What is more realistic: FS2002(Pro) or FS2004?

[Frank N. O.]

I've tried to read up on aerodynamics and simulation and it's been more than hinted more than one place that FS2004 is changed for the much worse compared to FS2002 in terms of working files and simulation authenticity. Can anyone confirm this?

Real Air Simulations has their great freeware update for the C172 commisioned by a flight school, either in Australia or NZ can't remember, and they say that they had to start from scratch for the FS2004 version over their first version that was for FS2002. And in the Freeflight Design Shop forum I've also read on the first page of people that couldn't get the values to work in FS2004 from their well-working FS2002-version and some even said the air-file doesn't really work right, I.E. it's being sidetracked and the FSEdit program automatically changes hidden values that screw up the files and often crashes too. In FS2004 I can't even get it to read any files no matter what I do.

And then the second question: To get more realism I'm still wondering about a yoke and pedals but I have no idea to find out how much spring-return, if any there should be and how long the travel should be, Any idea how to find out? For instance from a Cardinal or Commander (Cessna 177 or Rockwell/Commander 112/114/115).

Finally what format do I use to save bmp's for FS2002 and/or FS2004 from PSP? I've tried repainting a few files but then they aren't read in the game even though PSP reads it's the same file-settings it saves with but the only program I could find that converts anything is the old BMP2000 and it can't read the files from 2004 add-on planes I have.

Frank

[chris]

What I think is best is Flight Simulator 2004, optioned with ActiveSky 2004.5.

I use both. I also use FSUIPC with the options set to eliminate the unrealistically sudden weather changes.

I use the SSTSim/Altitude Concorde and with that plane, you really notice the difference between more realistic weather, and poorer weather simulation since it is so sensitive to changes in ambient conditions.

FS2004 planes have textures almost always saved as DXTC compressed BMP format.

[Frank N. O.]

Thanks for the reply Chris, somehow I knew it would be you if anyone :D
I've tried looking at some tools that say they can convert FS2002 bmp's and I'll look at it now. With regards to flying in weather then my only flight was in more relaxed wind but I still felt like the Cardinal rotated slightly back and forth from the vertical axis and up and down and that I've only ever seen and felt in Fly! and Fly! II that also had proper start-up unlike FS but sadly these do not run at all in XP with my Radeon :(

I'm mainly in to sub-sonic planes when interested in realistic flight, something like a Cessna Cardinal (that sadly doesn't exist in freeware version for anything near FS9) and a Rockwell Commander 112/114 / Commander 114B/115TC which last freeware version was for 2002 and that was a upgraded 2000-version. As those go at least the visual aspect was pretty nice though.

A main concern for me however is the the link between me and the virtual plane, I.E. joystick settings, ratio, flightmodel connection with visual model and I haven't found much about that yet. The RealAir C172 for instance barely roll when the yoke is fully towards the left, as is the joystick, but in KingSchools/Cessna videos that came with FS2000Pro I can see that a Cessna can roll a lot faster with a lot less movement on the yoke.

I'm trying to figure out how to build a yoke since the CH Yoko seems to be very limited, plus it costs 2x in DK what it costs in US and that's a lot. both my year-old MS Sidewinder Prec. Pro joystick seems to be worn but so is the less than a year old Logitech Force 3D and that in a way that I can't use the rudder and throttle on either since they shift output when I move the stick itself and that gives a further error in the learning of the reactions of the plane. The FF on the Force 3D does not seem logical to me either.

But basically you think I should aim directly for FS2004 when trying to edit some files?

Btw did I ever ask you what controller-setup you use to fly the Concorde?
And the place you got the Concorde from do they also sell the payware Commander 115TC that's on the market?

Greetings
Frank

P.S. Anymore runours on the next FS, or any other new FS apart from the newly released super glidersim Silent Wings www.silentwings.no (http://www.silentwings.no)

[chris]

Well, I got the Concorde directly from Andrew Wilson, one of the people who made it since this plane was so hard to find anywhere else.

Try Simware, they might have what you are looking for. Also, try www.simmarket.com. That's where I got ActiveSky 2004.5.

For controlling Concorde, I'm happy mainly to use a simple Logitech joystick. Space restrictions at the moment make anything else not practical.