I have included the photo's of products above and the links in the text by way of recommendation. |
This page is aimed at introducing you to flight simulation and hopefully to enthuse you to want to try it out for yourself. It's not going to be a definitive site for experienced simmers for that you need the wonderful FlightSimX website which is my first port of call to check for the latest news and reviews. | ||
|
Flight Simulators are not games, they are in the fullest sense simulators. The most fulfilling part of flight simulation for me is the learning and the sense of achievement when you bring what you've learnt into play. If you want to jump in a plane and fly around until you get bored (there's no bombing or shooting involved) then you can but you'll be missing out on so much more. The only downside is that as you get absorbed into simming things can get expensive. Once you've used the default aircraft to get used to airfield etiquette, learning the basics of flight dynamics, performance differences and navigation, you'll more than likely want to start introducing aircraft that are more realistically modelled internally and externally so you can learn how to operate the planes exactly as real world pilots do from pre-flight routines through to post flight routines and everything in-between. You may want to purchase additional software to enhance your virtual world, adding traffic to your skies and airports, improving the detail of ground terrain, making the sky and water look and behave with more realism. You'll need a joystick to start with but there's an astounding range of hardware to bring additional realism to the hobby from yolks, throttle quadrants and peddles to entire fully functional cockpits. You might end up wanting to have a go at piloting a real aircraft at your local flying school, buying yourself an airband scanner and hanging round your local airfield. So with flight simulation you never know where you'll end up (literally) but chances are you'll enjoy yourself thoroughly (even if your wallet is that bit lighter). |
|||
| The most popular flight simulator is made by Microsoft who recently released Flight Simulator X (FSX) which superseded Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9) which however is still very much alive and well with a large active user base. Which version is right for you would depend a lot on your computer specification, Microsoft have released a patch for FSX that improves performance however your enjoyment of FSX will be determined by your computers ability to run it at a reasonable pace with a level of detail to make it visually appealing. The best bet would be to download the demo version of FSX and if you're happy with how your computer runs it then purchase the full version, alternatively FS9 offers almost as much visually as FSX but is much less computer dependant, in terms of actually simulating flight you will notice no difference. | |||
| Once you've got your flight simulator software loaded there are lots of tutorials and introductory flights included with FS9 and FSX, both have an interactive "flying school" and missions that let you put your new skills to the test. The first real challenge is mastering successful landings, perhaps you'll want to go for a flight around your local area, taking off from your local airfield and seeing the sights, landing and parking up. Once you're happy with these basics I'd recommend making your first payware purchase of a Cessna 152 or 172, the most common aircraft used for pilot training, recommended are Flight1's Cessna 172R or if you're on a budget JustFlight's Flying Club X which includes a Cessna 152 along with a selection of other aircraft found at training schools. Set Flight Simulator so that your aircraft starts in a cold & dark state and use the documentation provided with your software to start, fly, land and park your aircraft using the correct procedures. If you haven't done so already the next thing to master is navigation by VOR and landing by ILS using your radio stack, a real thrill when you've worked out how to do these. Once you can fully operate your training aircraft including the radio stacks and auto-pilot then it's time to move on and progress up the hierarchy to the 'heavies' like the 747. Just like real world pilots it's good to get experience in a variety of aircraft, your next step could be a piston engined twin such as the Piper Seneca included in FlyingClub X, then perhaps a twin turboprop like a KingAir B200 with its more advanced engines, after which a twin engined private jet like Eaglesofts Cessna Citation II at which point you'll need to start learning about the advanced Flight Management Systems incorporated into modern jets and then you are ready to move on to the Boeings perhaps a 737, followed by a 767 and finally the 747. All the time making sure you start your flights cold and dark so you know all the controls and instruments, what they do and when to use them. | |||
|
Typical Flight Simulator Add-On Aircraft - Working your way up the ladder |
|||
 |
This is the 2 seater
Cessna 152 From
JustFlights Flying
Club X. A typical starter aircraft for learning the ropes and for taking
your Private Pilot's License (PPL). Click on the flight cabin to get a picture of
the controls or anywhere else on the picture for a full screen preview. This picture was taken in Flight Simulator X, off the coast near Dover with the sun coming down. |
||
 |
This is the 6 seat
Piper Seneca also from
JustFlights Flying
Club X. Once you've taken and passed your PPL the next step will be your
commercial license. A lot of your tuition will now be in twin engined
propeller driven aircraft such as this one. Again click on the flight cabin
to get a picture of cockpit or anywhere else on the picture for a full
screen preview. This pictures is taken with Uluru (Ayer's Rock) in the background.
|
||
 |
Once you've got your
commercial license you'll probably want to do some time in corporate light
jets such as this Cessna Citation from
Eaglesoft
before moving on a step further to the heavier airliners. Again click
on the flight cabin to get a picture of cockpit or anywhere else on the
picture for a full screen preview. This is a picture of the jet at Montego Bay, Jamaica, parked up and ready for boarding. |
||
|
|
After putting some time into flying the smaller jets it's time to step up to the airliners. This is the default Boeing 737 from FSX flying over Paris in the winter. Once again to get a picture of the cockpit click on the front section of the aircraft, clicking anywhere else will give you a full screen preview of this screenshot. | ||
|
|
Possibly the last word in airline piloting is flying the mighty Boeing 747. Again this is the default FSX model in Pacific Airlines livery. This is a dusk flight from New York. You know the drill by now, to get a picture of the cockpit click on the front section of the aircraft, clicking anywhere else will give you a full screen preview of this screenshot. | ||
| Like a real world pilot it's going to take you years of learning and practising to fully master the intricate systems of a multi-engined jet airliner but if you should ever reach that stage have you done? Nope, how about learning to fly helicopters, a whole new ballgame, or what about experiencing the speed and exhilaration of flying military jets. I haven't touched on the multiplayer aspects of FSX which enable you to fly with other simulator pilots. How about teaching beginners the ropes, sitting in the co-pilots seat whilst you both have control of the plane, talking them through each procedure and manoeuvre? Fancy being a member of an aerobatic team with a dozen other pilots recording your displays and publishing them on the internet? How about taking a turn at Air Traffic Control, controlling the airways for dozens of simulator pilots as they replicate real-world airline flights in the skies above you? This is a hobby that is as rewarding as it is never-ending, I hope you feel motivated enough to give it a try. Clear skies and good flying. | |||
|
FlightSimX Feed |
|||
|
|
