Simviation Forums

I posted this topic here just for one reason, I didn't know where else to put it. LOL

Well I will start with I am just learning to download other aircraft to use in FS2004.

I now have the Cessna 337 and the Piper Aztec.  Love them.

I tried several other aircraft (6) in all and no need to mention names but I found things did not work or were not there.
For example the "carb heat" or there is a GPS but no map.  Sometimes the "propellers" are missing, small stuff but annoying to a pilot.

I wonder if my computer is downloading and missing some things or are the missing items just not there?
Could it be I am downloading from FS2002 to use in FS2004 and items are being dropped? I have tried several times to download certain aircraft with the same results.  The items are missing.

I also find it very difficult to do a cross country from point "A" and return to Point "A" without landing.
Is this a flaw of the program or is it me doing something wrong?

I realize the folks that design these aircraft are very dedicated and my heart and thanks go out to them.
I am not criticizing them or their efforts ("Those who criticize others often are not perfect, either").

The problem could well rest with my technique for downloading.
Here is what I do: "copy" folder to aircraft directory which is :
My computer
C drive
Program Files
Microsoft games...FS9
Aircraft
"Paste"

Perhaps it is me, I download aircraft that I have flown and perhaps I am being to observant (Paying close attention especially to details).

Constructive criticism most welcome .

Again thanks to all those dedicated folks out there who design these flying machines and the good folks right here at SimV for these forums.

Oh, does anyone want to hear my Christmas wish list now?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Hi Doug!

1) Not every download is as detailed as the next... some planes are very basic... others are little gems of reality!

2) Not every download is compiled the same way... sometimes you just need to move the aircraft folder of the download to the aircraft section of FS .. other times you'll need to move gauges, effects and sounds into different maps in FS

3) always read the read me file!

4) Perhaps better as first, but always unzip the donwloaded file into a temporarily folder, so you can examine the structure of the download...

If you need more advice on a specific download, just tell us the name and the place you've downloaded it!

and just wait till you start messing with repaints... lol

Cheers,

Kris

This should probably be in the General forum, but oh well

I also find it very difficult to do a cross country from point "A" and return to Point "A" without landing.
Is this a flaw of the program or is it me doing something wrong?

I don't understand. I do a lot of cross country flying, and i've never had a problem with not landing

Another point worth making Doug. If you're using FS9 download aircraft created specifically for it. Many of the earlier aircraft posted in the FS2002 section aren't fully compatible with FS9 which explains those missing parts like the props you mention. This is not the author's fault as FS9 hadn't been released & the tools weren't available at the time they were created.

If the aircraft don't show up on the menu it's usually something your end & not the files. Not all downloads are configured in the same way & you have to know what to look for. Once you understand the basics it's a piece of cake.

Doug, once you enter the world of downloading files, be carefull. I noticed both my hard drives were starting to get full, so I looked at my computer to see what I had. Adding all my flightsim installation and all my addons I've downloaded, it comes to almost 30 gigs.

If you don't watch it, once you start, you will never stop

hehe, 47GB FS folder last time I checked before I formatted.. I've still got the backup of that whole file system on another hard drive....

BUT over the last weekend I got a 250GB seagate hard drive.. As of right now it is one 232GB hard drive with nothing but Flight sim on it.. In the end I'll put my documents and music/photos on there as well so if my main drive crashes I'll still have the other one to fall back on

Thanks folks for the advice and comments.

What I was trying to say Andrew is if I take off from an Airport for example London and I want to fly an IFR approach at London I can't seem to get the map to show me the approach.
The Departure and Destination Airports are the same so I can not find a way to take the red line and lay out my own route and back to the airport.

Wouldn't it be nice to have the aircraft manufacturing company supply a disk of the different aircraft they build and have built over the years and sell that disk to folks who want to purchase it?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Wouldn't it be nice to have the aircraft manufacturing company supply a disk of the different aircraft they build and have built over the years and sell that disk to folks who want to purchase it?

Please don't give them ideas Doug. We've been down that road before & it could have killed our hobby stone dead. I've actually seen a website of a small aircraft manufacturer that featured FS models of their aircraft. I forget which one now but these were freeware & created by a well-known FS modeller. This was some time ago so they might not be much use now even if I could find it.

What I was trying to say Andrew is if I take off from an Airport for example London and I want to fly an IFR approach at London I can't seem to get the map to show me the approach.
The Departure and Destination Airports are the same so I can not find a way to take the red line and lay out my own route and back to the airport.

If I remember right, the larger airports have different types of approaches that you can request when flying on an IFR flightplan. I think you can select GPS approaches for some airports also.


I can't remember the last time I flew a conventional IFR flight. Where I fly, IFR means I follow Rivers/roads, and my approaches are always flown in a standard pattern

My biggest problem is finding what I want, and I almost never do.  

Hehe, 160GB Hard drive, 40GB used, 25GB FS Folder.  LOL!!! THe majority of my computer is fs stuff.

Man...I need to get out mor

Hi Andrew

Yes you are right but what I want to do is fly circuits or cross country flights and return to the same airport I took off from without landing anywhere else.

I do notice that some airports will show the option of doing circuits but not all of them.  That seems strange as I like to do circuits out of small flying farmers fields .

Oh well maybe there will be some changes in the new FS comming out...let us hope.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Hi Andrew

Yes you are right but what I want to do is fly circuits or cross country flights and return to the same airport I took off from without landing anywhere else.

Hi Doug,

Now I understand. You want to create a flight plan to a waypoint, and then back to your departure airport.

Unfortunantly this isn't possible with the built in flight planner. You may be able to select a waypoint that is close to your departure airport for your destination

I've moved this topic for just one reason! It should be in the FS9 forum Doug.... you naughty boy, I'll slap your wrists next time

There is one way you can do what you want. After entering your destination airport pick any other airport as your destination airport then once you are air born and a little distance from your depature just request a new IFR destination and select the airport you came from.
Example if you wanted to go from KFSO to say KSEA and back without actually landing at Ksea. Just make Ksfo as your depature and ksea as your destination select and edit your route then once air born and before atc starts giving you vectors to Ksea just request a new IFR destination and make Ksfo that new destination then readjust your route.
Granted not exactly the correct way to do this but with FS it will work.

LOLSorry Mark I shall go down to the barn and stand in the corner for an hour.
I am sure you are related to the old girl

Thanks garymbuska that is an excellent tip...shall try that one.

I just tried to download the Maule from FS2004 downloads and did it just the way I described above and NOW it does not show up in FS2004.

I do not know what I am doing wrong, the reason I chose the Maule was of the variations especially wheel/skis and amphibious floats.

Oh well, back to the drawing boad.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug