sim software

I have a student looking for some affordable software which will simulate

1. Flight in a C-172
2. ATC communications

I'd love some feedback and recommendations.

Thanks,
Helen

Microsoft's Flight Sim or X-plane. I haven't used the last version or two of
X-Plane but MS Flight Simulator does a reasonable job of letting the user
hear ATC but you have to answer via a menu.





"Helen Woods" wrote in message
...
I have a student looking for some affordable software which will simulate

1. Flight in a C-172
2. ATC communications

I'd love some feedback and recommendations.

Thanks,
Helen

MS Flight Sim 2004 with the online add-ons such as Sqwak box. This
lets you fly and talk to real life controllers. I've used it to
practice IFR... you have to file a flight plan, then call for your
clearances, etc... sometimes ATC isn't online... but many evenings ATC
is online in once place or another....

The other night i had grnd, tower, departure, centre and then tower on
arrival.... sometimes you'll not get anything.

Good luck!

-dr


Helen Woods wrote:
I have a student looking for some affordable software which will simulate

1. Flight in a C-172
2. ATC communications

I'd love some feedback and recommendations.

Thanks,
Helen

Do the people playing ATC do a good job of using proper ATC procedures?



wrote in message
ups.com...
MS Flight Sim 2004 with the online add-ons such as Sqwak box. This
lets you fly and talk to real life controllers. I've used it to
practice IFR... you have to file a flight plan, then call for your
clearances, etc... sometimes ATC isn't online... but many evenings ATC
is online in once place or another....

The other night i had grnd, tower, departure, centre and then tower on
arrival.... sometimes you'll not get anything.

Good luck!

-dr


Helen Woods wrote:
I have a student looking for some affordable software which will simulate

1. Flight in a C-172
2. ATC communications

I'd love some feedback and recommendations.

Thanks,
Helen

On 2006-06-27, Gig 601XL Builder wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net wrote:
Do the people playing ATC do a good job of using proper ATC procedures?

It's been a long time since I used SquawkBox, but IIRC they actually had
to get some kind of certification to be simulated controllers - so you
can expect something reasonably representitive of the real world.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

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Dylan Smith wrote:
On 2006-06-27, Gig 601XL Builder wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net wrote:
Do the people playing ATC do a good job of using proper ATC procedures?

It's been a long time since I used SquawkBox, but IIRC they actually had
to get some kind of certification to be simulated controllers - so you
can expect something reasonably representitive of the real world.

They definitely do. Some controllers there are real world
controllers, and have gone to extensive lengths to make sure they
follow real world procedures. In fact, during a tour of NCT, the real
world controllers were impressed by those demonstrating VATSIM because
they used better phraseology than the real guys.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.wizard.com/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

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Very cool. I'll have to give Squawkbox a try.


"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
om...
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Hash: SHA1

Dylan Smith wrote:
On 2006-06-27, Gig 601XL Builder wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net wrote:
Do the people playing ATC do a good job of using proper ATC procedures?

It's been a long time since I used SquawkBox, but IIRC they actually had
to get some kind of certification to be simulated controllers - so you
can expect something reasonably representitive of the real world.

They definitely do. Some controllers there are real world
controllers, and have gone to extensive lengths to make sure they
follow real world procedures. In fact, during a tour of NCT, the real
world controllers were impressed by those demonstrating VATSIM because
they used better phraseology than the real guys.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.wizard.com/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

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Version: GnuPG v1.4.4 (GNU/Linux)

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=E0XB
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Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
Very cool. I'll have to give Squawkbox a try.


The best place to start is he
www.vatsim.net

I've been using it to practice my IFR stuff and it's been pretty
amazing. Very impressive controllers, it's just like the real deal. I
even felt a little nervous the first time I called them up, lol.

Me too... took a deep breath... and keyed the mic!

From my experience, I couldn't tell the difference between a real world
controller and one onf flight sim. Controllers have ratings you can
see if you use Serv Info... such as student or instructor, etc. Most
of the students I've some across are working at a non-busy airport or
perhaps ground control.

I saw Flight Sim X last weekend at Canadian Aviation Expo and it was
pretty sharp... Lots of nice new touches (cars moving around, animals,
etc)... also the cloud textures look great. I can imagine that you'll
need quite a machine to run it though!

-dr



wrote:
Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
Very cool. I'll have to give Squawkbox a try.


The best place to start is he
www.vatsim.net

I've been using it to practice my IFR stuff and it's been pretty
amazing. Very impressive controllers, it's just like the real deal. I
even felt a little nervous the first time I called them up, lol.

On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:26:50 -0400, Helen Woods wrote:

I have a student looking for some affordable software which will simulate

1. Flight in a C-172
2. ATC communications

I'd love some feedback and recommendations.

Thanks,
Helen

My preference is for X-plane. MS Sim has better terrain and is prettier
but X-Plane flies better, IMO. X-plane is an actual flight simulator
(modules aerodynamics) while MS sim has a canned model of flight, which
each plane tweaks. To me it's easy to figure out which one you want. If
you fly a sim, are you doing it to fly first or do you want to see perty
stuff? If it's the first, go X-plane. If it's the second, go MS Sim.

X-Plane runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. It comes with terrain for the
globe and mars. You can find more information at http://www.x-plane.com;
including a free demo which is sans all the terrain and disables the
joystick after 5-10 minutes. You can
download the demo at http://www.x-plane.com/demo.html. And hey, X-plane
is a small company...so nothing wrong with supporting the underdog.
Download the demo and see if you like it. If you don't, of your machine
can't handle it...nothing lost but a little time.

And yes, squawkbox and one or two others are also available for X-plane.
I've used it my self. I enjoyed transitioning bravo several times in the
DFW area. They guys I used are the VATSIM guys and they were both
friendly and knowledgable. If I were an IFR student and in the
market for a sim, it's nothing but goodness.

The only down side is you really need a good yoke and rudder setup which
adds to the expense. I'm pretty happy with my CH yoke/rudder peddel
setup. If you look on Ebay, you can often find people selling theirs for
a decent price.


Greg