hey there.  ive been a fs2k2 player for a while now, and im aircraft maintenance (c5 galaxy avionics at travis afb).  i just wish problems on the computer were as easy to fix as problem on the real thing. 

ive also downloaded a few planes from the site.  i just now found the forums, which i figured someone might know how to fix my problem.  i dont know how to explain the problem, but basically, sometimes when i download a plane, then download a new panel for it (because i dont like using a 747 panel on a f15, or something like that), when i load up the plane to gly, i get nothing on my screen... just black.  however the gauges show up, but thats it.  so basically black screen and gauges.  when i cycle through the views, i can see, but i dont like flying in virtual cockpit, tower or spot.  is there anyway to fix this so i can see what im doing? 

Hi mezzio. From your description you're not installing the new panels properly. A panel consists of a Panel.cfg file + one or more BMP images. If the new gauges display on a black background I suspect you didn't install the BMPs.

I check out a lot of new panels. This is the method I use. First back up the original panel by renaming the folder from Panel to Panel.0 or similar. (Any name will do providing it's not Panel.) Now configure the new panel (Panel.cfg + BMP images) in a folder named Panel & paste it into the aircraft. Paste any new gauges into the FS2002\Gauges folder.