charron

The original post title was whether FS X was any good for helicopters. Some persons doubted the ADF function would work properly. Just tried it and yes it does - cuts, intercepts, tracking etc. I used the Baron panel in the demo.

The GPS in the demo doesn't allow the input of userwaypoints, and you don't have a radar, so the ARA NDB/GPS is a little rough until somebody tweeks the program. You could still fly the whole thing using an existing ground NDB (and GPS waypoint for it). You could always use the GPS map view instead of radar (paint some range lines on your computer screen). I notice the OBS function in the GPS didn't work either. Wish someone could splice the Garmin's own full function demonstrator to FS X.

Offshore approaches to a rig have always seemed wobbly in a sim, even a Level D FFS, so I wouldn't beat it up for that.

I think the trickiest part of a helicopter sim is to get that low speed stuff down right, like lowering the nose to increase speed and climb. Once over 60 knots it is just an airplane, so for IFR the helicopter dynamics don't matter that much.

madman, no offense taken. rough sandbox and all that - merry christmas

charon

bluestack

The advice I was given was use the C172 for any sim practice - panel and approach speeds are more akin to the robbie/s300, and the aim of the game is to get the approaches down, not the physical flying which is too consuming for any worthwhile instrument practice.

Joystick wise I bought a cheapie off ebay, second hand microsoft one - with a throttle lever on it and twist for rudder/pedals work for the reasons above.

Merry Christmas all..

blave

The original post asked about FS-X. Ironically, the helicopter flight model is the only one in the game that I'm aware of that is at all changed from FS2004. The changes I've noticed are that (a) autorotations are now a little more realistic (in FS2004 the R22 would not auto at all) and (b) the helos are a little easier to fly.

What they did *not* do was add modeling of required pedal when collective is applied. Hopefully the great folks at http://www.dodosim.com will be able to update their magical addon for FS2004 to FS-X. Their add-on does a number of things, including the pedal thing, realistic 206 starting procedures, etc.

regarding the FS-X "GPS" - you cannot edit flight plans from the unit itself; it is driven by the Flight Plan function of the sim.

Dave Blevisn

gwelo shamwari

I haven't tried the new Microsoft Flight sim, though I did try 2004, which i was very disapointed as it has poor helicopter support and a very poor helicopter model.

I did some looking around and found a program call X-Plane. It has a fantastic helicopter model and there is loads of support/helicopters/etc for it, most of which is free.

http://www.x-plane.com/

Best of which it is not a microcrap, oppp's microsoft product and is cross platform.

blave

Sorry, but I am in complete disagreement w.r.t. X-Plane being a "fantastic" PC-based helicopter flight sim. Also, does the name of the publishing company really have anything to do with how good the software is? I think not.
I have been running MS Flight Simulator (on a regular basis) and X-Plane (up until it annoys me to the point that I uninstall it, which always takes about 45 minutes) for about five years. As much as I want X-Plane to move up to the front of PC-based helicopter simulation, I have been disappointed with every single release over the last three or so years.


X-Plane is, more or less, written by one very talented (and fixed-wing rated) developer, but after a while I got tired of being driven *crazy* by his tendency to work on things like tire smoke rather than refining the helicopter flight model.


I haven't flown X-Plane for about six months, but the most recent version I tried (8.something) was no better and the helicopter model reminds me of no aircraft that I have flown IRL.


Dave Blevins

gwelo shamwari

Well I guess we all have had our own experiences and hence preferences. I for one have never had any problems with X-Plane on a PC or a MAC. And to be honest I find the flight model to be rather realistic, however that could be to my in experience in these things we call "helicopters". Who knows?

Unfortunately I can not say the same for Microsoft Flight Sim or some of their other products.

As I can see for your previous posts on different threads, your opinion is that X-Plane is not of the same standard as Microsoft; and that is fine as we are all allowed to have an opinion.

The point being is that the aviation community should be aware that there are other deserving products from which to choose which are cheaper and have better performance, not just Microsoft.

TGZ

ARINC

Gentlemen...

I'm an Engineer and not a pilot, but I have been simming for years. You guys need to get some addons for your FS2004 !

It's all here http://www.hovercontrol.com/ and it's more or less free.

And if you fancy something bigger (but not free !)

http://www.precisionmanuals.com/

RBS

Has anyone encountered activation problems when they load FSX. Everytime I try to activate it online it says the server is busy or down, and then in an attempt to activate it by telephone, it comes up with an error prompt. I've re-intalled it, tried everything on the fsinder website and still no luck. Anybody have any advice?

Jonasraf

I had to try at least 10 times to activate my copy before it worked. Same error message. I was starting to think that my internet connection was down.
Does anyone here know what kind og graphic card is needed so I can run FSX in most detailed version. I hate to know that I am only using 20% of its capabilty. I have ATI radeon 9200. it's either 64 or 128mb.

i4iq

I have one machine with an older NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100. Bit slow...

My notebook has an NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M 512Gig. Much smoother.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_go.html

No problems with activation.

brett s

The one thing that astounds me in FSX is there are zero torque effects - how can you begin to simulate a single rotor helicopter without modeling them?

Don't even want to talk about the extremely sluggish handling default helicopters, the R22 has a max pitch rate of about 10 degrees a second...

rotorspin

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com...option_id=3894

try the above to test your system and make recommendations to improve performance for Flight Sim X.

This is an nvidia program so a reputable source

Agree that the heli's in Flight Sim X are really disappointing. Got a copy for Xmas, spent tons on upgrading my machine to make it run and the end result is pretty pants.....

Anybody want to buy a Pc? I'm off to buy some A1

blave

Sorry, my activation went smoothly - on 2 PCs with the same set of DVDs! (MS allows two installations for one install code)
I know that quite a few people have had issues with activation; you might try perusing the forums at http://www.avsim.com which has been my favorite flight sim site for many years.
Editorial comment: the concept of "activation" is horrendous, and is probably the main reason why I shall put off the horror of upgrading to Windows Vista as long as I possibly can. Microsoft is going overboard with their activation scheme - I just read tonight on Avsim that a guy that had previously had a successful activation is now having issues after FS-X crashed!! WTF is up with that?
Mark my words, FS-X's activation experience is but a precursor to what Vista customers will have to endure. I may switch to Linux to avoid it!
---
A little bit of full disclosure: the dialog here has prompted me to download X-Plane 8.5 and see whether it's as bad as 8.2 was in terms of the helicopter stuff. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
---
and on the helicopter flight models in FS-X - yes they are far from perfect, but really how much can any PC simulation approximate real flight past a certain point? E.g. it's fun and challenging to execute an instrument approach in a PC simulator - in any aircraft - in blowing snow or rain and turbulence, but that experience will never come close to the pucker factor that will be present in doing that in real life, when your whole world is being jostled around and the gyro instruments are doing "interesting things".
I view FS-X - and all other PC-based sims - as a way to experience SOME of the aspects of flying in a fun and sometimes educational way, but it can only go so far. I think it's best for general procedural familiarization, and for practicing instrument approach *procedures*.
That all said -to echo a previous poster's comments - for crying out loud, WHY can't they add modeling of required pedal input for increased power? I have been whining about this (at one point, to an MS FS product manager at a trade show a couple years ago) for years and will continue to do so until they fix it 8^) .
Dave Blevins

FSDesigner

Hello chaps,

Long time reader, first time poster and all that. I'm not a pilot, but am involved in the industry ATC wise... as a result of what I do, and an interest in FS, I started designing scenery for FS some time ago, mainly offshore platforms. Some of my work can be found here http://www.fs-odg.com/ not all the models you'll see there are mine, the group has 2 modellers, of which I am one.

The scope of the group that I design with is to place reasonable representations of offshore facilities in real world loactions... to that end, I have been asked to place some around Austalia (Bass Strait initially)... given the large user base, I thought I would make a request here;

Are there any Australian pilots here (offshore or otherwise) that could provide me with accurate lat/long for offshore facilites around Australia, including information on NDB idents and freqs?

To expand on that request... I have information on GoM and North Sea facilities, but if anyone has relevant info on any offshore facilities elsewhere in the world I'd be very happy to accept, it'll come in handy for future projects!

Thanks for listening
Alun (AKA 'Airprox' in the FS world)

206Fan

Good Day folks

Ok heres the deal, its regarding an FS2004 (FS9) Helicopter Project which a group of members at hovercontrol are planning on starting soon, the Bell 407 is on top of list so their looking Real World pilots on this bird to help out when it comes to the Beta testing stage and other information on the 407. I said i would make a post here to see was there any 407 pilots about who would like to help them out?? So if theres a few here leave a reply

http://hovercontrol.com/

And the link to the exact topic about the project!
http://64.34.169.161/cgi-bin/ib3/iko...T;f=10;t=12423

Cheers.

206Fan

So i take it theres no 407 pilots on the forum??? Or does anybody here know a few??

Avnx EO

Maybe you'd get more responses if you explained what an FS2004 (FS9) Helicopter Project is...

206Fan

Sorry i thought you guys woulda known what it was. Its Microsofts Flight simulator 2004, they have recentley released Flight Simulator FSX, more advanced graphics, scenery ect.. Theres a group of people going to start modelling a Bell 407 for FS2004 and FSX because there isn't any good ones available for it. To do so you will need modellors, gauge designers, someone to collect information/pics, Beta testers which is normally real world pilots to test the aircraft in the sim to give us feedback if the model is close to real world specs in the sim or not. So i said i would post a topic here to see if there was any real 407 pilots lurking about who has FS2004 and would help with the project!

docstone

Happy to help if I can - 407 an aamzing machine - PM me to discuss

HeliJayB

I have many photos of the 407, inside and out. Took them while I was making a Power Point Presentation for the 407 initial and recurrent ground/flight course I taught at work. Drop me an email if you would like.