When I click on the link to Simviation another window with advertising opens at the same time. Is this supposed to happen? Is it a paid ad to help defray costs of the site or am I getting some sort of spam?

You know that ex-mods don't get payments, just favours Rob

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A vote against Simviation's existence ... 

Bypassing the ads is exactly the same, morally, as downloading a payware aircraft for free -- the only difference is that lawyers have not dealt with that yet.

Simviation relies 100% on users responding to ads plus express memberships, in exactly the same way a musician, software developer or FS payware seller relies on the user actually buying his or her product.

Skipping any involvement in a return for what you get is not something to be proud of.

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Good for you!......!

A big box of chocolates for you at Christmas Time!... ...!

P.... ...!

Ok, that was poor of me for recommending a way to avoid the ads since I was in the mindset that most people find them annoying, and wanted a quick fix. I suspected eventual backlash, but was too stupid to remove my comment.

I must respectfully disagree, however, with Pete's statement:
Bypassing the ads is exactly the same, morally, as downloading a payware aircraft for free -- the only difference is that lawyers have not dealt with that yet.

Allowing the ads to show up anyway and simply ignoring them would be the equivalent of bypassing them through scripts since we are not taking action towards them...so under that logic, unless we engage the ads, we're pirates? I can't say I agree with that, but to each his own.

Beyond that point, I am in the middle of doing the paid membership anyway because this community is so great.
Since it's been mentioned that I am voting against this site's existence, I hope this gesture proves otherwise. 

This place is truly great, and I was stupid for suggesting the ad avoidance methods since they apparently factor in quite a bit to this site's revenue stream. 

Have a good weekend folks. 

Yes Sean your gesture is much appreciated.

I also never 'seek' users to become Express members. I regularly get asked if it is necessary to become a member to download files -- my answer is always 'no - all free' I don't even suggest anyone becomes a member. (You won't find a single post here either of me suggesting that users sign up .. but it IS nice when others do! ). My attitude is that Simviation is free for all - providing 100% freeware files - BUT Membership pays our essential costs.  Ads pay for the free site. About 60/40. Skip ads and you are costing Simviation money. So if you skip the ads you are voting to end Simviation even though you probably cannot think that far or simply don't care.

However thank you to all who support this site by either contributing files,  responding (out of natural interest) to our ads or signing up for Express membership. All 3 are crucial, not only to this site but the whole hobby of PC Flight Simulation.

Just a comment, not a complaint. The only adds that have ever seemed remotely like an irritant are the pop unders that pop over with "Are you sure you want to exit this page?", when you click the handy X, top right. I have skimmed through many of those adds in the past. I would imagine the paying advertisers are recording hits to thier adds? No hits, No renewals? Just a guess.