[Signature banners]

The instructions didn't work for me. I'm running Windows XP so right clicking the image did not give me a "copy image path" option. I tried right clicking the link under the image and pasting that, but I got a hyperlink instead which wouldn't display as an image. The following procedure worked for me:

1. Right click the link under the image and select "copy shortcut" to copy the path to the clipboard.

2. Open up new notepad document and paste the path into it.

3. Add image tags " before and after path text (no spaces of course).

4. Copy and paste the path complete with tags into signature.

[Battery Drain Issue]

I had the same problem the first time I powered up the A300. Everything was fine until I selected the APU generator ON, when all the lights went out, although electrical meters were showing volts and amps as expected. Of course it may have been a coincidence and the battery ran out just as I switched the GEN on. I tried connecting the external power but this made no difference although the ground cart model appeared externally and external power showed in the electrical panel (apart from EXTERNAL POWER lights).

I had just reinstalled FSX, and realised I hadn't reinstalled FSUIPC. I did so, restarted FSX and the electrical power worked fine. I don't know whether FSUIPC was the problem or if it was FSX flat battery syndrome.

[Engine Start Indications and Autopilot V/S mode]

Just installed version 1.2 of the A300 and I'm very impressed, especially by the sounds which are very true to the real thing. I've worked on simulators for the real aircraft so it's quite a familiar flightdeck to me. A few of issues stood out which aren't too major but would be good to get fixed.

1. The START VALVE OPEN lights cycle on then off when the start system is armed. The Tutorial says this indicates the start valves transitting from closed to open. Arming the start system doesn't move the start valves, so they shouldn't open at that point. Also, the VALVE OPEN lights show valve position, not disagreement, IIRC. The VALVE OPEN light should illuminate when the valve opens after the start pushbutton is pressed, extinguishing when N2 exceeds 45%. This is how the start procedure in the Simcheck documentation describes operation as well, also the Quickstart guide agrees it is the start pushbuttons which illuminate briefly as the system is armed, not the VALVE OPEN lights.

Regarding the engine start, the run up to idle is much better than the default FSX jet simulation, with no unrealistic overshoots, but really should be slower for more realism. Time to idle for a CF6 is typically around 50 seconds. I realise FSX limitations may be an issue here.

2. The autopilot vertical speed selection should track current vertical speed, so that when V/S is selected it holds the current value, rather than going to whatever happens to be selected as happens now. It's easy enough to match the selected V/S to the current value but you should have to do that,

3. Switching APU to standby control should illuminate the STBY ON light. None of the lights on the APU panel seem to be driven by the simulation, but I guess this is a trade off for more important systems.

A very minor point, in the Panel Overview, for the overhead panel item 14 is labelled "Pneumatic controls panel". It is of course the hydraulic servo controls panel which controls hydraulic pressure to the flight control servos, one lever for each hydraulic system.

This is a great flight and systems simulation overall.

Kevin