Dennis Simanaitis' Views on Plane Building
I'm bemused to read complaints about the various software used to build planes, everything from FSFS/AF99, to FSDS and, now, GMax. Just what do you suppose the software should be? Some sort of automatic importation of front/side/top views and then an automatic generator of a fine graphical model? Sort of an MTV of flight sim?
I realize I'm a conservative in this: I stuck with good ol' FSFS for a long time before moving to AF99. I never fooled with FSDS. Instead, I jumped to GMax when I upgraded from FS98 to FS2002.
From what I've read and experienced, FSFS/AF99, FSDS and Gmax are all quite different in their techniques. But there's one commonality: Each requires practice, thought and learning to use it to its fullest. And, apparently, there are folks who find such a hobby not worth the trouble.
However, I find plane building, tricks, warts and all, a most satisfying hobby. I spend one helluva lot of hours learning how to make a decent plane, and when one is done, I experience a real sense of accomplishment.
There are scads of tips, tutorials and forums offering help to prospective builders. Not to sound rude, but I place complainers in the same category as those who whine when builders don't jump to their whim for one aircraft or another. I've grown especially touchy about those who write "Where can I get a "good" xxxx?" I'm tempted to reply "Probably nowhere."
Rather than trash the product or whine because something isn't to one's liking, why not approach it with some thoughtfulness and creativity? I for one feel it's well worth the occasionally steep learning curve.
All in good fun. -- Dennis Simanaitis, FSEngEd@aol.com
The original posting, carried in FFDS for several years, was a reprint of a flightsim.com posting made in August, 1999. Flightsim design has made major leaps since then, and we asked Dennis to update this posting.
Reprinted with the permission of Dennis Simanaitis, May 30, 2002.