I know what the real thing looks like (and feels like in the case of full-scale aircraft), and FMS does a 1st class job in this regard. It's true that certain aspects of the flying environment aren't depicted well (or at all) in FMS, but FMS makes some sacrifices to reduce memory and processor requirements. Although I don't know, I don't believe FMS has a staff of programmers to keep it prettied up.

Again, since you don't have much experience with models or the real thing, you wouldn't know that flying is a rather sloppy affair unless you're blasting along at several hundred knots with rock hard control surfaces! All this computational accuracy won't make you a good pilot, but it will provide you with a wonderful video game experience!

And let's get into this matter of feeling. You can't feel anything about a model unless you could get inside of it and take control. Neither FMS or any other simulator has any hope of coming even close to the real flying environment. To do so, would take the computational power of IBM's big blue. And don't think for a minute some stunt you can do on your simulator will easily transfer out to the flying field.

Simulators have their limitations just like the pilots who fly them. Those who can't recognize that are probably video gamers looking for some fantasy to take them away from their everyday reality. I guess that's why the streets and playgrounds are empty of children nowadays!

Ciao,

Eagle Al