navychief

Hey Jedi, Dagger, and PG Raptor. Oh, I know about both sims alright. Have had both since they came out. I just haven't had them on my computer for some time now, since dialup was my only connection. Now that I have cable, thing are gonna be different! Go Navy. Fly Navy! Go NAVAIR! Navy Chief

My wife and I moved to Southeastern Tennessee (next month makes one year). For the past year, I have had to deal with dialup connection to the Internet. Although I am grateful for the capability to at least connect to the net, I will finally get cable service within the next two weeks or so. For over a year now, I have shelved WOV and SF, because 1). I did not want to hassle with dialup connection delays during online simming, and 2) I have spent almost all of my flight sim time with FS2004; and still do. But, once I get cable service hooked up, I plan to revisit both WOV, and SF. Looking forward to that, but since I have been "out of the loop" with changes to both sims, where do I begin to add the numerous patches to them? What is the best place to start? Is there a definitive list of addons, patches, etc... that would make this task easier???? Thanks in advance, and hope to see y'all in the virtual skies. Navy Chief AMEC(AW). P.C. Ward, USN, Retired retnavycpo@gmail.com

Hey Nesher. Good to hear from you. It is very strange to log on here now. The names have almost totally changed from the BioHaz days. The atmosphere seems different too. Not as friendly or lively; or at least from the few times I have visited here, it appears that way. How are things with you? Still doing military service? Stay safe, and keep your head on a swivel. Navy Chief

Everything was going ok. I downloaded the A-7A/B file and installed just fine. Flew it a few minutes, and then went back to install the tanks. I had never used the Weapons Editor program before, so I was somewhat apprehensive about that. Should have left well alone. I finally figured out how to open the file into the Weapons Editor Program. I chose SaveAs, instead of Save, and that is probably where I screwed up. Went to start the sim, and it CTD. Error message said there was a problem with the missileobject.dll file. I tried removing the missileobject.dll file. The sim started, but as soon as I clicked on choosing a mission, it CTD again. I am at a loss at what to do. I REALLY do not want to do an uninstall. Pain in the you know what. I have things set the way I want them. Is there a fix for my screwup, other than a total uninstall? Please HELP! Navychief

Hey all, I thought folks might be interested to see how my gaming room is coming along. My room is 15 1/2' L by 12 1/2' W. I recently had my house resided, and had enough insulation board to completely cover the walls of my gaming room to insulate the sound. Then I bought about 5 dark blue King-size bedsheets for material to cover the sound insulation. Believe me, the room is very dark! Except for the white ceiling (which I plan to paint dark), the room is perfect for gaming and watching DVDs. I added a moderately priced surround sound system. About 3 months ago, I bought a BenQ DLP projector, and a 100" diagonal pull-down screen. The resolution is 1024 by 678, and is amazing!!!!! Some months ago I built a plywood simpit from plans I got free off the internet. It is called a Akers-Barnes simpit design. Believe me, if I can build it, ANYONE can. Took me about three days, as I took my time. Hardest part was measuring and cutting it out. Lastly, I bought the TrackIR3, Voice Buddy, and Force Feedback Headphones. They are, in a word, awesome! I am quite satisfied with the way things have turned out. I took my time, and the end results are worth it! See y'all in the skies!!! GO NAVY. Navy Chief

Good luck to you, Jason. Soon to be a husband, daddy, and a Marine? Whoa! Not going into the Navy eh? Well, at least with the Marines, you'll still be part of the Navy. Wink. Navy Chief retnavycpo@gmail.com

Mistah Snapple! Jason, howyabeen? How's school? Am doing fine here in TN. Living the good life to be sure. Pete

Once I get broadband again this October, I am sure I'll get back into flying SFP1 again. I don't get the joy of flying either it, or WOV on dialup. Actually, I haven't even attempted it. I do, however, spend most of my time with FS2004. Even online, it works ok. My past experiences with online play with SFP1 were not good. And I had DSL then too. Navy Chief

For me, it is hard to realize just how fast time passes. It only seems like yesterday that I had enlisted in the Navy, and was going through boot camp at Orlando, FL. Now even RTC Orlando has closed, and both of the aircraft carriers I served on are decommissioned: USS Independence, and USS Saratoga. So far, all the squadrons I served with are still active, but I am sure that will soon change. Sad, very sad. Only a couple years ago, I visited Jacksonville, FL, and called up my supervisor from my first duty station. AME1 E.J. Ditlovson. His wife answered the phone, and told me he had passed away over a year previously, from a heart attack. I wouldn't trade my memories for anything. My time in the Navy was the best time of my life, period. GO NAVY, GO NAVAIR. Navy Chief

Hey Jedi, I was likewise concerned about such things, but I really did do a lot of reading on the different brands. BenQ truly has fine products, and their customer service is extremely efficient. Navy Chief

The replacement lamp for the BenQ PB 2240 (BenQ 59J9401CG1) is about $400. Before you start choking after reading that price, you have to realize that the lifespan of the bulbs is close to 3000 hours. BenQ has a unique option on their projectors, where you can choose between different settings of brightness. For instance, they suggest a "Vivid" setting for DVDs. I use the "Economic" setting for my gaming. It provides plenty of illumination, yet allows for extended lifespan of the lamp. Navy Chief

Hey Chaingun, The DLP projector resolution is unbelievably clear! It is every bit as clear as my 19" monitor was, but better! Seriously. I wish I had done this before now; but the technology has improved greatly in the past couple of years. I did my research before buying my projector. The other type is a LCD, and in my opinion, DLP projectors win out. NC I recommend the BenQ brand a lot!!! Great customer service too.

Hey Boltz, I will gladly take some more pictures, and closeups too, if you want. The simpit plans are found at: http://www.62ndfightingfalcons.asn.au/62nd...oad_cockpit.htm My projector is a BenQ PB2240 Let me know if you need more assistance. No problem. Navy Chief

Hey Beer! I don't recognize 3/4 of the names posted on here now. Where the "H" has everyone gone to????? Btw, how is your video coming along, or did you release it and I missed it? NC

The nitrogen cart looks familiar, but the ordnance trailer looks more like a land-based SE, and the ladders for the Tomkitty? I don't think so!!!! Just my observations..... GO NAVY, FLYem. Navy Chief

Hey Charlie, Not a lot of action with FS9 on here, eh? I haven't been on Bio much for some time now. In fact, most of the names I see I don't even recognize. So much has changed. Anyway, I visited your site. Hope to be flyin' with you again soon, and the new P-3C is AWESOME!!!! Navy Chief GO NAVAIR

Please say a prayer today for my shipmate, AT1 Fran McHale. He will undergo an operation today at a military hospital in Hawaii to remove a brain tumor from behind his right ear. Prognosis is he will lose hearing in that ear, but hopefully that is the worst of it. I posted about Fran McHale in a previous message sometime back. Fran made my last 1 1/2 years in the Navy a breeze. He was my LPO for the Line Division, and the most capable, natural born leader I had ever had the good fortune to work with. I pray his operation is successful in removing the tumor, and that his recovery is speedy. I am planning on trying to get a military hop to go see him, sometime later this month. Go Navy..... always. Navy Chief

No word yet on the outcome of Fran's surgery. I have tried calling his wife to check on things, but can only get voicemail. Fran has a LOT of friends, and I am sure that cell phone is ringing constantly. When I have some news, I'll post. Thanks for your reply posts, shipmates. NC

Then and Now CPO Wisdom [A CPO is the one to be feared. The job of a CPO is to kick ass and take names.] Then - If you smoked, you had an ashtray on your desk. Now - If you smoke, you get sent outside and treated like a leper. Then - Mail took weeks to come to the ship. Now - Every time you get near land, there's a mob topside to see if their cell phone works. Then - If you left the ship it was in Blues or Whites, even in home port. Now - The only time you wear Blues or Whites is for ceremonies. Then - You wore bellbottoms everywhere on the ship. Now - Bellbottoms are gone and 14 year-old girls wear them every where. Then - You wore a dixie cup all day, with every uniform. Now - It's not required and you have a choice in different hats. Then - If you said "damn," people knew you were annoyed and avoided you. Now - If you say "damn" you'd better be talking about a hydroelectric plant. Then -The Ships Office had a typewriter on his desk for doing daily reports. Now - Everyone has a computer with Internet access and they wonder why no work is getting done. Then - We painted pictures of pretty girls on airplanes to remind us of home. Now - We put the real thing in the cockpit. Then - Your girlfriend was at home, praying you would return alive. Now - She is on the same ship, praying your condom worked. Then - If you got drunk off duty, your buddies would take you back to the ship so you could sleep it off. Now - If you get drunk off duty, they slap you in rehab and ruin your career. Then - Canteens were made out of steel and you could heat coffee or hot chocolate in them. Now - Canteens are made of plastic, you can't heat them because they'll melt, and anything inside always tastes like plastic. Then - Our top officers were professional sailors first. They commanded respect. Now - Our top officers are politicians first. They beg not to be given a wedgie. Then - They collected enemy intelligence and analyzed it. Now - They collect our pee and analyze it. Then - If you didn't act right, they'd put you on extra duty until you straightened up. Now - If you don't act right, they start a paper trail that follows you forever. Then - Medals were awarded to heroes who saved lives at the risk of their own. Now - Medals are awarded to people who show up for work most of the time. Then - You slept in a barracks, like a soldier. Now - You sleep in a dormitory, like a college kid. Then - You ate in a Mess Hall. It was free and you could have all the food you wanted. Now - You eat in a Dining Facility. Every slice of bread or pat of butter costs, and you can only have one. Then - If you wanted to relax, you went to the Rec Center, played pool, smoked and drank beer. Now -You go to the Community Center and can still play pool, maybe. Then - If you wanted a quarter beer and conversation, you could go to the NCO or Officers' Club. Now - The beer will cost you two dollars and someone is watching to see how much you drink. Then - The Exchange had bargains for sailors who didn't make much money. Now - You can get better merchandise cheaper at Wal-Mart. Then - If an Admiral wanted to make a presentation, he scribbled down some notes and a PN spent an hour preparing a bunch of charts. Now - The Admiral has his entire staff spending days preparing a Power Point presentation. Then - We called the enemy things like "Commie Bastards" and "Reds" because we didn't like them. Now - We call the enemy things like "Opposing Forces" and "Aggressors" so we won't offend them. Then - We declared victory when the enemy was dead and all his things were broken. Now - We declare victory when the enemy says he is sorry and won't do it again. Then - A commander would put his butt on the line to protect his people. Now - A commander will put his people on the line to protect his butt. Go Navy. Navy Chief

Hey Ghost, Oh yes, I have that picture somewhere. A lot definitely has changed when it comes to the ability of CPOs to lead. Leastwise, they surely do not have the disciplinarian capabilities they once had. All it takes nowadays, is even an accusation of sexual harrassment (for example), and the CPO's career can be instantly trashed. I know this from experience. I had a young girl who worked for me who (while I was conveniently on Leave) accused me of sexual harrassment. When I returned from Leave, I was faced with the charges. Upon further interrogation, the girl admitted her charges were made up. She stated she only wanted to get back at me, because I made her work when she didn't want to. My career was almost ruined because of her lies. Nice, eh? Navy Chief

These are same types of idiots who claim the Holocaust is/was a fraud. I read some of the rantings by this "person". All I can say is, he is a great argument for the use of birth control Go Navy. Navy Chief

Why you never question a drunk A woman was shopping at her local supermarket where she selected: A half-gallon of 2% milk, A carton of eggs, A quart of orange juice, A head of romaine lettuce, A 2 lb. can of coffee, And a 1 lb. package of bacon. As she was unloading her items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind her watched as she placed the items in front of the cashier. While the cashier was ringing up her purchases, the drunk calmly stated, "You must be single." The woman was a bit startled by this proclamation, but she was intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since she was indeed single. She looked at her six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about her selections that could have tipped off the drunk to her marital status. Curiosity getting the better of her, she said "Well, you know what, you're absolutely correct. But how on earth did you know that?" The drunk replied, " 'Cause you're ugly". Navy Chief

Man, oh man...this is the only way to fly! I am sitting here in my homemade Akers-Barnes cockpit, looking at a 60 x 80" screen. The realism is amazing during simulation! I can recommend DLP projection (specifically, the BenQ model PB2240), for certain. This is unbelievable! Only thing I will want to look into, is if I can somehow hook up my monitor into this setup, so I can use it for instrumentation view. But if that isn't possible, that's ok. This is so cool! I am one happy Navy Chief tonight:) Go Navy! I have a feeling my wife won't be seeing me for a while, heh, heh... Navy Chief

I know y'all want to see pictures of my setup, but unfortunately it will be a little while longer before I am able to get things ready for pictures. I am in the process of having all new siding and roofing installed on my house. All the windows were replaced last weekend. Things are a little chaotic right now! But I promise to take a post pictures as soon as I can. And yes, the projector is AWESOME! When you can afford to bet a DLP projector, it totally changes your simulation experience! Navy Chief

I learned a valueable lesson this past couple of weeks. On 5 March, I ordered a DLP projector from Big On Digital. They had a great price on one of the websites I go to for cost comparisons. Unfortunately, I didn't do my "homework" as far as reading up on consumer opinions of this company. Big mistake on my part. Supposedly, my projector is supposed to arrive tomorrow, but I am skeptical. For weeks now, I have called this company, and got the runaround everytime. When I finally did do some searching for consumer complaints on this company, I was dismayed to find websites with over 20 pages! Hopefully I will get the projector tomorrow. I will let y'all know the outcome. I have the 60" x 80 "pull-down screen ready, and ceiling mount installed. I'll take pictures when it's all set up. Navy Chief