
======================================================================

                 * * * FS4B.TXT * * *

This file is a description of the fixes to Microsoft Flight Simulator
that are included in the version 4.0b maintainance release.  This
release is available free to all registered owners of FS4.

To get the new disks, go to the Micosoft Applications Forum on
CompuServe (GO MSAPP) and send a private message to Ralph Huskey at
76701,245 and request the 4.0b maintainance release of Flight Simulator.
Include your name and address as listed on your software registration
form, any changes to that, and the disk size you prefer.

If you are not sure which version of FS4 you have, hit Control-E while
running FS4 and read the version number in the lower right corner of
the Scenery Library menu.  When purchasing FS4 you cannot tell from
the outside of the box which version you are getting.  

 Rick Lee
   Associate SysOp, Flight Simulations Forum
     CompuServe Information Service
       (GO FSFORUM)

======================================================================


Flight Simulator v4.0A
----------------------

FS v4.0A was released due to a bug in Flt Sim's EFIS/CFPD feature. 
The problem only occurred on a subset of 80386-based machines, and
caused the machine to hang when this feature was selected.  There were
two other changes, neither of which affect the core simulation software
of Flight Simulator:

* The "demonstration" file was removed, and was replaced with a
different demo file that had better performance on 8086/8088-based
machines.

* The README.DOC file recieved minor edits for greater clarity. It is
important to note that the difference between FS v4.00 and v4.0A is
very small; only a few bytes were changed to address the EFIS bug.



Flight Simulator v4.0B 
----------------------

FS v4.0B is a maintenance release of Flight Simulator that was not
essential, due to v4.0A's stability, but was desirable as a means of
enhancing some of Flight Simulator's "realism" issues.  There is a
chance that other simulation projects that are in-process will delay
the development of PC Flt Sim v5.0, so we welcome the enhanced release
of v4.0B as a means of increasing the probability of eventual approval
from the Federal Aviation Administration so Flight Simulator could be
used for actual pilot training in flight schools.

In addition to subtle realism refinements, we fixed some bugs.

Improvements to Flight Simulator included in the v4.0B release:


Aircraft improvements
---------------------

* Taxiing improved.  The aircraft used to retain excessive speed when
throttle was applied, then cut-off.  Now, the aircraft slows down more
realistically.

* Turn-radius improved.  The aircraft used to have a wide turn radius
that was too wide; now the plane can do a 180-degree turn within the
runway.

* More power for the Learjet.  The Learjet was under-powered in
v4.0A, and now is able to climb at a more realistic rate.

* Heading-drift bug fixed.  In v4.0A, the aircraft would drift to the
left about 2 degrees per minute if left unattended and turns had been
performed.


Other improvements
------------------

Joysticks:

* Joystick interaction with Elevator Trim (on keyboard) has been improved.

* Joystick-menu option D: Label for D was reversed, now is correct.

* Joystick sensitivities are now loaded if sensitivities are non-default
   and are associated with your "startup mode".

Miscellaneous:

* DTK BIOS compatibility: DTK did not fully implement an aspect of
   their BIOS to stay truly "IBM compatible".  This prevented Flt Sim 4
   from recognizing the keyboard when DTK BIOS was in use.  This is not a
   FS4-bug, but is frustrating to users, so we changed FS4 so it will work
   with DTK BIOS.

* Severity of default Turbulence has been reduced (when Weather Generator
   option "Turbulence" has been selected).

* Logbook dates used to be changed by Flt Sim mis-using the System Clock;
   this has been fixed.

* While in Spot view and flying an approach to the Aircraft Carrier, the
   scenery-horizon used to "jump up and down".  This has been fixed.

* If you created a new "startup demo", the previous startup-demo was
   corrupted and not usable again.  This has been fixed.

* The Mode Library list-enumeration has been improved; rather than
   displaying the first 6 items in the list whenever the Mode Library is
   selected, the list remains at whatever position you last left it in.
   This allows a user to quickly access new-created modes without having
   to press the "See more modes" key multiple times to reach the portion
   of the list with user-created entries.

* Multi-Player feature:  COM 2 and 4 are now operable, and the CONNECT
   functionality has been improved.


  -- Uploaded by Hugo Fuegen,  Bruce Artwick Organization [70731,3702]

