I don't know about Linux being similar to DOS but your attitude is a good one Silver1SWA.  I think I can figure it out as well.  If not, there's someone out there who can help I am sure   What I am afraid of is how much time it will take.  I want to fly.  I have been goofing around with so many other things in FS9, I haven't been flying as much as I want to.  

And RollerBall, I know you don't have time to continue with the LInux issue, but don't worry, anything I figure out I will post.

There definitely is a learning curve for Linux, but I think it is worth the trouble.
Probably the best thing would be to install it (Mandrake 9.2) as a dual boot with your Windows on your main drive or on a second hard drive and play with it  for a while in your spare (non flying time) and then when you feel comfortable with it, look into the Wine thing and see if you can get it set up with Mandrake to make fs9 work.
Wish I knew more about it. I am going to question some Linux experts I know about the feasability of running the flight sim that way and will post back it I learn anything of value.

If you change your mind and want to remove Linux from your system  later, it is very simple to do.

There are many Linux forums out there where you can post questions.
But it does take a lot of time to get even close to being comfortable with it.
I have been using Mandrake for a long time for the basics like word processing, printing, photo editing, cd burning and riipping, e-mail, internet and games. In fact if it was'nt for MS Flight simulators, I probably wouldn't have Windows at all.
So I would be very happy to hear of any of you getting fs9 going on Linux.
Actually once you fool with it a bit and realize how powerful, stable and completely customizable it is, you kind of get hooked  on it.
It is not for babies  though; when you delete something in Linux, there is no 'Are you sure" or " Are you positive you want to do this"
when you click delete: it's gone - period
and that goes for files, directories, partitions, drives, everything.

"Does FS9 support Linux? If so I never thought it does but correct me if I am wrong."

No, you would need Windows emulator software such as 'Wine'
But not all Windows applications will run on Wine. So we are waiting to see if anyone can get fs9 running with it.

Bye the way, there is another  flight sim (FlightGear) that is open source (free) that does run on Linux. I have not tried it so can't really comment on it.  It also runs on Windows. Has anyone tried it?

I don't think FS9 runs on Linux using Wine, although I didn't try this either.

I work with Linux since many years, as my real life job is as a network engineer. I also use Linux as my primary desktop both at home and at work, except for when I am playing (this is when I use Windows). I hardly could do any work using Windows now.. it seems to me so strange, non-ergonomic, tasks are hard to perform by using a lot of clicks and searches through unnumbered panels and options.  Give it a try for your tasks.. but if you fail to do something, ask somebody. A lot of things work different here, and you need to be patient.. it is like wanting to go from driving a car to flying an airplane.. different controls, different rules..

But lets go back to the idea of running Flight Simulator on Linux. I will give it a try someday, but chances are very low to be true. On the wine site, in the applications database Flight Simulator, this is the review for it:

http://appdb.winehq.org/appview.php?appId=278

Also, there is a commercial wine package, which has extensive directx support and it is told to run a lot of games. Its name is winex. This should have better chances to run it, but these are the reports from their site:

http://www.transgaming.com/gamepage.php?gameid=490

http://www.transgaming.com/gamepage.php?gameid=174

Probably the reports there are more close to the reality, as if somebody could run it would have report it there, together with a running configuration. Transgaming, as seller of a commercial product would have even more interest to report accurate information, to sell their software better.

So guys.. try linux for what it can be for you: an efficient working environment when you get used to it, with good tools, higher reliability and performance, better security at application and system level. Probably some of its software is good and works well (for example now i use mozilla even on windows as i find it better than internet explorer/outlook), some still needs work to be done. But at least don't look at linux as a Windows replacement, because it is not. It is just a different operating system, with its own way to do things. Its all about chosing: some will like its way, some will like windows way. You cannot tell until you know both. And don't be dissapointed when FS2004 will not work in linux.. because it was never made to work with it.

Although I'm not currently working on this install, there is a good article in February's issue of MaximumPC, "How to Safely Install Linux on your PC."  I'm kinda chicken so I'll let you, the "Pro's" try it and hopefully-Post your results.  Good Luck and keep us posted.

For all those interested in FS on Linux,
I had to give up  
I haven't had a chance to post my findings yet, but here it goes.

I managed to get Wine and WineX to work on my machine.  It turned out to be no big deal to set it up.  The most promising version of wine was WineX which you don't have to pay for (contrary to popular belief).  After setting it up, I managed to load and play many "windows" games.  The improvement in performance of these games was definately noticable.

Anyway, FS9 started to load just fine but it locks up after about 20% installation.  It also wouldn't do a complete install.  I had to select the "express" install.  The installation program kept asking for 3.1 GB of free HD space and it said that I didn't have enough, even though I had about 70 GB free.  For some reason, the express install requires just over 2 GB and it was fine with that.
WineX also had a problem recognizing DirectX 9.0, but it ignored that error and kept installing anyway until it froze.

According to TransGaming Technologies (the folks who develop WineX), FS9 does NOT work with WineX.  Yet.  Whatever that means.  Neither does FS2k2.  There is no interest in FS9 on Linux according to TransGaming.  In order to raise the popularity of FS9, one has to register and log into their web site (which costs money to do so) and then vote for FS9.  For anyone interested, their web site is www.transgaming.com
and the link to the status of FS9 on WineX is http://www.transgaming.com/gamepage.php?gameid=1119

BTW, FS9 didn't work at all on the other version of Wine.  From what I understand, if FS9 is going to work, it will be with WineX.

Whoever it was that claimed that FS9 worked on Linux earlier in this thread, please come forth and tell us whatever you may know.  Linux did show lots of promise.

I once tried to set up a PC with OS2 - a friggin nightmare - only fools and horses persevered with OS2.

Linux appears to be not quite as bad but it is nevertheless really for enthusiasts

IanR