A big GDAY Mate from down here in Australia. There is a better free flight sim than FMS, its made in Australia and called PRE-Flight. PRE-Flight was about $75US or something but now its FREEWARE! It has more features lige moving surfaces, retracts and flaps. You can create landscapes and models but there arent as many models or landscapes as FMS available on the web but thats because no one really knows about it! Im sure if it had as much publicity as FMS thare would be a lot more. Go to http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/atv/preflight001.htm there are also instructions for interfaces and interface kits to buy.

If you have trouble getting an interface try this site in Japan http://www.sekiriki.jp/smartpropo/index.html Its called SmartPropo and uses a mono audio cable for tx connection. It is still in its development stages but is looking good. (Ive got XP Pro so not many interfaces work on my system).

So give them a try and post your opinions on them.

Have Fun
DF MAN

I have tried PreFlight, but due to the cost of the interface, I decided to stay with FMS. At least with FMS, the details for building your own interface is given by the software creators.

I have contacted the author of PreFlight for his interface data protocol, as I wanted to include PreFlight in my interfaces (see my web ). I was told that this will not be released, as he is still making money from selling the PreFlight interfaces.

My idea was to give everybody with current FMS PIC interfaces, a replacement chip that would allow their current interfaces to be configured for FMS or PreFlight. This would have been a big step in promoting PreFlight.

If one wants to go freeware with the software, I feel that so should the interface details as well. Most guys will rather use FMS, as there are a lot of different type of interfaces available on the net (from cheap printer port to the more costly PICs) at reasonable prices. FMS even supply plans for constructing your own interface with their package.

I hope PreFlight will become as popular as FMS, I feel competition is great, even between software creators. And we love to test new simulators all the time, always looking for the best (well, in my case, the best that's for free).

PIRACY OR UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES:
This community forum is a place for ideas and constructive participation, and not a place to violate any laws or to discuss illegal activities. This type of activity includes, but is not limited to, advocating or asking for information regarding software piracy or unauthorized emulators of software or hardware, sharing or distributing viruses, licenses, registration information, software keys, "cracks," or other information designed to do harm to or allow unlawful access to any computer hardware, software, networks, or any other systems. Please refrain from posting this kind of message.

well i don wanna break any rules if i do i didnt mean too! i have a serial port interface for my hitec radio and cant get it to work with preflight any body know why? running xp thanks guys

Is your interface from PRE-flight or did you make it yourself?

got it from ebay,its a straight cord though no chips or nothing

If its from ebay its probably dedicated to FMS. BTW the components should all be in the serial plug!

Hi Elwood

My intentions were never to commit any PIRACY OR UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES on the forum.

I am sort of a decent guy, placing as much info on my personal web page to promote radio control flying free of charge... the reason, I battled my but of to get 'solo' status, as there is a lack of trainers where I am living.

If I can help people to learn to fly (ok, simulators won't learn you to fly, but it sure helps to get your co-ordination in order), the better for me. Noticing the PreFlight went Freeware, I assumed there will be no problems in getting the interface specs as well. Thus I contacted the creators of PreFlight in person, but the reply was to say the least, not what I ecspected.

As I know a lot of people using FMS, I thought if I can make the FMS interfaces to also work with PreFlight (selectable between FMS or PreFlight), more people might be interested in trying out PreFlight. What is the use of having several interfaces, all with the same components, but different software in the micro-controllers. I build interfaces as a hobby, not a business, with only 6 - 12% profit depending on the interface type.

The result of all the negative mails received in trying to promote PreFlight... go for FMS.

Hi guys, i just downloaded the preflight the other night, and i found a non piracy/ legal way to make my realflight controller work with it. select controls on the menu, select keyboard + joystick, now the ailerons and elevator work on the realflight control. then click on the configure box next to the throttle channel, select channel 7, for rudder select channel 6, this worked for me, no interface, no piracy, no problem.
Davo

I received a Zhen Hua PCM-4ch transmitter with my Hong Kong Feda Skylark. I did not get the simulator cable with it but I do have the pinout. I assume that it is a PCM mode unit and as far as I can tell, it will not work with any of the simulator programs available. Do you have any info on this?

I've tried FMS and the freeware version of PREFlight and I think FMS is far better in representing plane handling. Also, PREFlight freeware only supports two channels(!).

I'm just getting back into the hobby after a thirty-year hiatus.

Been flying an Aerobird and just ordered a Sky Scooter Pro 2.

Great site here. Regards to all.

Mike,

PRE-Flight supports all the channels, not just two!
I'm flying it with a TX-to-gameport interface from MileHighWings:
www.milehighwings.com/joystick.htm#game
and it works just fine.

Configuring PRE-Flight to work with all 4 joystic axes ia a little tricky: the 4 proportional channels are Ch 01, 02, 06, and 07 (which is kinda strange).
Here'are the set-up instructions for PRE-Flight (at the bottom of the page):
http://www.milehighwings.com/manual.htm

Hope this helps,
Boris

Thanks for the info. I have a cable on the way for the Zhen Hua transmitter so we will see what happens.

I don't really care about bells and whistles. What I expect in the 'simulator software' is the 'high realism level'. So before I download it can anyone give me the answer to the following questions:
- does it simulate prop wash?
- does it simulate engine torque?
- does it simulate ground effect?
- does it simulate mixers (V-tail, flaperon etc.)?

RysiuM