Microsoft Flight Simulator X

Ed · 26 Mar 2007 at 20:51

Gog said:
Spinner,

Any idea if VFR GenX works well with the airports from UK2000 Scenery - http://www.uk2000scenery.com/ (I think there's a demo on there somewhere)

If so, I might have to make my next purchase

According to the people on the VFR GenX forums the UK2000 Scenery airports compliment it perfectly and they work hand in hand. So much so that I believe there is a discount on the airports if you're a registered VFR GenX user.

I personally haven't got the airports yet but may well do in the future as all the forum users say they are stunningly recreated and still give good framerates.

Ed · 26 Mar 2007 at 21:41

Cobra-UK said:
Lol, yeah sure. Come on round.

I'll get the beers in and make sure my Sweedish maids are about.

Here's a few more shots of Cobras house.

Ed · 26 Mar 2007 at 21:42

Couple more...

Grumps82 · 26 Mar 2007 at 23:37

Oh wow, thats well good.

Makes me want the game just for that. Hmmm

* Cobra starts to look at joysticks *

TC1 · 27 Mar 2007 at 11:34

Got it running on my Vista PC and it looks aweome!! Got to learn how to use the navigational instruments though!! Can take off and land any aircraft but terrible at navigation!! In Fs2004 you could press 'W' to clear the screen of all thngs except important instruments. Can't do this in X. Why?

Ed · 27 Mar 2007 at 17:48

TC1 said:
Got it running on my Vista PC and it looks aweome!! Got to learn how to use the navigational instruments though!! Can take off and land any aircraft but terrible at navigation!! In Fs2004 you could press 'W' to clear the screen of all thngs except important instruments. Can't do this in X. Why?

Learning to navigate is probably the most interesting part of the sim but to break it down in stages try the following.

Choose free flight
Select an aircraft that uses the Garmin GPS system
Select flight planner to choose start and finish airports
In the flight planner select IFR and not VFR

With the above you should be able to get from A to B quite soon. Using the Garmin GPS system allows you to see a purple flight path on the display which makes it much easier to know which direction to fly in. By selecting IFR [Instrument Flight Rules] you can use ATC [Air Traffic Control] and they basically guide you by giving instructions as to the altitude you are permitted to fly at but most importantly they will give you headings at appropriate times to vector you in to the destination airport such as "Turn left heading 265" or "Please expedite your climb to 6000ft". When approaching an airport the ATC will inform you to report the airport in sight and from there on you can line up and land your craft.

It does take some time to get with it but be patient and start with small distances and you'll be flying the Airbus from Heathrow to Milan in no time.

TC1 · 27 Mar 2007 at 18:52

Thanks. I will try that.

Supertaff · 28 Mar 2007 at 13:52

Hi TC1

In answer to your question.

In Fs2004 you could press 'W' to clear the screen of all thngs except important instruments. Can't do this in X. Why?

W will still work to reduce the clutter on the screen but you need to go out of 3d cockpit view into 2d cockpit view, F10 is my memory serves me correctly (can't try it as at work). If not try F11. Once your in 2d view you'll be able to press W, to reduce the clutter.

Taff

madmaxx · 28 Mar 2007 at 23:38

Supertaff said:
Hi TC1

W will still work to reduce the clutter on the screen but you need to go out of 3d cockpit view into 2d cockpit view, F10 is my memory serves me correctly (can't try it as at work). If not try F11. Once your in 2d view you'll be able to press W, to reduce the clutter.

Taff

Try here for an article which gives a pretty good overview of the keyboard shortcuts to control the view modes, cockpit etc.

LEUVEN · 1 Apr 2007 at 15:16

This addon scenery and traffic looks interesting :cool:

(and expensive when it starts to add up :eek:

),
As I will probably wait for the VFR Real scenery to be released I wonder if anyone could tell me what sort of differences there are between:

Traffic - by Just flight
and
MyTraffic - by Aerosoft

Cheers.

Ed · 1 Apr 2007 at 17:20

LEUVEN said:
This addon scenery and traffic looks interesting (and expensive when it starts to add up )

It is expensive as video game addons go but when I think about the amount some of my mates spend of cigarettes it's a relative bargain. It really does make a big difference to the game though.

LEUVEN said:
As I will probably wait for the VFR Real scenery to be released I wonder if anyone could tell me what sort of differences there are between:

Traffic - by Just flight
and
MyTraffic - by Aerosoft

I've got My Traffic X from Aerosoft and it's great. There is so much traffic and communication going on that when in crowded airspace it can become difficult to communicate with Air Traffic Control.

As for Just Flight's Traffic X I've had a quick read up and it sounds like there is not much more in the way of air traffic [a good thing] but far more customisation of the types of traffic [a great thing], on the face of it a superior product to Aerosofts. However, there's enough bloggers out there comparing addons to do a proper review in good time and if it's justifiable, I'll eBay My Traffic X and get the Just Flight version.

A brief write up can be read at Fly Away Simulation.

TC1 · 2 Apr 2007 at 11:08

I planned a route. Had Air traffic to direct me to area but i could not find the Airport!! I am rubbish at Navigation!!

Ed · 2 Apr 2007 at 19:01

TC1 said:
I planned a route. Had Air traffic to direct me to area but i could not find the Airport!! I am rubbish at Navigation!!

There's two things you can do from here.

If you're using the Garmin GPS you can visually see where the flight path ends and locate the airport from there.
The localizer is a gauge facility that helps you to line up the plane with the runway. ATC will vector you in until you pick up the localizer.

I'll post some pics shortly so you can see what I mean.

Ed · 2 Apr 2007 at 20:22

spinneR~uk said:
I'll post some pics shortly so you can see what I mean.

Select an aircraft that uses the Garmin GPS such as the Beechcraft Baron 58 G1000 Glass Cockpit.

View the image below as I've added a few pointers that should help you understand what the displays are saying when you follow an IFR flight plan.

[Click to enlarge]

Edit: The above displays should be able to guide you in without actually being able to see the airport and it's fairly routine when pilots have to land in adverse weather conditions which means you don't see the airport until you're a few hundred yards away. The problem is that sometimes ATC will take you away from the flight path and it can get disorientating but the vectors they provide are good enough for you to have an idea of how to locate the airport.

Once you master the Garmin GPS system, try locating airports using glidescopes and localizers on older aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or non Garmin Beechcraft. You'll probably need to go through the Learning Centre to find out more about how to navigate with these craft.

Good luck!

LEUVEN · 2 Apr 2007 at 22:17

spinneR~uk said:
It is expensive as video game addons go but when I think about the amount some of my mates spend of cigarettes it's a relative bargain. It really does make a big difference to the game though.

I've got My Traffic X from Aerosoft and it's great. There is so much traffic and communication going on that when in crowded airspace it can become difficult to communicate with Air Traffic Control.

As for Just Flight's Traffic X I've had a quick read up and it sounds like there is not much more in the way of air traffic [a good thing] but far more customisation of the types of traffic [a great thing], on the face of it a superior product to Aerosofts. However, there's enough bloggers out there comparing addons to do a proper review in good time and if it's justifiable, I'll eBay My Traffic X and get the Just Flight version.

A brief write up can be read at Fly Away Simulation.

Thanks, I have ordered Traffic X, FS Global 2008, World landscapes and VFR Real Scenery.

Please don't pos any more pictures of your addons as I'll end up buying them. :rolleyes:

ChrisJSY · 2 Apr 2007 at 23:54

I still get a little confused at to why they tell me to climb/descend in numerical, then tell me "Climb and maintain FL210".

I realise you need to check your flight book/planner and check all the waypoints to tell you, but why they have to change between actual altitude and FLXXX numbers, well... who knows.

Im right now doing a flight from stansted to oslo, which I will be taking with 5 other friends on wed morning for The Gathering 07'. ;D

All without a joystick because i didn't take it with me to the UK where I am right now >_< gah!
I'm pretty good at landing, never tried with just a keyboard tho, might try the mouse yoke but it seems icky.

Ed · 3 Apr 2007 at 08:10

LEUVEN said:
Thanks, I have ordered Traffic X, FS Global 2008, World landscapes and VFR Real Scenery.

Please don't pos any more pictures of your addons as I'll end up buying them.

With that tasty lot you'll have to post some screenshots yourself. Perhaps we can have a screenshot fight? There's so much coming out that bolts onto FSX that it's important we figure which is best for the good of the OcUK public.

Ed · 3 Apr 2007 at 08:12

ChrisJSY said:
I still get a little confused at to why they tell me to climb/descend in numerical, then tell me "Climb and maintain FL210".

I realise you need to check your flight book/planner and check all the waypoints to tell you, but why they have to change between actual altitude and FLXXX numbers, well... who knows.

Im right now doing a flight from stansted to oslo, which I will be taking with 5 other friends on wed morning for The Gathering 07'. ;D

All without a joystick because i didn't take it with me to the UK where I am right now >_< gah!
I'm pretty good at landing, never tried with just a keyboard tho, might try the mouse yoke but it seems icky.

To land using the keyboard, try using trim to get the smoothest landing. As for 3,500ft and FL270, it's shorthand for talking about altitude when above 10,000ft. FL stands for Flight Level, FL270 relates to 27,000ft, FL100 would be 10,000ft and so on.

TC1 · 3 Apr 2007 at 08:46

Great help Spinner. Cheers

ChrisJSY · 3 Apr 2007 at 18:23

spinneR~uk said:
To land using the keyboard, try using trim to get the smoothest landing. As for 3,500ft and FL270, it's shorthand for talking about altitude when above 10,000ft. FL stands for Flight Level, FL270 relates to 27,000ft, FL100 would be 10,000ft and so on.

Thanks man