Padlock and Easy mode,
Hummmm, Ok I'll give ya padlock, but only if you loose lock as stated above AND you have to reaquire yourself not automaticly.
No easymode!!! Look guys the lack of easy mode is not, repeat, not going to keep anyone away that is serious enough about flight sims to pay $30.00/month. Warbirds didn't have easymode for years and it grew wildly even without it. I'm convinced if you make it to easy for someone to do well, they have no apprecation for what they have learned and as a result will be less than helpful to other new guys coming in.
We still have trainers, I know that I'm still training, as a matter of fact I'm busier now that the tour is over than I ever was (when it rains it pours

) It's not like you have to waste flying dollars going into the TA the cost is the same per month no matter how much time you spend in the TA.
There is no reason that people need the crutch of easymode to fly here other than being to impatient to take some time to learn, and if they are that impatient, do you really think they will be good members of our community?
As to not being able to afford a full up HOTAS system, I know guys in Warbirds (and I'm sure some in here) that are stone killers with just a joystick with a throttle wheel and single hat switch (about $30.00 or the price of one month flying) By doing a little smart programing of the stick sets you can get just about everything on the hat and a couple of buttons. I'm sure that people will be glad to share there jstick setups with others that can't figure it out.
Wow this got longer than I thought it would, but the point I'm trying to make is that if ya want all these do-dads fine, I don't care, as long as the guys that take the time to learn the "hard way" enjoys the advantages he has earned. Simply put you don't need it and it only takes resources away from development and my provide "holes" that people will exploit to their advantage.
Sharky
P.S. I just noticed my email address in my profile is wrong. If you've tried to contact me for training and couldn't I'm at ftgcss@home.com I'll fix the addy in my profile.
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Playboy Leader
307th FS/31st FG
You can run but ya just die tired
[This message has been edited by Sharky (edited 06-12-2000).]