20 years - Happy Birthday, Precision Simulator!

[Markus Vitzethum]

Hi all,

it's already past midnight and the very early morning of June 16th here in Reutlingen / Pfullingen and surroundings, the area where PS1 and PSX were developed and where Hardy (and I) lives. On this day, 20 years ago, June 16th 1997, Precision Simulator V1.0 was released by Hardy.

So, it's the day to say
"Happy Birthday, 747 Precision Simulator,
and congratulations, Hardy!

Let's celebrate 20 years of flying PS1.0 up to PSX, discussing everything from subtle wiring details of the 744 up to art and philosophy and finding new friends and professions.

Just to check - when precisely was 747 Precisision Simulator PS1 released? Was it really June 16th? I think so...

The official release message is archived on e-flight.com, see [Ref. 1] at the end of the message for a link.


  Release Date of 747-400 Precision Simulator version 1.0: June 16th, 1997.
  For detailed info and screen shots of the final product, download:
  747DEMO.ZIP 1997, includes 747INFO.EXE).

  Thank you for your interest!

  Hardy Heinlin, AeroWinx
  CompuServe: 100430,364 Internet: 100430.364@compuserve.com


Note that Hardy's "Jubilee" message (see [Ref.2]) on the old Aerowinx forum celebrating 5 years of PS1 in 2002 says June 17th but with three references [Ref. 1,4, 5] from 1997, the 16th of June seems more likely to me.
Unfortunately, to my best knowledge, the first dedicated message board for PS1 at Dave Kelly's site [Ref.3] is gone and not archived. But more references are still available from the archive of the usenet newsgroup rec.aviation.simulators which also puts the release date on June 16th 1997, e.g. this message – referring to retailer RC Sims from Bristol,UK. The poster order on June16th, received his copy on June 18th and wrote a review after 10 days of flying [Ref.4].
Also on June 16th, 4cds.com reports the availability of 747PS1 [Ref.5], after having it announced for the weekend three days earlier. [Ref.6] Only 4 days after release, June 20th, 4cds.com reports only 30 copies left [Ref. 7].
More users received their copies in the following two weeks, see [Refs. 8+9]
The first patch was quickly made available on June 29th 1997 e.g. on www.e-flight.com [Ref. 10]


By the way, some of the early tutorials have survived on Peter de Moor's PS1 page (also archived):
https://web.archive.org/web/19990202201725/http://www.xs4all.nl:80/~demoor/ps1/ps1util.htm

In particular the lessons 1-6 by Hardy and the Quick Start Tutorial by Paul Story are still there. Interested in the first review of PS1 by Paul Story on AVSIM? See here:
https://web.archive.org/web/19971028054232/http://www.avsim.com:80/pages/7471.htm

Markus ("PS1 historian" today   :-)  )


p.s. the humorous section
In the best style of "tech predictions"  (http://www.pcworld.com/article/155984/worst_tech_predictions.html?page=2 )

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
(Thomas Watson, president of IBM, 1943)

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
(Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977)

"Gentlemen, the decision is done. It's hopeless. There will be no future version of Precision Simulator, be it for Windows or any other platform, or any other aircraft type."
Hardy Heinlin, Aerowinx, 2003
(https://web.archive.org/web/20030819101645/http://aerowinx.com:80/forum.cgi/noframes/read/180 )

p.p.s more "future predictions" from the past
2005:
Bill Gates in jail. All Windows platforms removed from market.
HH becomes a monk and moves to Tibet.
|-|-|
(Aerowinx forum, June 17th 2002, [Ref.2])



[Ref 1] Release Message 
https://web.archive.org/web/19990219202026/http://www.e-flight.com:80/ps1.htm
[Ref.2] Hardy's jubilee message – 5 years of PS1 (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20021126141644/http://aerowinx.de:80/forum.cgi/noframes/read/10014
[Ref3.] Dave Kelly's Msg Board announced
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/vOvtR8wX97A
[Ref.4] "First" PS1 delivery
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/dzIPDBmH_j0
[Ref.5] PS1 at 4cds.com
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/hIMB4fra6Ss
[Ref.6] PS1 announced at 4cds.com
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rec.aviation.simulators/Aerowinx|sort:date/rec.aviation.simulators/vPxLyq64-q4/aKpHws12NJwJ
[Ref.7] only 30 copies left at 4cds.com
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/rfVTKeF6Lbc
[Ref.8] PS1 received on Jun 24th
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/IYjzC9eKDzo
[Ref.9] User K. Collins has PS1 on Jun 26th
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/gpfpZIsGGlA
[Ref.10] First PS1 patch
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.simulators/kjNd8ijXTLw

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

 



<--- I would not have been here were it not for PS1. Period.

[Will]

Congratulations, Hardy!


Congratulations for PS1 and PSX, and also congratulations on bringing together such a great community of enthusiasts over the years.


Prost!

[double-alpha]

Luckily, Hardy is a LIAR :

Posted By: Hardy Heinlin (p3E9E12CC.dip.t-dialin.net)
Date: 17 MAR 2003 - 17:48z

Gentlemen,

the decision is done. It's hopeless.

There will be no future version of Precision Simulator, be it for Windows or any other platform, or any other aircraft type.

The last version for all times is the free update PS1.3a (and EE4). The PS1.3 "Full Pack" is still available at PS1 retailers.

I will keep on supporting the forum here in my free time.

This is not a trick. Alea jacta est. No further comments.

Regards,
|-|ardy |-|einlin

[double-alpha]

If you are 20 years old, Here is what PS1 looked like (youtube VDO) :

http://aerowinx.com/board/index.php?topic=4277.0

[SIMU-3G7]

Happy BirthDay,

Thanks for all the nice dedication and support for  the past 20 years.

Cheers

STV1059
Gilles-Gabriel

And many thanks to Markus also from STV......

[cavaricooper]

Markus-

Edel und wunderbar! Danke mein herr!

C

[jeffreymg]

I remember getting PS1 when the sim came out. I had my computer set up in our soon to be daughters room. She arrived in Oct of 1998. I was am still a avid fan of the 747-400. My wife and I went to China in 1998 to pick up our daughter who we adopted, we flew out of KLAX on Cathay Pacific. After the flight was airborne and everyone settled in I asked about seeing the cockpit. I was up in the cockpit about 4 hours learning about 747-400 operations as I had the PS1 manual with me. I was checking the manual and the real equipment at the same time, it was great thing to do. I also had a chance to ride back in the cockpit from Hong Kong to KLAX. it was so dark outside  and than as we heading east the sun was coming up and I could not believe how  many other aircraft we on the same tracks. I found seeing a sunrise at 41,000 ft a unbelievable sight and feeling.
I have PSX and with my busy time between family and teaching student pilots find not as much time as I would wish for. I stay glued to the site and love the people here for their time and devotion to a great aircraft.
BTW my daughter is 19 now
                                      Thank You Very Much, and Happy Birthday
                                                 Jeffrey Gerbert
                                           CFI CFII Florida Flyers ,ST Augustine Fl

[Hardy Heinlin]

I like the predictions in the "humorous section" :-)


Prost!

|-|ardy

[evaamo]

Prost, Hardy!!! It's been quite a ride!!! Very happy to be part of this fine bunch!

-E

[Walktall]

...when you have to eat your words... :-) at least use a good wine to get it down...



Edit HH: Walktall's image attached on request by Walktall.

[Walktall]

Thank you Hardy!

[G-CIVA]

Or a good bottle of Port ... especially if you were a late arrival to the club .....

[nghtflght]

To Hardy and all the contributors to PSX (and its previous versions),

Congratulations to 20 amazing years and a huge, sincere and heartfelt thank you to you all!!!

You have allowed a group of people scattered across the globe who share an avid passion for aviation (and the beautiful 747-400) to access and experience something that would otherwise have not been possible.  Your attention to detail and refusal to compromise over the years has resulted in an unparalleled product and experience.  Of all the products that I have bought and used in my lifetime (I'm not just talking about Simulators, I mean everything), PSX still sets the bar in terms of an impeccably designed platform and incredible support...simply put...this is how you design and develop something!

Thank you for your incredible gift that doesn't stop giving (and educating).

Warmest regards,
n.

[Cbf]

Thank's Hardy !
Some articles in "Micro Simulateur" magazine in 1998 and 2000 (in french)
http://yves.missenard.free.fr/747PS_aerowinx.pdf
Next rendez-vous in 20 years B787 PSXXX? ;-)

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Ooooh I also found 'my number' back...

[Will]

Here's my number.... and note the incompatibility issue with USB!



Moderators: any idea how to rotate the photo by 90 degrees? It's right side up on my computer...

[cavaricooper]

My original copy, and Mel Ott's v1.3 (a treasured momento from Shirley).  My love affair with our beloved continues...

Best- C

[Jeroen D]

Thanks

I remember my PS1 days quite well. I bought it at the Luchtvaart Hobby Shop near Amsterdam Schiphol. It was very expensive compared to FS. I seem to recall 300-350 Dutch guilders. They told me: "If you like throwing a lot of switches you are going to love this one"

Took it home and fiddled around with it a bit. But put it away quickly as it was too complicated. Then a few months later I found myself at home on sick leave for a week or two. I was well enough to sit behind my computer. After 6-8 hours for two weeks I was absolutely hooked.

After a couple of years, Ton van Bochove and me, rented the Cargolux full motion simulator in Luxembourg. The instructor was duly impressed by our familiarity with the various aircraft systems!

Jeroen 

[webleinsteg]

Congratulation Hardy to this fantastic flight simulator.
Many thanks also to your fantastic forum followers. I follow the posts like those in my daily newspaper
I'm looking forward to all that what will come in the future.

Happy Birthday
Jörg