Crossed over to the dark side
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crossed over to the dark side
Well with all this snow and the Maule in for its annual I have taken the plunge and scored a deal on Ebay for a fancy supped up PC dedicated for flightsim software including yoke, rudder pedals, throttle and radio box. Never been much for gaming and have never tried Xbox or PS3 but figured I would give this MS Flightsim a try and hopefully can learn something. Thinking about doing my IMC rating and have bought and read a bunch of books and downloaded study material from ASA.
So if anyone has any pointers on the best way to do some home study elementary IFR training on Flightsim prior to starting proper training all suggestions/shortcuts are welcome.
So if anyone has any pointers on the best way to do some home study elementary IFR training on Flightsim prior to starting proper training all suggestions/shortcuts are welcome.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oxford
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flight sim is excellent for getting practice in intercepting and tracking to and from a VOR or NDB. Once you can do that (intercepting a track to or from an NDB is not child's play, especially not with wind and of course you can set your own wind in FS) you can progress to holds and approaches.
Set all the realism settings high (not the display ones but the ones to do with gyro forces, gyro drift &c.) and get to know the wx settings properly so you can set your own cloud base and vis.
I think MS FS saved me at least £200 worth of flying in the early stages, getting the hang of NDB tracking (+30 aiming for -30 and all that), NDB holds, &c. I still use it to fly new procedures if they look complicated or unusual before I do them for real.
Tim
Set all the realism settings high (not the display ones but the ones to do with gyro forces, gyro drift &c.) and get to know the wx settings properly so you can set your own cloud base and vis.
I think MS FS saved me at least £200 worth of flying in the early stages, getting the hang of NDB tracking (+30 aiming for -30 and all that), NDB holds, &c. I still use it to fly new procedures if they look complicated or unusual before I do them for real.
Tim
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Vienna
Age: 50
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why dark side? 
Basically, from what I've taken from all pertinent discussions and my own experience, desktop flightsims (whether MSFS or X-Plane) are good for headwork and practising procedures (including R/T if flying online) but rather useless (some even say detrimental) for airwork and practising instrument scan.
My recommendations (supposing you buy FSX):
.
Basically, from what I've taken from all pertinent discussions and my own experience, desktop flightsims (whether MSFS or X-Plane) are good for headwork and practising procedures (including R/T if flying online) but rather useless (some even say detrimental) for airwork and practising instrument scan.
My recommendations (supposing you buy FSX):
- Get a good add-on plane nonetheless, it's just more fun. The RealAir Duke (RealAir :: Introduction) for example is probably a good choice for armchair IMC flying aside from airline jets (get the package with the piston and turbine version).
- Also consider buying Active Sky (HiFi - Active Sky 2012) for better weather simulation.
- Join IVAO or VATSIM (disregard any discussions about which is the "better network", go where you have more traffic and controllers for your virtual flying area. Basically VATSIM for US, IVAO for Europe.)
- A nice book if you want some input on armchair IFR flying: Wiley: Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots: Real World Training - Jeff Van West, Kevin Lane-Cummings
- TrackIR TrackIR :: Premium head tracking Shop für pc-games :: Trackir 5 und Trackir 4:PRO - Bist Du Bereit Für Diesen Kick? Jetzt Trackir 5 kaufen is quite useful IMHO, but probably not necessary for "procedural IFR training".
- Last but not least prepare to invest some time in getting the whole thing to run smoothly and with everything set up as you want it.
.
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Wales
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, remember you can fly almost from t/o to landing with the auto-pilot, you just need to set up the numbers at the right time. It will do the intercepts as well, as long as you are not too far out.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Consider purchasing the photographic scenery and realistic airfields (e.g. justflight) so that it looks realistic when you pop out the bottom of the clouds
My nephew who happens to be right cheeky bastard suggested that we put the sim PC and seat inside a 1 ton tattie box and suspend it by rope from the JCB digger and he could slew it round 360 to make it feel like a spin and he could also dump the box real hard on the ground a few times to give me a 100% realistic effect of my usual landings, As i said he's a cheeky bastard. Think i will stick with installing it on the Ikea desk in the spare room
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well with all this snow and the Maule in for its annual I have taken the plunge and scored a deal on Ebay for a fancy supped up PC dedicated for flightsim software including yoke, rudder pedals, throttle and radio box. Never been much for gaming and have never tried Xbox or PS3 but figured I would give this MS Flightsim a try and hopefully can learn something. Thinking about doing my IMC rating and have bought and read a bunch of books and downloaded study material from ASA.
So if anyone has any pointers on the best way to do some home study elementary IFR training on Flightsim prior to starting proper training all suggestions/shortcuts are welcome.
So if anyone has any pointers on the best way to do some home study elementary IFR training on Flightsim prior to starting proper training all suggestions/shortcuts are welcome.
Last edited by RedKnight; 31st Mar 2013 at 13:36.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get a mod / add on that gives you proper NDB dip and interference.
During my PPL course I saved a lot more than £200 by consolidating my learning using FSX. You do have to invest the time in setting it up right, and definitely need the Track-IR and VFR Scenery to get the most out of it.
Ian
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Something Else To Try
I don't have as much experience of FSX as the other helpful contributors, but I'm sure you'll get value for money out of it compared with the cost of airborne time!
You could also supplement it with another piece of software that I have found tremendous, called RANT (Radio Aids Nav Tutor). It is far simpler to control than a full simulator, which isn't a bad thing when you are learning; you can concentrate on interpreting the instruments. Lots of animated tutorials and then opportunities for practicing (including a PAUSE facility, how good would that be in the air?). It's especially helpful for NDB/VOR, for example.
I taught, and examined, IF when I was in the RAF, and really wish RANT had been available then. I have heard that the RAF do use it now, though I can't confirm that personally.
It was invaluable when I was preparing for my own IMC rating recently, and I had good support from the company. You should be able to find it for around £80 - not bad compared with half an hour or so in the air?
Good luck
You could also supplement it with another piece of software that I have found tremendous, called RANT (Radio Aids Nav Tutor). It is far simpler to control than a full simulator, which isn't a bad thing when you are learning; you can concentrate on interpreting the instruments. Lots of animated tutorials and then opportunities for practicing (including a PAUSE facility, how good would that be in the air?). It's especially helpful for NDB/VOR, for example.
I taught, and examined, IF when I was in the RAF, and really wish RANT had been available then. I have heard that the RAF do use it now, though I can't confirm that personally.
It was invaluable when I was preparing for my own IMC rating recently, and I had good support from the company. You should be able to find it for around £80 - not bad compared with half an hour or so in the air?
Good luck
Last edited by Yellow Son; 31st Mar 2013 at 18:49.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Redknight
It was a one of deal from a private guy that had bought a dedicated PC and all the software and 13 add on,s I paid 500 quid for the whole lot, ti looked to me like it was a guy that had went to town and ordered the works then for whatever reason decided to unload it.
Could you kindly share the deal link on eBay? Given that I have been a Mac user for the better part of my adult, it sounds like what you've found on eBay could be ideal for my needs especially if it is delivered with the associated PC hardware (that is dedicated for the sim software).
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was a one of deal from a private guy that had bought a dedicated PC and all the software and 13 add on,s I paid 500 quid for the whole lot, ti looked to me like it was a guy that had went to town and ordered the works then for whatever reason decided to unload it.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flight Sim X- Well i have had a few weeks of faffing around with it and have come to the conclusion, its the biggest load of sh%te i have ever wasted my money on, I've given the lot to my kid to see if he wants to have a crack
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Glasgow
Age: 40
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lol.
Actual flying wise - I'd have to agree. Although I haven't tried it with lots of addons included, its physics engine doesn't feel anything like real flying - no matter how many gadgets you attach to it.
We put our chief instructor ( who is a BA pilot) in front of one which had yoke, throttles, peddles and scenery packs. Lets just say he got a bit frustrated with it...
However to get the hang of instrument nav it should be fine I'd have thought. Don't touch the yoke - just use the auto pilot to make the plane do what you want. Select one of the simple Cessnas which have a standard analogue fit. Ignore scenery packs or what you can see outside - in fact - you can make the instrument panel pretty much fill the screen. Use your real approach charts (once you've checked the radio frequencies match) to follow SIDS / STARS.
Beyond that its pretty much just a game... albeit one which has huge numbers of followers...
Actual flying wise - I'd have to agree. Although I haven't tried it with lots of addons included, its physics engine doesn't feel anything like real flying - no matter how many gadgets you attach to it.
We put our chief instructor ( who is a BA pilot) in front of one which had yoke, throttles, peddles and scenery packs. Lets just say he got a bit frustrated with it...
However to get the hang of instrument nav it should be fine I'd have thought. Don't touch the yoke - just use the auto pilot to make the plane do what you want. Select one of the simple Cessnas which have a standard analogue fit. Ignore scenery packs or what you can see outside - in fact - you can make the instrument panel pretty much fill the screen. Use your real approach charts (once you've checked the radio frequencies match) to follow SIDS / STARS.
Beyond that its pretty much just a game... albeit one which has huge numbers of followers...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have a fairly well specced sim at our club, three monitors, seperate yoke, rudder pedals and throttles but no one uses it 'cos basically it's pants for anything other than having a bit of a laugh.
In fact it's not much use for that either.
I tried it when doing my IMCr and just found it frustrating rather than helpful.
In fact it's not much use for that either.
I tried it when doing my IMCr and just found it frustrating rather than helpful.