I have a few odd Qs about FS4 (fs9, CoF or what ever you call it)

Why is it that no mater what airport I fly into, the ATC says the altimeter is set to 2992?

Why all of a suden is my landing gear not lowering upon aproach (fixed wing or helos)?

Why can't I turn off the text oprtion of the ATC and just listen until I need to respond then toggle it back on for my response? And that does not mean constantly hitting the `key during aproach into a big city.

Why, after buying FS 4 and complaing so much about it (to myself mostly, I have a list a yard long of pety gripes) will I run out and buy the next version knowing good and well that I will have as many yet diffrent bugs?

Happy flying...

Kevin 'Gods I need a better graphic card' McGlothlin
Denver

Quote:

So that explains it......

Go Packer's......

Marc

OK, about the barametric pressuer thing. I am not a pilot so what affect does that have on a landing? Air densety? O2 content?

I understand about the speed too. But I have a Bell 222 that won't do it in a hover. I have to pump them manualy to get them to drop. I may be damaging them the firts time.  I'll look into that.

Thanks,

GO COWBOYS!!!!!


Quote:

Hmmmm

We see postings like this quite often but I don't understand it meself ???

I've never had any problems as such with any of the MS sims I've used in recent years (98, 2002, 2004) but I've always taken great care installing (in locations of my choice, not MS's) and maintaining them. Also making sure aircraft and panels I use are compat with each sim, clearing out clag which I don't use, and preferably not getting it on in the first place by keeping copies of folders that I install into so I can revert back if what I install is rubbish (which quite often it is). Also using sensible kit ie proven graphics cards and such and not just the latest bit of fashionable tin and string that, as is life, often promises so much and delivers so little for quite a few of your hard-earned £/$ etc, plus keeping drivers up to date.

Anyone who has read many of my posts knows that I'm no M$ boot-licker but I suspect that quite a few of the people who complain about problems with graphics and other performance issues don't worry overly much about keeping their PCs in shape in general any way (present company excepted of course ) but as someone in the business I reckon you have to. It's the old saw about 'you look after it and it'll look after you'. When was the last time you gave your PC a good 'overhaul' checked out the disk, integrity of the data, software updates, drivers etc etc. Come on, honestly. I'm just reinstalling my hard drive yet again for about the 4th time in the last 4 weeks because I'm just not happy about one or 2 little things. Experience says if I leave em they'll become big ones.

We hear quite a bit about so-called problems with this and that feature and I always think - OK, then switch it off if you don't like it. Remember you're buying a $50 prog to run on a PC, not a £50million one to run in a 10 acre air conditioned airline training complex. There are quite a few 3D gaming progs out there but not that many that provide a fair representation of real places anywhere in the world, plus allow real time changes like real weather while the prog is running. Also allow you to interface with literally thousands of other events that are also happening in real time (AI traffic) and cope with variations introduced by you, the user eg approaches to any airfield from any direction at any speed and any height and still get it right EVERY time.

I personally think it's bloody clever. If I don't like ATC talking to me, I fly VFR not IFR. But that's how it is in real life. You can't just turn em off.

Anyway, I've had my say so now I'll disappear again for another few weeks. Hope I've stirred up a few grey cells.

If you disagree, say so

Roger

Quote:

It is simply air pressure. The higher up you go the thinner the air gets so there is less pressure. The lower you go the more air there is, so more pressure. 2992 is the airpressure at sea level at any given time. As altimeters work on air pressure they need to know what it is at sea level in order to tell the correct altitude. The air pressure changes according to the weather. Hot weather means low pressure and cold weather means high pressure. O2 content plays no part in it as it is simply air pressure. ATC gives you the airpressure so that you can reconfigure your altimeter to give the correct altitude while on your decent. As the airpressure will undoubtably change with your location, and when your landing you'll want an altimeter that gives you the correct height.

As for water content, that is humidity and something completely different.

As a "real" pilot Icedfoxtrotter, you should have known this.

Think of if it like air in a cube.  The more humidity in the air, the less dense the air is so less air would be in the cube.   If you didn't set your altimeter before a flight then you could potentially slam into the ground, or stall way above the runway if you're flying in IFR conditions.  Both would result in a very bad day.  The air pressure is only always 2992 at 18k, or when it's a "Standard Day" defined by 15 degrees Celsius at sea level.  Another reason ATC gives you the altimeter setting is so that you can both have consistent altitude readings and avoid those pesky midair collisions.

Anyway if you want to be sure you have your altimeter pressure set correctly, just press 'b' once in a while.

http://www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14030/css/14030_44.htm
I think this explains the altimeter issue

Ozzy