Is it a tricky installation?
A.
Thanks Andrew. Naah.
Piece of cake for the likes of SimV members. All you have to do is temporarily rename your FS2004, install a new copy (so you'll need the disk space) name the folder FSGW3 and run Bill's GW3 installer. Then you rename FS2004 back and away you go. You have to create a new fsgw3.cfg and the way Bill says to do it is soppy - just drag a copy of the old one to your desktop, rename it and put it back where it came from! Easy.
Only minor glitch is that your new start position has to exist - so if you start FS2004 in an Airbus at KLAX you'll be disappointed because Golden Wings won't recognise that and will not start. I temporarily put the default Skyhawk back in and it then created a new start position for me. I then just saved a new default flight with one of ther vintage default aircraft and deleted the Skyhawk.
In effect it is a different sim - all the program colours are new more pastel (not the default blue), even the opening splash screen is a special new 'vintage' one made by Bill.
I will keep both versions on my PC. When I want to fly a modern jet for example, I'll fly in FS9. But when I want to fly visually, low and slow for fun and relaxation, I'll fly Golden Wings. Bill has even created dozens of new default flights, plus all of his now Freeware planes (Tiger, Waco etc) have loads of flights included anyway which work in Golden Wings - even better than in FS9.
New updates are being created as other guys create 'old' sceneries which Bill then incorporates. But there's nothing to stop you adding your own just as you do in FS2004. I've added the Bay Bridges, I'm about to add NYC Objects and all of the Alaska bush flying sceneries (TSC - take note!) will be FANTASTIC.
Lots of new landclass is thrown in and you can install world mesh. There is a problem apparently with Bill's own Golden Hawaii scenery (!!) because if that's installed permamanently it nackers coastlines elsewhere, but there is a fix and I'll bet Bill will sort it out somehow.
Like I said before, it's NOT everyone's cuppa tea. You need to be a vintage aircraft fan - but like I said, it is perfect to fly your old warbirds in. The colours and 'atmosphere' are just more right than FS2004.
Pretty soon there will be vintage carriers all around and loads more vintage airport scenery I'm sure, just you wait and see.
Unless you try it for yourself you just won't know what the fuss is all about - so I say do it ;)