though.

That being said, I have been coming to this site since 1996 when I first
started flightsimming. Over the years I have certainly taken alot more away
from the site than I have contributed - files, advice, new ideas, and a general


satisfaction with the hobby. All of this has to cost someone to make it
available to me and others who make this site what it is, the best!

As a result, a little over a year ago I "joined", not for better access (cause
I get on at 5am when nobody else is on and I have no trouble LOL), but because
I felt that helping to keep this site alive and weighing what I had taken away
for free vs the small cost to join was making a statement about my hobby and
the people who have worked so hard for all these years on and for this site. I
considered it a donation and getting better access was not even a
consideration, just a positive side effect. When I calculate the cost vs. the
amount of time I have spent on this site, it does not even compute as a
percentage.

I have tried the other free sites and their is no comparison - Flightsim
forever! I will continue to donate a "joining fee" just to show my appreciation


to the people who run this site for all of us to enjoy. My wife says it is a
lot cheaper than my other hobbies and she said she would even give the money if


need be.

I would hate to see some of those expressing their frustration give up on this
site, as many of them contributing is what helps make this site what it is.

Thank you for letting me express my opinion.
Tom Burnett

Tom, we certainly agree that you are entitled to your opinion of the site, but
I have also been here for over six years and cutting back on the nodes in favor
of the 'pay to download' is not the answer. The authors of the freeware
uploads specifically say that no money is to be made on their products,
yet..unless you kowtow to Nel's policy of First Class membership, you don't get
the benefit of the author's work. The author certainly does not benefit
financially.
Jesse

[tburnett]

I am really sorry to see all of the frustration being expressed over the issue
of "joining" this site just to have quicker access. The truth is that the
number of hobbiests using the site has increased over the years and like
anything else will slow down access to the site. I understand the frustration,
though.

That being said, I have been coming to this site since 1996 when I first
started flightsimming. Over the years I have certainly taken alot more away
from the site than I have contributed - files, advice, new ideas, and a general




satisfaction with the hobby. All of this has to cost someone to make it
available to me and others who make this site what it is, the best!

As a result, a little over a year ago I "joined", not for better access (cause
I get on at 5am when nobody else is on and I have no trouble LOL), but because
I felt that helping to keep this site alive and weighing what I had taken away
for free vs the small cost to join was making a statement about my hobby and
the people who have worked so hard for all these years on and for this site. I
considered it a donation and getting better access was not even a
consideration, just a positive side effect. When I calculate the cost vs. the
amount of time I have spent on this site, it does not even compute as a
percentage.

I have tried the other free sites and their is no comparison - Flightsim
forever! I will continue to donate a "joining fee" just to show my appreciation




to the people who run this site for all of us to enjoy. My wife says it is a
lot cheaper than my other hobbies and she said she would even give the money if




need be.

I would hate to see some of those expressing their frustration give up on this
site, as many of them contributing is what helps make this site what it is.

Thank you for letting me express my opinion.
Tom Burnett

Tom, we certainly agree that you are entitled to your opinion of the site, but
I have also been here for over six years and cutting back on the nodes in favor


of the 'pay to download' is not the answer. The authors of the freeware
uploads specifically say that no money is to be made on their products,
yet..unless you kowtow to Nel's policy of First Class membership, you don't get


the benefit of the author's work. The author certainly does not benefit
financially.
Jesse

Jesse,
I don't feel as if I am paying to download. I have not paid any money to any of
the authors. I myself have 17 files on this site with nearly 10,000 downloads
and no one has had to pay me for those files. I gladly share them under the
current circumstances.

I would use the illustration of paying an entrance fee to a National Park. 0nce
inside you can do anything and everything for free. The entrance fee is used to
maintain all of the equipment that keeps the park operating. I mean in this
case someone has to buy the servers and someone has to do all of the work to
keep the site running.

I would venture to say that it is only 20% of us using this site that have paid
to join, so that the other 80% can still enjoy it to the level that they do. I
am really sorry that some are having trouble accessing the site and that the
membership has become such an issue, but I still feel that considering all this
site has to offer, it is worth more than Nels asks for joining.

Thanks again for listening,
Tom

[peterfitness]

I am really sorry to see all of the frustration being expressed over the issue
of "joining" this site just to have quicker access. The truth is that the
number of hobbiests using the site has increased over the years and like
anything else will slow down access to the site. I understand the frustration,
though.

That being said, I have been coming to this site since 1996 when I first
started flightsimming. Over the years I have certainly taken alot more away
from the site than I have contributed - files, advice, new ideas, and a general


satisfaction with the hobby. All of this has to cost someone to make it
available to me and others who make this site what it is, the best!

As a result, a little over a year ago I "joined", not for better access (cause
I get on at 5am when nobody else is on and I have no trouble LOL), but because
I felt that helping to keep this site alive and weighing what I had taken away
for free vs the small cost to join was making a statement about my hobby and
the people who have worked so hard for all these years on and for this site. I
considered it a donation and getting better access was not even a
consideration, just a positive side effect. When I calculate the cost vs. the
amount of time I have spent on this site, it does not even compute as a
percentage.

I have tried the other free sites and their is no comparison - Flightsim
forever! I will continue to donate a "joining fee" just to show my appreciation


to the people who run this site for all of us to enjoy. My wife says it is a
lot cheaper than my other hobbies and she said she would even give the money if


need be.

I would hate to see some of those expressing their frustration give up on this
site, as many of them contributing is what helps make this site what it is.

Thank you for letting me express my opinion.
Tom Burnett

Hi Tom,
You have echoed my sentiments exactly. I too have 1st class membership, and
believe I am getting excellent value for money. Many of the freeware downloads
available here are far better than some of the payware that is offered, and I
often marvel at the authors of this freeware for making it just that - free,
especially when the amount of time they must spend is taken into account.
I certainly don't consider Nels to be profiting from the freeware files, as he
has to maintain this site, a task that must be very time consuming.
I hope flightsim.com continues for a long time yet.
Regards,
Peter Fitness.

[alastairmonk]

Hi Christopher:

In post #116112 you mention "Rich's Tribute Flag Scenery" apparently for Ground


Zero. Where would I find it and what is the file name?

Everyone has their own reasons for removing or not removing the WTC. After
thinking long and hard I decided to remove it. Like you, I'm a New Yorker and
was deeply affected by the attack. Time heals all but I will not forget.

Regards,
John

Hi !

The file is here:

FS5 - FS5 Scenery
FS5/FSFW95/FS98/FS2000 USA Flag
Name: usaflag.zip Size: 138,382 Date: 09-20-2001 Downloads: 1347
FS5/FSFW95/FS98/FS2000 USA Flag. This scenery places an animated flag of the
United States of America at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York as
a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in the tragedy on September
11, 2001. Includes Airport v2.6 Build 68 sources and API macro. Created by Rich
Nagel.

This can be used with or without the Towers.

Best wishes,

Alastair