The good news is:  FS9 is a TREMENDOUS tool for learning VORs and VOR navigation..

It's kinda counter-intuitive at first but you'll catch on quick.

Just think of the VOR station as a point that has 360 roads leading straight out. With the OBS knob.. you choose the road (radial) that interests you and the CDI needle tells you were you are relative to that radial. The to/from arrow tells you  that if you were on that radial and flew that heading whether you'd be going to or from the station.

OR...  You can spin the OBS until the CDI centers to find out which radial you're on at that moment.

Check out this link.. it's for "Simulator navigation", but trust me.. it applies to real VOR use too.

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm

I couldn't wrap my head around it either untill I got a sectional chart. If you have access to one, then use it to plan a flight with a VOR. For me, it's just one of those things, I don't know why I couldn't understand it before, and I can't explain it now that I do.

Check your e-mail at hotmail. I have sent you a step by step detailed account of what you are wanting to see and accomplish when using a VOR and the indicators. Everyone who has come to me with this problem has read this "lesson" on paper and done it once in the airplane and never had problems again.

A lot of instructors and a lot of students make this harder than it has to be. It is important to understand VORs as they are the back bone of the airway system. with practice , patience and PROPER GUIDANCE you will get it down expertly.

I hope the e mail helps you out. You might even print it and try it on the flight simulator. if so make sure you are a good 20 miles or so from your favorite VOR. (for the sake of practice.)

I hope it helps you out
Good Luck!

This is where terminology gets tricky. Rotty's right in that chasing needles (especiallly when you're near the VOR .. or .. Flying an  ILS (which is a hyper-sensitive VOR with one radial only (runway heading))) is bad practice and can have you zig-zaging.. But, in reality you do chase the needle.. as in, a right-of-center deflection does not mean that YOU'RE right of course.. it means you need to TURN  to the right of the OBS setting to intercept the course. To what degree you "chase" that needle depends on how far it's deflected. Each dot of deflection represents two degrees. If you've dialed in 090 and are flying TO the station and the CDI is two dots to the right it means that you're on the 094 radial .. and you need to not only turn to the right of 090, but even to the right of 094 (a 094 course at that instant would take you straight to the station on the 094 radial) to intercept the 090 radial.

I'm stealing and modifying Mobius' artwork here (hope you don't mind)...



Note the two dot deflection on the CDI represents a 4 degree radial difference. You can confirm this by turning the OBS to 094 and see that the needle will center.

Flying FROM a VOR.. everything is just mirror imaged..

OK.. now that you're head's exploding go fly the Sim 

Excellent points.. all this no wind theory is good for forums.. but there's always wind.. especially aloft.. And it's GOOD habits to VOR navigate like it's IFR.. even if you're flying VFR. DO NOT fly by the VOR.. fly your primary instruments or you will end up chasing that needle (probably in circles ..lol..)

Quote:


Certain VOR approaches have, as part of their "procedure", depending on which heading you're coming in , something called a DME-ARC. It's where you fly part of a circle at an exact radius from the VOR.. before turning runway heading.