alastairmonk

Hi Robert, Sorry for the delay in answering - I've only just found your message. If the only problem is the 727 Configurator and T-o-M in Vista64 I suspect the root cause is that these tools were designed for a 32-bit operating system and need to be updated to work in a 64-bit OS. You may get confirmation of this from the developers. Cheers, Alastair

Hi Mutt, Currently the Dakota will not work in Vista 64: http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/Previews/236/purchase_236.html If you have it you could try replacing the supplied Garmin430 with the new RealityXP GNS430W, but I don't know if the other gauges will work in a 64-bit environment. Alastair

Hi Juergen, Your Cold & Dark loading Flight - is it based on the default Cessna ? Generally many of the quality add-ons now use custom coding, and saving Flights can be of dubious quality at best. Perhaps one thing to try is to load the default FS2004/FSX flight (with the Cessna) which should load with the engine running. Shut down all the systems, then save as your Cold and Dark Flight. If you want to then load the Bonanza Cold and Dark load your (default) Cold and Dark Flight then switch to the Bonanza. Certainly in FS2004 loading Cold and Dark is an option with the Configuration Control but if this is proving troublesome in FSX you could try the above as an alternative. Alastair

Hi Alex, I'd love to get some firm confirmation (or otherwise) that the Aurora ever actually existed, but if it ever did this will be a long time coming ! It always strikes me as odd that the superb SR-71 was "retired" so quickly and with so little fuss. Either the official line is true, and the servicing difficulties and "peace dividend" resulted in the retirement, or it was retired because its successor was waiting in the wings. Maybe, one day, we'll find out ! Alastair

Hi Ian, In my experience most major bugs are successfully eliminated during Beta testing, but it isn't until a product is released that its exposed to the full range and variety of systems and software. With both FSX (in all its variations) and Vista there has been an unprecedented level of problems for all major companies, and identifying and solving the problems is taking longer than anyone likes. Your frustration is entirely understandable, but its ten times worse for the software developers ! Hopefully these gremlins will be soon resolved and you will be able to enjoy flying the Dakota like the rest of us ! Alastair

Hi Ian, To be fair, this is a FS2004 product updated (for free) to FSX. Consider that for full compatibility it needs to work in: FSX FSX SP1 FSX SP2 Vista Vista SP1 which is at least 6 combinations just to start with, even ignoring the fact that the original Vista came in 4-5 different versions. All of which have their own quirks, and which are almost certainly combined with numerous different anti-virus products, some of which corrupt the installation unless fully deactivated or completely uninstalled. Thus it may well take the DreamFleet team a while to work out what the problem(s) are before they can find a solution. Problems affecting everyone are a lot easier to solve than those only affecting a few users. Alastair

Hi Edouard, From what I read the Vista UAC function was introduced to try and stop incompetant users from accidently damaging their PC. However, it is so intrusive that most of the time it stops one from running anything normally. As such, and unless you do like constantly fiddling with things, I suggest that you turn off UAC and leave it off for good ! Alastair

Hi Stan, Good Man ! Of course, when you get "hooked" on the Garmins you'll then enter the territory of: "now, which of my other planes can I fit it/them to ?" Alastair

Hi Stan, Lou is quite right about "playing" with the Trainer being the best way to learn. However a few "functionality pointers". 1. To enter an ID Code (airport, VOR, waypoint etc.) you need a flashing cursor, which is activated by depressing the small right-hand knob. In the sim this is normally done by depressing your mouse scroll wheel when the cursor is over the small knob 2. To select the 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. characters of the code, use the large RH knob 3. To select the letter or number for each of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. characters, use the small RH knob 4. When the correct code has been fully entered, enter it with the ENT button 5. For a Direct To waypoint the flightplan is automatically activated when you use the ENT button (one of the prompts is "Activate?") 6. For multi-step flightplans you may have to use the MENU button and select the Activate Leg ? option. Edit: As for flying the route in the Trainer, there should be some controls in the Trainer window below the GNS itself (see image.) Just dial up an appropriate speed and altitude (entirely academic in the Trainer) and you can see how the GNS behaves. By default the "autozoom" option should be enabled, and as you approach a waypoint the scale should reduce a number of times until the waypoint is reached, when the scale will zoom out again to encompass the next waypoint. Alastair

The link Lou posted is indeed for the GNS530 Trainer, but is later than the version generally held to be the last one to be compatible with the RealityXP gauges, having a single database rather than two (International and Americas) from the Sept. 2005 version. Links to the earlier ones can be found here: http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=13589 Obviously, if you want the Trainer to learn how to operate the real GNS530, the later one will be fine ! Alastair

Nearly right - just don't run the PDF manual full-screen but as a smaller window. Or, better still, print it out ! Given the format its possible to print it two pages to a page, and, printing double sided it will only need around 50 pages of paper ! I've done this with both the GNS530 and GNS430 manuals, and very handy they are when printed and bound. Alastair