From: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas)
Subject: Frequently Asked Questions
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 16:08:00 GMT

There have been quite a few changes and additions to the FAQ, so I am posting
it a week early...  Note that there is some new A&SD Scenery information,
and as described below, lines with changes and/or additions are now preceded
by a | for easy locating of new material.



                          rec.aviation.simulators
                        FREQEUNTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


This FAQ is maintained by mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John Mechalas) and
will be posted every two weeks or so.  Any comments, suggesstions, additions,
or corrections are welcome, so feel free to mail me with your ideas.
   Similar to the FAQ on rec.aviation, there are now |'s (pipes) at the
beginning of each line that contains new information.  This way those of
you with 'grep'-like utilities can immediately search this file for the
new stuff.


Thanks to:  Glenn Wallace, Hayden Nanton, G. David Frye, and Robert Dorsett
            for their major contributions to this FAQ.
Also thanks to the countless others who are providing me with constant 
feedback, helpful hints and information.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Index:
  1)  What is rec.aviation.simulators?                     Updated: 11/5
  2)  Is it okay to discuss games?                                  11/5
  3)  Which simulator is the "best"?                                11/5
  4)  Are there any space simulators?                               11/12
  5)  What happened between subLOGIC, Microsoft, and BAO?           11/5
  6)  Is there a Scenery Designer for the Mac version
      of FS4.0?                                                     11/5
| 7)  Where can I find scenery files via FTP?                       11/20
| 8)  Are there other simulator utilities or programs
|     available by FTP?                                             11/20
  9)  Can I maintain my IFR currency with a simulator?              11/12
  10) Are there any Air Traffic Control simulators?                 11/5
  11) What accessories are available for FS4.0?                     11/12
| 12) Where can I buy flight-related software?                      11/20
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------



1) What is rec.aviation.simulators?

   rec.aviation.simulators is one of many sister groups that are under 
   the "parent" group rec.aviation.  This newsgroup is specifically for the
   discussion of air and spacecraft simulators, whether they be PC-based,
   Workstation-based, or "real".  Mostly, you will see talk about PC 
   sims, since most of us can't afford (and consequently don't have) the
   real things.  :)


2) Is it okay to discuss games like "Falcon" or "AOTP"?

   Since the software market doesn't really differentiate between games
   and flight simulators, we don't either.  However, you are more likely
   to find game-related simulators on the newsgroups comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
   and comp.sys.amiga.games and others, whereas discussion of "pure" 
   simulators like FS and ATP on here.  Basically, there is nothing wrong
   with posting game-related questions here: people do it all the time.
      If you need help with a game, you are probably going to have better
   luck (and more responses) by posting the the games newsgroups.  However,
   if your questions are about flight or combat technique, flight modeling,
   realism, or other related issues, then this is the best place to post to.


3) I see a lot of flight simulators out there.  Which one is the best?

   This is a question that is not easy to answer.  Most simulators on the
   home-computer market are game-oriented, such as Falcon.  If you are 
   looking for a combat game, then you would want to consider these products
   first.  The "pure" simulators are just as varied, ranging from Microsoft
   and subLOGIC's "Flight Simulator" to AzureSoft's "Elite".  Which one is
   best for you depends on what you plan on doing with it.   And how much
   you are willing to spend.


4) Are there any space simulators?

   Virgin produces a simulator simply entitled "Shuttle".  It is by far
   one of the most complex, detailed, and realistic simulators available
   for the PC, Amiga, and Atari ST.  [Editor's note:  Anyone know if it's
   available for the Mac?]
      Another, older, program, called "Orbiter", is available for Mac systems. 


5) What happened between Microsoft, the Bruce Artwick Organization, and 
   subLOGIC?

   Glenn Wallace writes [Editor's note:  Trimmed for brevity]:


    Well, it turns out it was BOTH Microsoft and Bruce Artwick that filed
    against subLOGIC...

    Ancient history I know, but I just had to dig this stuff up...

    ------- reprinted without permission, of course -------

    Q65285 PR Court Enjoins Release of SubLOGIC's Flight Simulator: ATP
    Microsoft News Releases (NEWS)

    Court Enjoins Release of SubLOGIC
    Corporation's Flight Simulator: ATP

    SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- August 28, 1990 -- Finding that there is a strong
    likelihood of copyright infringement of Microsoft(R) Flight
    Simulator(R), Federal District Court Judge Richard Mills has ordered
    an injunction against the release of Flight Simulator: Airline
    Transport Pilot (Flight Simulator: ATP) by SubLOGIC Corporation. This
    preliminary injunction prohibits SubLOGIC Corporation from
    distributing Flight Simulator: ATP pending resolution of the copyright
    infringement suit filed by Microsoft on December 19, 1989 against
    SubLOGIC Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of
    Illinois.

    Microsoft filed its complaint alleging that Flight Simulator: ATP
    infringes Microsoft's copyright in Flight Simulator by its use of
    computer code taken from Microsoft Flight Simulator. Microsoft
    requested an injunction in papers filed July 18, 1989 after SubLOGIC
    announced its intention to release Flight Simulator: ATP on July 23,
    1990.

    ----------

    Q67946 PR MS & Bruce Artwick Reach Settlement with SubLOGIC
    Microsoft News Releases (NEWS)


    Microsoft and Bruce Artwick Reach Settlement with SubLOGIC

    CHAMPAIGN, Illinois -- December 21, 1990 -- Microsoft and Bruce
    Artwick reached a settlement today with SubLOGIC concerning various
    lawsuits which arose out of SubLOGIC's planned release of its ATP
    (Airline Transport Pilot) product. Artwick and Microsoft filed
    separate claims in U.S. District Court in Illinois earlier this year
    claiming that ATP would infringe copyrights in the Microsoft(R) Flight
    Simulator(R) product. The agreement settles all claims and
    counterclaims asserted in both federal cases as well as those asserted
    in a state case filed by Artwick.

    The settlement will lift a preliminary injunction which was entered by
    the federal court on July 24, 1990, barring the release of ATP. The
    settlement permits SubLOGIC to release one version of ATP containing
    certain computer code from older versions of Microsoft Flight
    Simulator.

    The settlement acknowledges Microsoft's ownership of Microsoft Flight
    Simulator software copyrights, it acknowledges Artwick's ownership of
    other Flight Simulator software copyrights, and it acknowledges
    SubLOGIC's ownership of the scenery disk software copyrights. As a
    result of the settlement, Artwick will own the "Flight Simulator"
    trademark, but SubLOGIC will continue to publish Artwick's Flight
    Simulator software products for computers like the Apple(R) II,
    Atari(R), and Commodore(R) under license from Artwick.

    "The agreement allows all parties to turn their attention full time to
    developing products. SubLOGIC plans to release ATP as soon as possible
    and to continue development of scenery disks. ATP will simulate the
    flight of five aircraft, the Boeing 737, 747, 767, the Airbus A320,
    and the Shorts 360, between 26 major cities throughout the United
    States. Scenery Disk 12, covering the northeastern United States, is
    now also available for release," said Stuart Moment of SubLOGIC.

    "Microsoft and Artwick will continue to work together to produce new
    versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator as well as exciting new
    products such as the recently released Microsoft Flight Simulator
    Aircraft & Scenery Designer. This add-on product for Microsoft Flight
    Simulator version 4.0 allows users to customize their flight
    environment with a powerful scenery designer. The package also
    includes four new aircraft, including a Boeing 747-400 developed in
    conjunction with Boeing," said Charles Fitzgerald, Microsoft's product
    manager for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

    "The Bruce Artwick Organization will continue to be a significant
    player in the development of flight simulation software, not only
    through our work with Microsoft on Microsoft Flight Simulator, but
    also through new products we will be releasing in the future," said
    Bruce Artwick, chairman of The Bruce Artwick Organization, Ltd.
    

6)  Is there a Scenery Designer available for the Mac version of Flight
    Simulator?

    At this time, there is no scenery designer available for the Mac, and
    the last anyone heard, Microsoft had no plans on releasing one.


|7)  Are there any scenery files for the Scenery Designer available via FTP?

    Yes.  Check the following sites:

      ftp.ulowell.edu (129.63.17.1)            US Scenery
          /msdos/Games/FltSim/Scenery

      wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)      US Scenery
          /mirrors2/msdos-games/FltSim/Scenery

      tauoni.ph.unmelb.edu.au (128.250.50.2)   Australia Scenery
          /pub/incoming/FS

|     acorn.grove.iup.edu (134.93.133.1)      Lots of Scenery
|         /flight-sim/cis/fsforum/lib6
|         (This is really a VAX/VMS machine,
|         but I am giving the directory in
|         "Unix-speak")


|8)  Are there any utilities or other programs available via FTP?

    The tauoni.ph.unmelb.edu.au site has a whole slew of utilities for
    use with subLOGIC's ATP, including a bug fix/patch (there is a bug
    that derates you for a zero-zero landing, even if you execute a
    missed approach).
       There are some demos and aircraft available for FS4.0 at
    ux1.cso.uiuc.edu in the directory /pc/pc-exec.  This directory
    is rather large, so you'll definitely need to look through the 
    *ref.arc file to know what you are looking at.  Most of the
    fs*.zip files are for MS FS4.0.
|      A whole plethora of stuff can be found at the acorn.grove.iup.edu
|   sight in the various /flight-sim/cis/fsform directories.  Definitely
|   worth checking out.
       If you are on a Sun workstation, there is a program called
    'fltsim' (archived as 'fltsim.tar.Z').  The following sites are 
    given by archie:

      isy.liu.se  (130.236.1.3)
         /pub/sunview

      kth.se  (130.237.72.201)
         /kth/misc

      usc.edu  (128.125.253.136)
         /pub

      walhalla.germany.eu.net
         /pub/windows/sunview

    It is a SunView tool, and will run on any Sun 3 or 4 station running
    (I believe) SunOS 4.x or higher.
|      Another Sun/Unix flight simulator, ACM, is also available.  A seperate
|   FAQ for ACM is maintained, and is posted periodically to this
|   newsgroup.


9)  Can I maintain currency for my IFR rating with any flight simulators?
    If so, which ones?

    There is no PC-based program that can, at the present time, be used
    to log IFR hours.  However, the following two products are recommended
    for serious IFR practice:

     "Elite" by Azuresoft(?) is an extremely expensive, but highly realistic
     IFR trainer that is available for the Mac and PC.  There are several
     different versions out, depending on what type of computer you have,
     and they all require a flight yoke of some kind or another.  Elite is
     not a toy, and is probably the most accurate and realistic PC-based
     simulator, both in terms of flying characteristics, and instrument 
     panel simulation.  Rumor has it the list price on this package has 
     substantially from it's previous list between $600 and $800.

     "IFR Trainer" (who produces this?) is also a good choice.  Though not
     as complex as Elite, it still offers a high level of instrument and
     flight realism, and is an excellent package.  It's also a lot cheaper..
     list is somewhere around $150 (Ed Note: correct me if I'm wrong here :)


10) How about Air Traffic Control simulators?

    "TRACON II" by Wesson International is available for many platforms.
    It is an excellent simulation of ATC, and the PC version can even be
    linked to Microsoft Flight Simulators for multi-player interactive
    flying and ATC.  There are several variants available, including
    TRACON for Windows, and TRACON Pro (suitable for training real ATC
    personnel).


11) What accessories are available for Microsoft FS4.0?

    If you have the IBM platform, the following accessories are available:

     o Aircraft and Scenery Designer - Design static and dynamic scenery.
                                       From Microsoft.
     o Scenery Enhancement Editor - Enhance your A&SD files by adding
                                    day/night effects and other features.
                                    From Mallard/BAO.
     o Sound and Graphics Upgrade - Use SVGA modes with supported cards.
                                    Sound support for SB, Adlib, and others.
                                    From Mallard/BAO.
     o Aircraft and Adventure Factory - Detailed aircraft design and creation
                                        of flying "adventures".  From
                                        Mallard/BAO.
     o Facilities Locator - Position your aircraft by airport, VOR radials,
                            and more.  Both subLOGIC and Mallard/BAO produce
                            a facilities locator.

    In addition to the products mentioned above, both subLOGIC and Mallard/
    BAO produce scenery disks.  BAO also produces scenery for the Mac
    version. [Ed. Note: Correct me if I'm wrong on this last one]


|12)  Where can I purchase flight-related software and accessories for my
|    computer?
|
|    There are two good places to try.  I am sure there are more, but these
|    two companies really stand out:
|
|      Egghead Software  1-800-EGG-HEAD    Software of all types
|      Flight Computing  1-800-922-7737    Flight-related software and more


13) This FAQ is pretty "product-oriented", isn't it?

    Yep.


14) How do I make additions, corrections, or suggesstions for this FAQ?

    Send email to mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu and let me know what you
    suggest.  :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 
John Mechalas                                          "I'm not an actor, but
mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu                                 I play one on TV."
Aero Engineering, Purdue University                     #include disclaimer.h
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.simulators