Been away from Falcon since the very early days...I think I still have my old discs and binder...maybe...

Anyway so I'm seeing that currently there seems to be two main variants people are using today: BMS which is a mod of the original, and needs original exe from the published disc. And Allied Force, which seems to be a later updated published version.

Now...what is the practical differences between BMS and AF? Is one buggier than thf other? A better or more limited dynamic campaign? Quality of enemy AI? Places to fly other than Korea?

Can I have both AF and BMS installed on the same computer at the same time? Would I want both, or is one clearly superior?

Wow, what a mouthful!

BMS is a derivative (I think) of Open Falcon. It is light years ahead of AF and better in every way that I can think of.

The graphics have been pushed to a higher DX level and are much improved over AF.

There are other theaters you can fly in that are at various levels of completion. The Israel theater is very close to complete and can be fought to completion...yes, it is winnable!

BMS is very stable in my experience. It supports multiplayer and there are servers with 24 hour force on force campaigns playing.

You can have AF and BMS installed concurrently, but I think once you fly BMS you will not find a reason to fly AF any longer. Honestly, the community has pretty much coalesced around BMS at this point.

Also, as a side note, the Mirage 2000 and A-10 are flyable in BMS with very nice 3D cockpits. You are still limited by the underlying F-16 avionics, but it is remarkable how different they feel nonetheless.

A few BMS shots:




Guam theater (not really complete yet)

Wow, nice screens! Thanks!

So now I gotta track down my F4.0 discs....or try to find a used copy...

And BMS has a great online community

I would simply: even if AF and BMS were exactly the same in every aspect of the FM, DC, AI, theatres, etc., I would go for BMS simply for the fully functional 6DoF cockpit. I used to have a key bound to my HOTAS to switch me from 2D (functioning gauges and switches) to 3D (better TIR response) and mentally telling my finger to push that button was such an immersion breaker. In BMS, there is literally no need for the 2D pit and thus, no more immersion breaker.

Of course the above is not true; BMS has improved on (or is better than) AF in many respects and is still getting worked on, whereas AF's last patch was.... 2009?

Nice! Which A-10 variant? Is it painful to transition to from BMS?

Are there any training TEs out there for Mirage familiarization?

AF is not too bad but now BMS is pushing the envelope to new limits. It is becoming really nice and more and more realistics. Just look at those pictures and it is not the end. Falcon is alive thanks to agreat community.

In my opinion forget about AF and focus just on BMS.