JP & Lou  -

Had a terrible day today with this thing!! Leaving JFK @146k lbs I had to nurse it up to FL320. Step climbed very slowly the entire way with full throttle. Above 18000 I could barely keep it over 160KIAS during climb at about 2000 fpm with fluctuations all the way. Took forever. Once level at fl320 it crawled up to 300KIAS and mach .80. Smooth sailing to STL. No problem intercepting the localizer at 2300ft (used the GPS automated approach). Was at 140kias, flaps 30 and 135k lbs. Lined up perfectly with 30L. Things were looking good. GS kicked in and down I went. -- 2 white & 2 red! At about 1000 ft and 125kias things went haywire---again. It quit descending--had to disengaged AP again. As I hand flew to runway it started drifting left again. Seemed like a crosswind, although I had the wind turned off in FSX. This time I went around. Hand flew the entire way at about 3000ft watching the GPS. Finally got it on the ground, but again drifted left. When I got down I noticed that I had flaps 40. Lou advised against that setting, but I was looking good most of the way. Granted I just try to control the airspeed and visually try to keep the *PAPI happy*, but I think there is something programed into FSX or this airplane that makes a normal visual landing darn near impossible!  :)

Appreciate the offer of the TOLD card and charts, but I am already in WAY over my head here, and I mean WAY over!

Bruce