If you have not seen FMS PC Flight simulator in action then i think you will be in for a pleasant surprise , The 3D graphics are quite stunning and compare well even with the best commercial programs . Being free ware you can download the software free from the German authors web site at http://simulator.home.pages.de Where you can also find lots of backup information and links to other related support sites .

Installation having downloaded the zipped fms file ,Create a new folder on drive C named fmstemp , now double click on the fms file icon that you downloaded and unzip the file to folder c:\fmstemp .

Then open the folder and find the " Set/up " icon , double click on it this will then start the install proper , The install text is in German language from here on but worry not , simply click on the default dialogue boxes and the software will be installed to C:\ Program files\fms

Control once running the on screen menu may be set/up for English language , other properties may also be set such as screen resolution etc. , The actual control can be via keyboard (Not very good) , PC joystick or from a Radio Transmitter "interface " which connects between your TX and the PC via the tx trainer socket , Ripmax sell such an interface available separately from their flight sim at around £30 , Ron shone reports that his ripmax interface works well with FMS , I must invest in one soon .

If your technically inclined you may like to build one of the tx interfaces detailed in the fms "Manual" you will find an English version of this at http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/fms/fms_instruct_toc.htm

I have built both the serial and parallel port version but neither were stable enough , For consistent operation , Up until recently I used a normal PC joystick for elevator and ailerons and its great . The " Pic Interface " However seems to work really well , I built one of Ken Hewitt kits and have had no problems whatever , I have up to eight channels at my disposal

Recommended Support site English language http://home.introweb.nl/~erics/fms/ Where you can find all sorts of goodies including many more download able models . KD

There are many support sites for you to download new models and backgrounds , as far as the models are concerned you download the file as usual , Then " Unzip " them to your FMS " Modell " File .. If you followed the FMS install guide to

setup the original program then Unzip further model files thus ...Extract or Unzip to C:\Program Files\fms\modell .This should produce four new files in your " Modell " sub folder . The landscapes can be done in a similar way , this time Unzip the Downloaded file to C:\Program Files\fms\LANDSCHAFT . You may like to download the fokker spinne model file below this was found on a French support site . This is a delightful vintage electric flight model with realistic flight characteristics , So much so that it can be difficult to get off the ground unless you joystick is trimmed out fairly well .. Enjoy Ken