I haven't tried SFS but people whose opinion I value, like it a lot.

I have tried X-Plane with several of the add-in gliders. I really like the
flight dynamics model of X-Plane and feel it is very close to the actual
handling of the gliders available.

A lot depends on the input hardware you use. A good stick and pedals are
required. A throttle adapted to serve as the spoiler handle helps a lot
too.

One neat thing about X-Plane is that it there is a lot of scalability in
that the sim can grow to a near professional simulator. It is FAA approved
for those Part 61 training tasks that can be done in a simulator.

I have been asking for a USB pneumatic signal generator that can turn the
sim's virtual pitot/static/TE pressures into real ones so that real glider
instruments can be used in a home sim cockpit. I have a dream of yanking
the panel out of the glider and fitting it to a home cockpit with the sim
generating the outside views - great for snowy winter evenings. I hear one
may be in the works.

Bill Daniels

"Eggs" wrote in message
t...
Thanks to everyone for the great info regarding plans-built gliders. I'm
still doing some research, hopefully will find something soon.

In the meantime, anyone have any suggestions for a good PC flight
simulator
progam for soaring? I've loaded the trial version of "Soaring Flight
Simulator" and it seems pretty impressive, but before I part with the $70
registration fee, I thought I'd ask you gurus for your opinions.

I also have Microsoft FS 2000. Would it be worth the upgrade to 2004? Is
there a way to make it a better, more realistic, soaring sim?

Questions, questions. Someday I'll have answers to share too.

Thanks!

Curt

[remove parentheses from (@) in address to reply directly]