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"Umm, Where are the REAL links?" asked FRANK BIBA in his heading of this short and to-the-point e-mail, referring to last time's FlightSim page.

Your two links to flight simulator add-ons (NHP/CSM and Cessna panel for FS2000) are dead.

Oops, most embarrassing - all my fault, sorry! I left out the all important www in the first link and put www into the second which didn't need it - it must be my age! Frank contacted me within 24 hours of the site going up, and I immediately updated the offending page, but just in case you were frustrated and didn't go back, these are the correct links (and I've tested them this time!):

http://www.slewin.clara.net for the CSM add-ons;

http://flightsimmers.net/airport/dreamfleet/ for the Cessna panel for FS2000. Information on this panel is repeated on the flightsim page for those who may not have seen it before.

remember our First Lady (Joanne Bolin-Dubois) whose letter appeared on ModelFlight #11? Well, Joanne HAS flown a model glider, so she also becomes the first lady flier to have been in touch! Husband Steve told me about it:

I believe the First Lady may have the honours here if you want to count a glider in the local school yard - a two-metre ARF from Hangar 9 Hobbies called the Aspire. Very easy to fly. Attractive too. So is the glider . . .

DUBOLIN@aol.com

and here's confirmation from JOANNE herself:

Reg, in regards to Steve's note about me flying the glider, I actually did hold the radio in my hands and controlled the flight of the glider after Steve threw it. Yes, he and the boys had to remind me that I was not playing Nintendo and to just barely tap the control stick (hope I am using the right terminology, remember I'm a novice). I did a very nice job of bringing the glider in for a couple of landings with no nose dives or drastic turns. I look forward to the next time we get to go fly; who knows, by then I might have my own park flyer to learn on.

Well, that's got to count, hasn't it? But there must be more ladies in the hobby and it would certainly be interesting to hear from them too. So, ladies, where are you?

literally within minutes of uploading ModelFlight 11, I had this from BRYAN SPEED ('bspeed') about the 'spinning razor blade' item on the airspace page (in fact, I was still sorting out a problem on the page, because one of my graphics was not appearing on the web properly):

I cannot take credit for the Dead-Cat Push Stick or starter stick. That is the exclusive rights of the Rec.Woodworking newsgroup!! Good job on the site.

bspeed@my-deja.com

Nice one, Bryan; hope to hear from you again.

DAVID REID had a flight-sim query:

. . . I am wondering if MS Flight Simulator 2000 is able to support a Tx interface. I want to get a flight sim, but I am hesitant to shell out the $200+ . . .

bzpond@cyberback.com

FS2000 does not support a Tx interface as a standard option. Also, it is a 'real-life' simulator rather than a simulator dedicated for model flight training and is usually controlled by a joystick or flight yoke (and even rudder pedals). However, Ripmax market a R/C Joystick Interface (software and lead to connect the transmitter trainer socket to your PC games port) that converts a R/C model transmitter to the equivalent of a computer joystick and is suitable for all joystick compatible computer games and simulators using DirectX™ technology, so it would appear possible. It costs £29.99 and is available for Futaba, Sanwa/Airtronics, Multiplex, HiTec and JR transmitters. It would be very interesting to hear from anybody who's used this software, and with what simulator.

Insofar as model flight sims go, the CSM simulator does enjoy a good reputation, although the graphics are fairly basic. RealFlight DeLuxe is at the other end of the scale as far as graphics are concerned and also has game-like scenarios, but you do need a powerful PC and a good graphics card to run it. There's also the new Ripmax simulator which has just been released (see the flightsim page), plus several others. I think they can all use a Tx or a Tx look-alike controller.

another smile from Bob Nicol . . .

sideshow.bob@virgin.net

STUART McFARLANE was in touch . . .

. . . I have just returned to the hobby after a fifteen year lay off. I have come back to the hobby with the intention of building and flying some seriously quick models, including a pulse jet powered delta (a childhood dream).

To this end I had to find out whether I was still capable of flying. I bought a Pico Jet and found that, although some of the precision in my flying had gone, I was still capable.

I have since built and flown a Balsacraft Street Machine from which I hope to get many hours of flying which will enable me to regain the precision required for my faster models.

I am currently looking at purchasing a Diamond Dust Delta from the States, supposedly capable of 200 m.p.h. with a piped ·40. This model is made from composite materials and weighs approximately 3 lbs, which, I hope, will be a suitable platform for my pulse jet project.

If you are interested, I will keep you informed.

. . . very interested indeed, Stuart. I hope we will hear more from Stuart in due course when he's honed up his skills and the project develops.

Here's a shot of the model Stuart is considering. It has a 38" wingspan and is 34" long; it's produced by Gilbert Aircraft Performance Products and uses kevlar, carbon fibre and fibre glass in its construction.