Just installed CFS -- first impressions report:

I'm unable to properly evaluate the handling, as system problems have disabled
my joystick. Hope to cure that soon.

Scenery: Great! As good as, many ways better than FU2, and nice smooth frame
rate (didn't look at numbers) everywhere I've been - Mountains are great, too.

Aircraft look good, love the virtual panel with working gauges.

Views: Spot view is lacking one important factor that would make it usable for
more than admiring aircraft: you can't stop (that I've found) the wallowing
around. You could disable this lousy "feature" in FS98, but I can't find out
how to do it in CFS. Cockpit viewing options seem improved.

Multiplayer: I set up a session (though I didn't yet fly with anyone), and the
program apparently assumes you're going to shoot somebody, or at least engage
in combat, right away, since it won't let you start on the ground (at least
that I've figured out in the 5 minutes I spent).

The FSD P-51 imports nicely, though I didn't yet succeed in getting the CFS
P-51 panel and sound to work with it.

You're stuck with leaving the CD in the player, even though you have an
apparently full install to hard disk.

I'll give more impressions once my system is back together and the joystick
works again. All this so far is with maybe 10-15 minutes total spent with the
program.

Larry N.
Larry --
Regarding your Views comment: Try the Chase view, which puts you farther from
your plane -- you can cycle around the plane just like in the Spot view - it's
nice for those photogenic landings.
When you get a chance, I'd be interested in what you are describing as
wallowing and how it is disabled in FS98. Thanks -- Cloudy --