Are you planning on making planes for versions of MSFS earlier than 2002?One thing I REALY like about FS 2002 is the virtual cockpits on the FS 2002 specific planes. I gather the GMAX included with FS 2002 Pro is required to make planes with virtual cockpits though. Apparently there is a newer version of GMAX that has to be downloaded or installed off a recent issue of PC Pilot magazine's companion CD(#17 issue 08). I gather GMAX still needs files from the FS 2002 pro CDs to produce planes though.
I haven't seen enough about GMAX to see how similar using it might be to using FSDS. I get impression both involve connecting series of cross sections to make each part (wing, fuselage, engine nacelle etc) of the plane. I gather a better level paint program is required for making textures to cover the parts (additional shareware fee for program on FSDS disk).
Been thinking of trying my hand at a few fantasy planes myself. Don't know enough about how any real world plane's handleing characteristics to use the name of a real world plane on anything I might create.
Robert
Near KORF