Greetings!

This might be a good time to review how the VPC's Flight Rooms for everyone. Please note that the Flight Rooms are still a long way off from being the way we want them, but they do work just fine, so there's no reason why everyone can't enjoy using them.

Below is an excerpt from our VPC FAQ about our Flight Rooms. When we start working on the flight rooms again, this information below will become obsolete, so please check the FAQ at http://www.flightadventures.com/faq/faq_vpc.htm#flight for the latest and greatest.

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Q: What are Flight Rooms?

A: VPC Flight Rooms are where you and other simulator pilots can fly together online. (Of course, each pilot must have the same version of the same flight simulator installed on their systems first.) Some of the things you can do while flying online with other simulator pilots include many of the same things you can do in the real world such as virtual fly-ins, search and rescue operations, cross-country flights, interact with ATC, or even fly with an instructor!

To fly in the Flight Rooms, the current BETA version of the VPC requires that you download and install the VPC Flight Server client named Fly_Now!. You can download this from the Flight Rooms themselves.


Q: Do I have to agree to the Disclaimer and Terms of Use in order to enter or use the Flight Rooms?

A: Yes. By entering or using any of the VPC Flight Rooms, you agree to accept the Disclaimer and Terms of Use of the VPC and Flight Rooms.


Q: What is the VPC Flight Lobby and how is that different from the Flight Rooms client, Fly_Now!?

A: The VPC Flight Lobby is a web-based application (e.g. you only need to use your web browser) that allows VPC Members to interact with people chatting on the VPC Flight Server, without logging on or downloading the Fly_Now! client. We've added this feature so VPC members can quickly check to see who's currently online and flying and chat with them.


Q: How do I register my name so that the VPC Flight Lobby will recognize it?

A: Until you register your name on the VPC Flight Server, you will only be able to access the Lobby using the 'Guest' nickname (no password is necessary). To register a unique nickname/callsign, you must log on the VPC Flight Server using the FlightAdventures Fly_Now! client which you can download from the Flight Rooms area of the VPC.

To register on the VPC Flight Server:
• First connect to the VPC Flight Server by launching Fly_Now!
• Next, click the Connect button in the upper left corner of the Fly_Now! application.
• After a few moments the Fly_Now! application will open the Login window. Click on the Create Account button.
• Enter your VPC callsign and enter your VPC password twice.
  Note: The VPC Flight Servers are not tied to the main VPC member database yet, so we suggest that you use your same callsign and password that you use from the message board. This will reduce confusion when we do revert to a single database.

Q: How do I create a Flight or join an existing Flight?

A: The following assumes that you've already created a VPC Flight Server account. If you haven't done this already, please see "How do I register my name so that the VPC Flight Lobby will recognize it?" above.

To create a Flight:
• Connect to the VPC Flight Server using Fly_Now!
• Login to the VPC Flight Server.
• Click on the Create Game button from the menu on the left side of Fly_Now!.
• Select the Game you with to create from the drop down menu.
• Enter a unique Gamename in the appropriate box (this is required)
• Click the Create! button to create the game.

To Join an existing Flight:

• Make sure no games are running on your system before connecting to the VPC Flight Server using Fly_Now!
• Login to the VPC Flight Server.
• Click on the Join Game button from the menu on the left side of Fly_Now!.
• Select the Game you wish to join from the list, then click the Join! button.
• Once you've joined the game, wait for the Controller/Host to launch the game. Please be patient. Your game will launch automatically when the Controller/Host starts the session.

Q: What are some of the Flight Lobby commands?

A: The commands available to the VPC Flight Lobby can be found at http://www.flightadventures.com/faq/commands.htm


Q: What do the icons mean?

A: All of the member icons displayed on the VPC Flight Lobby and the Fly_Now! client are the same as the message board icons http://www.flightadventures.com/faq/faq_vpc#icons with the exception of the green radar screen (yes, it only looks like a green dot!), which designates the Controller for the room.
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If anyone has any questions or problems, please let us know.

Have fun and I hope to see you in the skies soon!
Ben