Simviation Forum - Absolute noob

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Absolute noob (Read 904 times)

Feb 24^th, 2009 at 9:35pm

addicted_koala Offline
1st Lieutenant
Fly FS

Posts: 2

I got fsx a few months ago and have played around for a while. I have around 50 hours logged on it. So far I can take off, fly, and then land in all the planes, even some ILS landings in the big jets. I'd really like to learn to fly more realistically, and from what I've read, setting the realism settings to "high" won't cut it. I don't know what all this Vx stuff is either, although I know it's an airspeed related to takeoff/landing. I've searched for a while now but can't find anything for absolute beginners at realistic flight. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Sorry for seeming like such an idiot. Embarrassed

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Reply #1 - Feb 24^th, 2009 at 9:41pm

BFMF Offline
Colonel
Pacific Northwest

Gender:
Posts: 19820

Don't worry about it. We were all new at one point. Have you gone through the FS lessons?

I would highly suggest reading through Brett Henderson's basic sim flight training course right here in the flightschool board Wink

COMPLETED: If Anyone Cares, Here's A Map Of My Current FSX Flight Around The World

My Reality Check Bounced

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Reply #2 - Feb 24^th, 2009 at 10:36pm

Mobius Offline
Colonel
Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

Posts: 4369

Right here is a great place to start:

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208113107

Start on part 1 and ask any questions you have right here. Wink

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Reply #3 - Feb 26^th, 2009 at 4:41pm

addicted_koala Offline
1st Lieutenant
Fly FS

Posts: 2

Ok been reading over the tutorials, and I'm going through lesson 2 now. Takeoffs have been going well, but now I'm trying to fly a standard traffic pattern around the airport, and it's proving quite a challenge. I understand what I'm supposed to be doing, but the most difficult thing is going in the right direction! Shocked

What I mean is, when you make a turn, how can you tell if you've turned as much as you need to line up with the runway? When I turn to start the downwind leg, I can't seem to fly parallel (or close to parallel) with the runway, and as a result the base is off and the final is terribly lined up. Are there any tricks, or is this just something I need to practice a lot to figure out? Undecided

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Reply #4 - Feb 26^th, 2009 at 6:18pm

Mobius Offline
Colonel
Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

Posts: 4369

First off start by setting the weather conditions in the simulator so there is no wind at all. If there is wind, it can really complicate things when you're just learning, so leave it off for now.

Also, if you aren't already, start by flying the Cessna 172. It will keep you close to the airport and give you plenty of time to do what you need to.

To get your headings, look at the runway number that you're using or check your heading indicator while you're sitting on the runway. That will tell you which direction you need to be on all the legs of the pattern. For example, if you're using runway 27, your heading will be 270° when you're lined up with the runway and your legs will be flown on headings with a difference of 90° from each other, so, your first heading after turning (for a left-hand traffic pattern), will be 180° on the crosswind leg, next will be 90° on downwind, 360° on the base leg, and back to 270° again on final.

Also, the most helpful thing you can do is take a look at the airport while you're flying. The pattern should be flown so you're around a 1/2 mile from the airport throughout the pattern and you shouldn't be over 1000 feet AGL, so you should have no problem seeing the airport.

I've been planning to make a landing video this weekend, so I'll add a part on how to fly a complete pattern in that one also.

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Reply #5 - Jul 16^th, 2009 at 12:18pm

DenisH Offline
Colonel
Fly FS
ca, usa

Gender:
Posts: 289

For what it's worth, as a total novice to FS I have found Brett Henderson's and other tutorials in this forum inaluable. Another helpful aid is the "How to fly an airplane" booklet put out by the government printing bureau. I guess most of the sim vets in here also know that there's a list of all US and UK airports available on the web giving code designatons, length of runway. lat and longtitude etc . I'll post address in a minute for those who would like them.

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Reply #6 - Jul 16^th, 2009 at 12:20pm