After many hours downloading/redownloading/unpacking etc got it running just after midnight!
Not exactly blown away by first run but have a months free trial to test its depth...

The new default scenery (Norfolk) doesn't seem as good as screen shots I've seen, maybe need to dig into the options a bit.

Most entertaining engrossing activity so far has been flying the (Just Flight) Connie that is bundled with P3D, like a loooong slooowwww rolllll of thunder
Berlin Tempelhof is an appropriate location and well modelled (never tried it in FSX so cant compare) for recreating the Berlin Airlift. Wonder if a bit of scenery tweaking would be possible to more closely simulate the cold-war period.
Getting the Connie airborne from Tempelhof is impossible, very difficult in the P-38 too. Suspect my engine management is deficient - just firewalling the throttles is not enough! Manual time required.

Weather probably better than FSX.

Going to try the Orbx PNW demo next, with the bundled Cub and Maule.

P3D incorrectly configured the throttle on my MS FFB2, easily fixed in the settings pages, but the settings are lost on restart
FFB no better than FSX so not really worth using, will try the X-45 instead.

In summary - not the wow factor of (eg) the DCS sims, but if the promised depth is there will be worth occasional $10 months.

Cheers
Keith

Yep, bad engine management. THF handled 747s and C-5s back in the day, so a meager Connie shouldn't have any trouble in getting airborne.


There's at least two or three airbase sceneries for Germany, but if you want the full cold war taste, it's DIY.

Perpar3D discussion is wasted on the average sim player. Unless you're running a flight training school or something similar (civilian or military), P3D is simply not an item for the average flight simmer. At least not for the foreseeable future.

http://www.prepar3d.com/prepar3d-store/

Seems to be a self-defeating quote.

It's legalese, either MS enforced that upon them when selling the code, or they don't want their more corporate customers to think it's 'only a game'.
It is in fact perfectly suited for any enthusiast simmer. It's FSX refined. $10 a month is nothing to anyone with a serious FSX payware habit.
The choice of bundled aircraft reinforces this - how many organisations need a Constellation trainer, there are only a couple of flyable examples. P-38 Lightnings? Who trains in a Mooney. The Piper Cub? Tailwheel training needs the real thing.
Maybe the Beeches qualify...there will be a lot of small operators who can do procedural training etc with this.
Really needs some basic trainers, the Just Flight Flying Club would have been perfect, and is my next project to get working.

Meanwhile, working through the display and control options to improve the experience. It REALLY needs an SSD, as scenery load times are VERY long, and it likes to reload the scenery at the drop of a hat. Keep a book on the desk...

Tried importing my FS2004 VFR scenery, which FSX accepted fine, without success. Maybe backwards compatability has been removed as part of improving the engine.
Just copying payware aircraft across doesnt work too well, either doesnt work or too complicated and guages etc are lost.
Reinstallation better.

The P3D-download Electra installed OK and Jim Dhaenens' Sheppard AFB went in fine.

The ORBX PNW scenery demo installed no problem and looks great, next to try some of theor FSX demo scenery, which I suspect wont work.

Cheers
Keith

What's the UI like in Prepar3D or more to the point how sprightly is it once you've installed lots of planes ?
One of the biggest bugbears I have with FSX is how slow the UI gets once you've installed loads of addons.

Yeah, OK, it's in the EULA, but probably more than 90% of their "customers" (i.e. dev license owner, i.e FSX fanbase) are using it for just that exact reason. Out of this 90%, probably 95% never ever developed a single thing for FSX.

Second, why would you specify such a statement in a EULA when you're prime project manager roams so many FSX forums talking about P3D, offer support, announce how great it is that so many FSX addon businesses are porting products over to P3D etc...

The fact is, I doubt really much they sold a lot of the 500$ license, their main market is the FSX fanbase craving for new/fresh experience.

Not to be used as a consumer entertainment product... ya right.

I look at it this way, if I paid for it and I'm not infringing their copyright, what I do with that software is none of their business. So neah, pttht.

g.

So far no slow down, but only a few extra planes and sceneries installed
The interface is a bit simpler and cleaner. Not amazing though.

I'm sure there are legal reasons they can't be seen to promote it for entertainment.
I see no reason not to go along with that, no skin off my nose...

Cheers
Keith

sorry to ask, but why would someone buy Prepar3d if it's base on the same engine as FSX?!

Is it at least better optimized?
Are the FM suppose to be better ?