JimPhelps, the historical flights are 'scenarios' - the people who set them up included all sorts of difficult weather conditions etc. You have to 'build up' to them! The DC3 Alaska scenarios in particular are just about 'suicidal' at first!

The magic word about turns, wind, etc. is 'coordination.' Part of the charm of FS9 is that it's quite realistic; turns and things (particularly in windy conditions) require quite precise coordination of rudder and bank angle inputs to get them right. In addition, some of the 'ready-made scenarios' are extremely challenging - the creators put in all sorts of challenging weather conditions etc.

My advice is, fly 'ordinary' aeroplanes while setting increasingly-challenging wind/weather conditions - and, above all, get into the habit of looking ahead at where the aeroplane is GOING (in both directions) rather than just moving the controls. It really IS different to driving a car!

Further, though, try some of the less challenging scenarios first - the round-Hawaii one is a doddle compared to the DC3-Alaska one. I'm sure that you'll soon get the hang of things with practice.

As to the 'newer version,' IMO it's a backward step. They seem solely to have addressed improved scenery etc. - as far as the sim model was concerned, they seem to have taken a number of 'backward steps' - particularly more or less making the 'Virtual Cockpit' the default, it's hard enough flying any aeroplane (real or virtual) without having to click blasted buttons to see the particular instrument you need information from........

In case it helps, also have a look at this. It seems to have attracted quite a few views in its time; and I hope that it also 'gets over,' to some extent, the difference between controlling an aeroplane in three dimensions as opposed to a car in (hopefully!) only two.......

http://205.252.250.26/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=COF;action=display;num=1111322...
 

Nav wrote on Jul 10^th, 2010 at 12:11pm:


Now, now, don't just go makin' stuff up there, old timer....

JimPhelps wrote on Jul 10^th, 2010 at 10:29pm:


Jim,

If you want a real shocker....... stop down in the "Homebuild Cockpits" section of the SimV forum for the real "best possible" out of the sim department.    (My signature picure is shot in my simpit.)

Yes, you can assign anything you want to the buttons.... although that would be difficult to actually use, I think. Probably best to use the sim's "auto-coordinate" feature for a while.

You can MAKE a set of pedals yourself out of an old joystick.  If you have time and not moeny. and the hand skills and tools, then this is an option.  See the homebuild section for ideas.  If you are willing to go without toe brakes on the pedals....it is not hard at all.

best,

.................john

I have to say that is a hell of a set up you have there JBaymore.  I'm jealous like you don't know how. Wish I had the money and know how to do that. I did think of another question about that CH control yoke--does it have force feedback? Say your in choppy weather in a Cessina using that yoke, you'll feel the wind jerking the yoke and the plane around? I just about have enough money to get it and didn't see that in any of the descriptions about it.

And I just wanted to make sure of this: the multiplayer function in 2004 is shut off since FSX is out, right? I am usually a console gamer and I used to always thought PCs had an advantage over consoles that when a server got shut down for a game there was ways to keep playing online.

Jim,

No, no force feedback on any Commercial yoke that I know of.  There have been some people in the simpit community that have modified them for that aspect...... but it is a bear of a project.  It is pretty easy to add a "stick shaker" for simpit use (standard stall warning) ...... but the multi axis force feedback is complicated.

best,

...............john

Aww man? No force feedback? Nuts. I thought with the rumble paks and controller vibration in the 360 controllers and other consoles, I thought it would be simple to have it on a control yoke. I didn't realize it would be much more complicated.

Multiplayer still works on FS 2004? really? Wow, thats another pleasant surprise. I really thought it didn't work when I would click on multiplayer on the menu and there never was a "Connect" option, just host and join but nothing would happen for me when I tried it and I just assumed the servers were shut off and if I wanted to fly with anyone other than AI I was gonna have to upgrade to FSX.  How exactly does multiplayer work online here? You look out your window, see the other guy...do you need a headset so you can talk to each other or would a camera mic work? Text window chat? Do you just fly like normal or do you have to have Flight Plans? Please forgive me, my only experience online has usually been team based combat (shooter and flyer) or sport games.



I have another question about Virtual Cockpits. I watched a few videos on Youtube and it showed people being able to look around their virtual cockpit with the mouse so it was like you were moving your head. Whenever I try to do it, the only way I can look around the VC is by pushing 1,4,7,8,9,6,3,2 on the number pad and its a static look so I can't move the view around smoothly and I have to jump-cut views. Is there something Im not doing right? Ive tried to push the mouse scrollwheel and look but that doesn't do anything for me.

JimPhelps wrote on Jul 14^th, 2010 at 7:28pm:


Observe my Post above for FS 2004.....
Once you have connected to Multiplayer in FS 2004, joined, and brought up the Chat Window (Enter) you will see straight away if there is anyone else on line, (They will appear in the window).
If they don't, then there is no one else on line at the moment!
You fly your aircraft just as you would Solo, and if anyone else is on line, and within visible distance to you, then you will see them!
If someone else is on line, you can arrange (via the Chat Window) to meet up with each other at a particular Airfield, assuming both parties are willing!

Don't overcomplicate the system, just fly for fun at first using the Chat Window!

Any additional complication comes much later!

Read the Posts in the Multiplayer Thread below, all your advice can be obtained there!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav...and a default, Cessna 172 Trainer Aircraft.... ...!