What version of Pre-Flight do I need

[jweaver100]

I am sure that I read a post somewhere which said that Pre-Flight 1.95 and before was different from the later versions.

I know that its was 'free' but its possible that it worked with a Serial-PIC interface.

I have looked at the versions I downloaded a while back and I have 1.95, 2.00 and 2.20.. But the strange thing is that the current version (According to their web site) is 2.10, so I have no idea what my 2.20 is.

Looking at the readme file for 1.95 it says that its "Freeware".. Looking at the same info for 2.00, it says that its "A free version".

Does anyone know whats special about version 1.95?

Jon

[FreeFlier]

V 1.95 supports 4-axis joysticks - the only later version I tried supported 2-axis controllers only, without purchasing something from Transcendental; not sure whether there was any difference in performance, but I chose to stay with 1.95.

You probably know by now that Pre-Fight has a different look and feel than other sims - both free and otherwise - particularly in the way models look and behave in the distance. I have 7 sims on both a PC and a Mac - some freeware and some pay - and each one is different in it's own way.

I've only had experience with usb interfaces for the freeware sims, and am not familiar with pic (programable?) interfaces.

To Pre-Flight again, there are also quite a few interesting models to download from the website, and the newer photorealistic sceneries do have a nice look.

All in all Pre-Flight "was" good freeware, somewhat quirky to set up and configure, and with some odd behaviors, but still worth a look every once in a while.

[jweaver100]

Thanks for that.. Is it me or is Pre-Flight REALLY slow.. I have tried it a couple of times and can't help noticing how sluggish it is.. It also looks really dated..

Since I am VERY new to this, I was trying out all the sims.. I am currently using FMS and a demo version of Clearview, which is surpisingly good.

I think I will stick with these 2 until I decide whether I can justify buying XTR or Reflex.

Many thanks for your reply

Jon

[rutat]

Clearview is LEAPS and BOUNDS better than PreFlight IMHO. Hard to beat for 30 bux. You can also DL an abbreviated version of G3. too.

[jweaver100]

I DL a demo of G3, but its no use because as far as I can tell, I can only use the keyboard.. But it is lovely.. Amazing in fact.

Clearview is surprisingly good.. I am actually tempted.. But then, again, by the time I take the cost of Clear View and the Cable that I bought for my transmitter.. I am on the way to buying Reflex or G3.. I don't want to spend any more until I work out EXACTLY what I want and where I want to go...

Jon

[rutat]

You can use a controller with G3 - just takes some tinkering. As for Clearview and a cable being the same cost as G3 or XTR? Let me know where you are getting it. Cables are 30-40 and CV is 30 bucks. Heck of a lot less than XTR and the rest of them in that level.

[jweaver100]

:) Of course, Clearview and a cable is no where near as expensive as XTR.. But what I am saying is that after buying CV and a cable (Which in no way can compete with XTR), I am simply wasting my money IF I decide to buy XTR.

Clearly XTR is more expensive, but its even more so, if I have already spent money on something that I would no longer use (i.e Clearview).

I will have a look at the G3 demo again.. I can't see how I could use a controller as it doesn't let you do anything, other than fly with the Keyboard.. Care to give me some pointers as to which direction I need to go to get it working??

Jon

[rutat]

Ah... I see your point. Sorry.

I've posted pointers on how to get the controller working with the demo but WILL NOT release how I did it, lest I be accused of piracy or RE or something else that disrupts the world order. :) So don't PM me.

p.s. Clearview has a 100% money back guarantee.

[skirtz]

:) Of course, Clearview and a cable is no where near as expensive as XTR.. But what I am saying is that after buying CV and a cable (Which in no way can compete with XTR), I am simply wasting my money IF I decide to buy XTR.

Clearly XTR is more expensive, but its even more so, if I have already spent money on something that I would no longer use (i.e Clearview).
....
Jon

Could not resist, since you assumes things about ClearView that may or may not happen.

1. If you decide not to buy XTR you are actually saving money
2. If new and better simulator comes in 6 months, you are better off delaying the purchase decision.
3. Why do you assume you will not longer use ClearView? May be you will, you just don't know. You already have USB cable. You may have an extra notebook, or use it at work, or actually like it.
4. You will better know what you need in a simulator and will be in a position to do a better evaluation what you want to buy for your $200

If you decide that hobby is not for you, you will not spend more than you want to. If you like the hobby, I simply can't see how two simulators will hurt you. Not to mention, that in the few months before buying XTR (or whatever you THEN decide to buy) you will benefit by training on ClearView. Or, may be in 6 months you will get a $200 sim for $170. Anyway, I don't want to put down any product - all sims, including XTR, G3 and AFPD are terrific value. Just wanted to point out the choice is not that simple.




Stefan
http://rcflightsim.com

[jweaver100]

You win.. After playing with it again, its clearly better than FMS and I am now 99% sure that I am not going to take my Flying hobby far enough to justify G3/XTR, so £17 for a decent sim is worth it.

So, payment has been sent and I am looking forwards to getting the activations codes soon.

Out of intersted, in the full version, is there an easy way to set the planes 'physics' back to default.. I was playing with some of the values (which made the plane unflyable) and didn't know what to put them back too.. I expected a 'default' button, but there was nothing.. I just had to keep entering values until I got it back to something which would fly, but I am not 100% sure that I get it right.

Clearly a de-install/re-install will solve it, but is there a more scientific way?

Jon

[rutat]

Even in FMS you should make a copy of the .par files before messing with them. I think Clearview is excellent value.

[skirtz]

You win.. After playing with it again, its clearly better than FMS and I am now 99% sure that I am not going to take my Flying hobby far enough to justify G3/XTR, so £17 for a decent sim is worth it.

So, payment has been sent and I am looking forwards to getting the activations codes soon.

Out of intersted, in the full version, is there an easy way to set the planes 'physics' back to default.. I was playing with some of the values (which made the plane unflyable) and didn't know what to put them back too.. I expected a 'default' button, but there was nothing.. I just had to keep entering values until I got it back to something which would fly, but I am not 100% sure that I get it right.

Clearly a de-install/re-install will solve it, but is there a more scientific way?

Jon

On Advanced Settings screen there is a button "Reset to Default". This button reloads parameters that are in params.txt.bkp file. Since each model must be shipped with params.txt.bkp equal to params.txt, this will reset to the original settings.

The best way to create a modified plane is to copy the plane directory under models to another directory. Then, restart ClearView and load the new name that will show up in the list of models. That way you can have multiple settings for the same plane.

Thanks,
Stefan,
http://rcflightsim.com