Hi - whoa - this is a long post - thanks for the interest in FSFS!

I bought FSFS a while back but just now really starting to use it. I've played with it for about 2 weeks now and enjoy it for the most part but there seem to be some things that are incorrect and a couple things that can be a little annoying (Did I mention, I enjoyed it for the most part?).

I have been reading some posts (allot) tonight and got some answers I was looking for. Some of these things have been said already, but rather highjack multiple threads I figured I'd give my own. I do programming, but am very unknowledgable with doing anything with FSX. I've played with the SDK here and there, do my own liveries, afcads etc,,, but have no idea what's really involved so please don't take anything to wrong. Just my thoughts from my experiences after using it. Oh, last note, I have been a simmer for years and had FSX since it hit the shelves so am very aware that some things I mention most likely cannot be helped due to limitations in the FSX arena.

1.) Whenever I'm close to an aircraft on the ground at start up the instructor carries on and on and on about it. It would be great for it to be mentioned then perhaps not repeated until maybe an elapsed time ran out. Possibly an elseif > timer +10 or equivelant.

All the phrases are on timers, otherwise they would repeat instantly. Most folks seem OK with the timed intervals between phrases. It's personal taste I guess.

2.) Upon entering cruise mode the instructor tells me to shut off my landing lights. I am under 10,000'. Is this correct? I usually follow FAA guidelines (when in the USA) and keep them on until 10k. I have to say also, I am not a real pilot so forgive me if I'm just ignorant to some facts. I also normally only fly the heavies (747-400, MD-11, etc).

You should not be told to turn off landing lights in a heavy in FSFS below 10k.

3.) I now keep the wind tips on taxi off so it's not a problem, but if possible in the future, I would love to see him once again go to a timer or sleep on that line of code if possible. He repeats his self way too much and I can see sometime it is set to after a change in direction or something to that effect, but if so would say to add about 45 degrees to direction of the plane at least before he repeats, or/and also the timer. Despite this, I would still like to see more check box options. Perhaps one that shuts off the things to do in the wind such as hold right Aileron up while taxi. That is the correct advice, but possibly a check box to keep that off. I have had lots of hardware during my FS years, but the Ailerons up in any direction will turn my plane no matter what.

You can turn advice for taxiing in wind off of course. Are you suggesting checkboxes for different parts of the advice?

4.) I saw this stated here in the forum a few times and if there was only one thing I would really hope to see fixed/changed is how fast he tells you what to do. Once again I strongly think there should be a timer, or even better would be to not say it at all (some things) until the user does an action without it.

Example: After I do my checks and am planning to start I turn my Nav lights one and Beacon. Within a couple seconds if not sooner he tells me to shut them off unless I'm planning to start. Well even though that is a correct statement (for the beacon anyway) more time than 1 second, perhaps 5? The amount he repeats things in one minute and how fast he says what to do is by far the most annoying and unrealistic.

Again this is personal taste - and we have to have a balance between "Grrr - It says it too often" and "Duh... that FSFS let's me get away with anything..."

5.) When I activate the descent part of the flight with the instructor I have learned to wait to be on the glide slope. Another request for either a timer or some form of better ifs/elsifs/thens or something because having them say your below the glideslope catch up to it over and over and over is not only wrong information, it is the most annoying part. You never chase the glideslope. You let it come to you. I'm just being honest, but this part of the flight isn't where you need more anxiety added, anxiety because he is dead wrong to say it at all.

The other posts show that this depends on many factors including if the pilot is doing ILS or visual. And the instructor would rather nag than have his/her student fly into terrain. But this is something we are fine tuning for the next major release.

6.) If the sounds are ever revisited, I would recommend redoing the U (Uniform) part of the speech. Hahaha, this isn't an issue, I actually laugh every time I hear it. The sounds (voice) I have it set to Mr.Smith. This is not a complaint, just thought I'd mention it since it just popped in my head. Great job though on the voices. It's not easy to have people keep the same tone to make them good. They're fine, just that uniform

What about it is at issue? Sorry - I am not following what the issue is.

7.) Peoples voices are what people hear and their tone sets the mood. All the Instructor voices seem to have a snappy attitude about them. Would be nice to have 1 that was a little more patient sounding. The Moderator/Squadron Leader/Developer here seems like a nice mellow person, perhaps he could do a set? The woman flat out scares me hahaha, any way you can add a scream from her voice so I can simulate pushing her out the door at altitude?

Some folks really enjoy being told to do it right by Miss Aviatrix... while others have the same thoughts as yourself.

And... I am indeed... MrSmith...

But I do see what you mean - you don't want to be too terrified up there in the virtual skies with the FSFS team. Although - I do think that adding a little tension in a way is a good thing as it makes the student tense, which is more realistic that feeling completely at ease.

This is a tricky subject as of course FS is meant to be fun, not stressful, but on the other hand, it is also a simulation, and as such the pilot should rightly feel some pressure.

8.) Lights: I already touched on the start up a tad, but it would be nice to either have a timer that makes the instructor bite their tongue on the lights the most. The reason is they aren't going to crash the plane but there are a lot of airport and airline specific uses for lights. My local airport requires Taxi lights on day or night. Also landing lights are turned on whenever you taxi across a runway. I have heard from lots of others that that's most airports but thus the reason for more of an action of delay rather than a full blown implementation.

Again personal taste and I think that most of the lights have some pretty good delays built into them. We cannot simulate what is done at different airports, but we do at least allow the pilot to monitor the use of only those lights they wish.

9.) Last but not least. As I mentioned I have had the product for a while, about a year. I have used it now on two systems that I've built. I run tons of addons and loads of high setting to say the least haha, but from reading the forum know this isn't just me.

Error: 6 - Overflow
Location: ProcessFSData
Line: 15048

In regard to the statement on traffic setting on the post that I read. I have had the issue with any traffic program I have used. I have them all, but the only ones I've run with FSFS is UT2 (currently installed), TrafficX and the default traffic. I can't say for certain if I had it with the default, but I get it often. Mainly when Mr.Smiths freaking out about planes that are parked near mhahaha. Maybe it's just a coincidence but thought I'd mention it since that's what I read earlier.
Let me know if there is anything I can try (other than the post mentioned ;-).

This occasional error is a complex issue and one we are trying to solve.

10.) I read in one post the request for a log file. That would be outstanding!!! There aren't that many FS addons out there (or games) that give a log file. It's ashame since most simmers that I know are fairly knowledgable and computer savvy people. Being a member of a couple forums thats product does have logs can honestly say it goes a long way since most of their community answer each others questions after seeing their log (that could mean much more time off). It doesn't need to be anything special witVerbosese mode or anything, but anything is better than nothing.

Yes - this is interesting - What sort of logged data do you have in mind?

11.) After I bought FSFS 2010 I could have sworn there was a place on the website or here to download aircraft data files. Am I mistaken? Or did I just overlook where they were?

On this forum in The Hangar. They are released with new software versions so if you have the latest version - you have them.

That's about all I can think of. Again, I could be wrong about some things and have no problem with that, but I mainly hope it doesn't offend anyone. If I didn't like the product overall I wouldn't take the time to post this. It's ashame that most people only write about what they don't like or want fixed and normally not as much feedback on what's liked. Overall I like the immersion aspect of it which I think most do. I really enjoy the occasional compliments he tosses out haha.
The GUI is great. I loves options as I know most do. Check boxes "I like allot"

Thanks for your kind words and yes - it really is good to hear positive feedback rather than problems and complaints.

I love the rating system. I read a few complaints but mostly people thinking they just are terrible pilots haha. I thinks it's key to have them strict with the actual rating portion. That said, it would be nice to see maybe a couple options. Like; Beginner, knowledgable and Realistic. I think it's probably already at realistic. For the other levels maybe just turn off certain tasks being monitored for others to work their way up. I think most people would always set it to realistic. I know I would even if I do occasionally get pretty low numbers on my landings

Again it's that line between "It's too hard" and "It's dumb - it's way too easy". But - yes - formal difficulty levels is something we are looking at.

Incase it's not obvious. I am a happy user/supporter. I realizSimconnectct has tons of bugs and limitations as does FSX in general. Don't let any of this bother you. It's just my opinions.

Many thanks Dan for taking the time to write all this - much appreciated feedback!

Thanks for your time,
Dan