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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
Hi All,
I'm a longtime lurker here, but now I have a question I hope the group can help me with. I am working toward my instrument rating (21 hours so far), and want to use MSFS to practice (cheaply). I do fine with holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the instruments seem to update at a slower rate. Not quite a slide show, but harder than it should be to control. I've tried fiddling with the realism and sensitivity settings to no avail. I have noticed a number of folks posting on this group use this simulator to maintain proficiency, and I was just wondering how you have it set up. FYI...I'm using the CH products USB Flight Sim yolk, and the CH USB rudder pedals. The computer seems plenty fast enough with a 256MB graphics card. Like I mentioned before, everything is very smooth except for the instruments refreshing. Thanks everyone! Steve |
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
In a previous article, said:
so far), and want to use MSFS to practice (cheaply). I do fine with holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the I had the same problem with the Elite PCATD at the local FBO. Finally I gave up on the yoke and control the altitude with the trim lever. -- Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/ I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. -- A. Whitney Brown |
#3
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
Kill the scenery. This takes a lot of computer power. If you use IFR
conditions where everything is white outside (no detail at all) I'll wager your altitude control will be more realistic. Rod |
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
On Feb 13, 6:48 pm, (Paul Tomblin) wrote:
In a previous article, said: so far), and want to use MSFS to practice (cheaply). I do fine with holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the I had the same problem with the Elite PCATD at the local FBO. Finally I gave up on the yoke and control the altitude with the trim lever. -- Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/ I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. -- A. Whitney Brown I've tried just just using the trim in the past, (I have one of the rocker switches configured to actually set trim, I'm not using the calibration wheel on the yoke) but unfortunately that seems to accurately simulate a real plane's behavior. In other words, I'm either climbing through my assigned altitude, then overcorrect to drop right through the bottom! Of course my problems could be just my lack of proficiency using a simulator. Maybe I'm just too ham-handed to make it work! Anyway, thanks for your suggestions. I'll try the trim trick again tonight. |
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
On Feb 13, 7:11 pm, "rod" wrote:
Kill the scenery. This takes a lot of computer power. If you use IFR conditions where everything is white outside (no detail at all) I'll wager your altitude control will be more realistic. Rod While I'm practicing, I am in the clouds completely. No scenery at all. Of course if I 'ever' do learn how to control altitude in a simulator, I suppose the plane would be cake! |
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
On Feb 13, 7:17 pm, Mitty wrote:
I've been told that all sims have overly sensitive pitch. That has been my experience with a Frasca, ASA's Instrument Procedure Trainer, and Elite. Hard to understand why no one fixes it, but apparently they don't. I haven't tried those simulators, just MSFS. I would be willing to pay the bucks if it would help. It's a lot cheaper than an extra lesson (or two or three). Steve |
#9
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
On Feb 13, 7:22 pm, Mark Hansen wrote:
On 02/13/07 16:43, wrote: Hi All, I'm a longtime lurker here, but now I have a question I hope the group can help me with. I am working toward my instrument rating (21 hours so far), and want to use MSFS to practice (cheaply). I do fine with holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. This is definitely true. What I finally did was to make use of the auto pilot. I can have it hold the altitude for me and I don't need to worry about it. At times, I'll use the auto pilot to hold the heading as well, but this isn't as much of a problem in the sim, so I usually do that only when it's a long flight along an airway and I want to just let it go until things get interesting again ;-) I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the instruments seem to update at a slower rate. Not quite a slide show, but harder than it should be to control. I've tried fiddling with the realism and sensitivity settings to no avail. I have noticed a number of folks posting on this group use this simulator to maintain proficiency, and I was just wondering how you have it set up. I can think of a couple things. First, configure the weather to provide you with white-out conditions at the altitudes you plan to fly. This will reduce the work load on the CPU for drawing all the scenery. Next, look into your graphics card. There may be upgraded drivers for it that will improve the performance. If not, you may want to look into a better graphics card. FYI...I'm using the CH products USB Flight Sim yolk, and the CH USB rudder pedals. The computer seems plenty fast enough with a 256MB graphics card. Like I mentioned before, everything is very smooth except for the instruments refreshing. Are you seeing this problem with anything other than the AI? I see this a little on the AI but not on anything else. Thanks everyone! Steve I've found the simulator to be very good at keeping me sharp on the procedures, etc. Of course, I'd rather be in a real plane, but just can't get out as often as I would like. -- Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane Cal Aggie Flying Farmers Sacramento, CA You know using the autopilot in the simulator to just hold altitude is one thing I haven't thought about. The only autopilot I have in the 'real' plane is a single axis (heading only) which I'm not using while learning the rating. Very good idea! You are right about seeing the smoothness problem mostly on the AI. This happens with no scenery displayed (in the clouds). I haven't checked to see if there are any updated drivers available for my video card, but I will! With everything else so smooth, it seems odd that the instrument display is the only thing that isn't. Thanks for your suggestions. Steve |
#10
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Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004
I do fine with
holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. Yep. I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the instruments seem to update at a slower rate. Yep. I was just wondering how you have it set up. Probably the same way you do. I just put up with it. Jose -- Humans are pack animals. Above all things, they have a deep need to follow something, be it a leader, a creed, or a mob. Whosoever fully understands this holds the world in his hands. for Email, make the obvious change in the address. |
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