Reccomend a PC Simulator....

Tim J wrote in message
. net...
Any simulator that allows you to practice your procedures is good - I
wouldn't expect any of the pc based sims to be anything like a plane or a
device that you can count toward flight sim time.

I just got FS2004 and borrowed a yoke - it seems to be ok - the bells and
whistles are more than I need for practicing and ingraining the procedures
I
have been taught. However, either there are problems with the software or
I
haven't figured out how to use it the way I want.

For example, I try to file from an airport to another using VOR/airways,
but
when I start flying, the program always tries to give me direct. I can
use
the VORs, but it is unclear to me how to see the desired route as airways.

I also have to keep telling the controllers that I want to fly the entire
procedures - they always try to give me vectors to an approach.

Also, and this is definitely a defect in the software, but I caught the
problem and it reinforced good habits of what I was taught...

I was given ILS 24 to KISP. I did not have that approach in front of me
so
I asked for ILS 6 (or vice versa). I was cleared for the full approach
that
I asked for. however, when I tuned in the ILS (both are the same freq) I
got the identifier for the one that I refused and the color sector/needle
was all wrong. Seems to me a problem with the software, but maybe not -
maybe they wanted it that way.


These are not defects in the software--they are all accurate simulations of
occasional defects in the universe.

I recently got FS2004. I have been pleased to find that FS2004's turbulence
model is much better than FS2002's. Fly your procedures with turbulence on
max and it will exercise your scan quite well...

Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas
N7NZ

I understand that; please don't misunderstand that I would expect that for
the real world. I figured if the software let me do it and CLEARED me for
the approach then I would be able to receive the signal. Either they want
to throw some crazy situation at you, or there is a problem with the
software and the clearance for the approach should be consistent with the
localizer that is active. In my opinion it is a defect in the software.


"Ray Andraka" wrote in message
...
FWIW, if the airport is using ILS24, then you can't get ILS6. If you
look at
the charts, you'll note that the frequencies for both approaches are the
same
but the identifier is different to match the antenna in use. I doubt
Islip is
going to switch the localizers for you just because you don't have a chart
handy, unless you declare an emergency that is.

Tim J wrote:

Any simulator that allows you to practice your procedures is good - I
wouldn't expect any of the pc based sims to be anything like a plane or
a
device that you can count toward flight sim time.

I just got FS2004 and borrowed a yoke - it seems to be ok - the bells
and
whistles are more than I need for practicing and ingraining the
procedures I
have been taught. However, either there are problems with the software
or I
haven't figured out how to use it the way I want.

For example, I try to file from an airport to another using VOR/airways,
but
when I start flying, the program always tries to give me direct. I can
use
the VORs, but it is unclear to me how to see the desired route as
airways.

I also have to keep telling the controllers that I want to fly the
entire
procedures - they always try to give me vectors to an approach.

Also, and this is definitely a defect in the software, but I caught the
problem and it reinforced good habits of what I was taught...

I was given ILS 24 to KISP. I did not have that approach in front of me
so
I asked for ILS 6 (or vice versa). I was cleared for the full approach
that
I asked for. however, when I tuned in the ILS (both are the same freq)
I
got the identifier for the one that I refused and the color
sector/needle
was all wrong. Seems to me a problem with the software, but maybe not -
maybe they wanted it that way.

wrote in message
...
I am just starting my Instrument rating,
and I believe that a good PC based flight simulator would
help shorten the learning curve.

What simulators would this group reccomend?

I hava older versions of X-plane (V6) and MSFS2002.
I have a high performance PC so I should be able to run whatever is
availible.
I've tried the C172 in both sims.

MSFS2002 the VSI is way too fast and the plane is way too stable.

XPlane, the plane feels about right, the only complaint is the turn
gyro is way too twitchy.

Anyone have comments on later version of either of these sims?


Paul

(Yes I know that a PC based simulator time can not be logged)

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759

It can happen in real life too. Twice that I recall I was cleared for an ILS
and upon tuning and identifying it found out it was set up for the opposing
approach. One was at Providence for ILS5, and the id was for the ILS23
localizer. In that case, I was apparently the first one in after a runway
change.

Tim J wrote:

I understand that; please don't misunderstand that I would expect that for
the real world. I figured if the software let me do it and CLEARED me for
the approach then I would be able to receive the signal. Either they want
to throw some crazy situation at you, or there is a problem with the
software and the clearance for the approach should be consistent with the
localizer that is active. In my opinion it is a defect in the software.

"Ray Andraka" wrote in message
...
FWIW, if the airport is using ILS24, then you can't get ILS6. If you
look at
the charts, you'll note that the frequencies for both approaches are the
same
but the identifier is different to match the antenna in use. I doubt
Islip is
going to switch the localizers for you just because you don't have a chart
handy, unless you declare an emergency that is.

Tim J wrote:

Any simulator that allows you to practice your procedures is good - I
wouldn't expect any of the pc based sims to be anything like a plane or
a
device that you can count toward flight sim time.

I just got FS2004 and borrowed a yoke - it seems to be ok - the bells
and
whistles are more than I need for practicing and ingraining the
procedures I
have been taught. However, either there are problems with the software
or I
haven't figured out how to use it the way I want.

For example, I try to file from an airport to another using VOR/airways,
but
when I start flying, the program always tries to give me direct. I can
use
the VORs, but it is unclear to me how to see the desired route as
airways.

I also have to keep telling the controllers that I want to fly the
entire
procedures - they always try to give me vectors to an approach.

Also, and this is definitely a defect in the software, but I caught the
problem and it reinforced good habits of what I was taught...

I was given ILS 24 to KISP. I did not have that approach in front of me
so
I asked for ILS 6 (or vice versa). I was cleared for the full approach
that
I asked for. however, when I tuned in the ILS (both are the same freq)
I
got the identifier for the one that I refused and the color
sector/needle
was all wrong. Seems to me a problem with the software, but maybe not -
maybe they wanted it that way.

wrote in message
...
I am just starting my Instrument rating,
and I believe that a good PC based flight simulator would
help shorten the learning curve.

What simulators would this group reccomend?

I hava older versions of X-plane (V6) and MSFS2002.
I have a high performance PC so I should be able to run whatever is
availible.
I've tried the C172 in both sims.

MSFS2002 the VSI is way too fast and the plane is way too stable.

XPlane, the plane feels about right, the only complaint is the turn
gyro is way too twitchy.

Anyone have comments on later version of either of these sims?


Paul

(Yes I know that a PC based simulator time can not be logged)

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759



--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759

"Kobra" said:
I have MSFS2002 and I'll ask you a question. You say the plane is too
stable and your next line says the VSI is too sensitive and fast?

The VSI needle in FS04 is much more responsive than the real thing - too
responsive. It seems to translate pitch changes instantly into vertical
speed. A real 172 VSI lags for about 5-7 seconds before stabilizing on
vertical speed indication. Not a huge deal if you pay due attention to the
altimeter, but it can be distracting.

I don't think the original poster was connecting the stability of the model
with the overly sensitive VSI. Two separate issues.

On my computer I can't keep the damn thing on heading or altitude. I
don't
care how I trim it or adjust my joystick (and once owned the CH Products
Yoke and Pro Pedals), it always wants to turn left or right. You are
correct that the pitch is WAY too sensitive and the VSI make wild
fluctuations. I tried adjusting the sensitivities and no joy on
improvement.


I agree. Occasionally, I've ben able to get into a groove and stabilize
nicely but not very often. I use the CH pedals and rudder and have played
with the sensitivity and null zone settings to no avail. Can't find
anything that satisfies me. The other night I tried flying the Baron and
all surfaces - elevator especially - seemed ridiculously sensitive to
control input.

-Scott

For practical IFR training, on a simulator that doesn't go out of
date, I like On Top, from aerotraining.com; it's made by ASA, but sold
by aerotraining.com and they're really helpful.

On Top has nice large, stable instruments and an airports/navaids
editor that lets you keep your geographical database up-to-date. It's
designed for IFR training and practice and it never flakes out like
FS2002 does when doing an ILS approach. It also allows for
instrument/system failures, etc. and has big radios with STBY
frequencies.