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27/06/2007, 7:51 PM puff o'wind Joined on 08/02/2007 Posts 179 Which flight sim?? Having assiduously avoided all forms of flight sim for ever (except my kid's PS2 where I can get to be American and kill stuff) I now feel there is a need for one here. Why? because every six months I have to haul my A320 round a flipping NDB hold and approach and to be honest, it kills my brain.  It MUST pay me to buy a sim, load an A320 model into it and practice every now and then!   So, Flight Sim buffs...which one? I have zero intention of flying along pretending to be crossing the Alps and none at all of practicising my landings in a Warrior -  but i do want to down load the A320 screen shots and read the NDB needles from them.  Essentially then it'll be an IR procedural trainer. If I need to upgrade my PC to run stuff I will (don't ask what I have now, I have no idea. It's grey and it goes "whirrrr")   Any ideas?   David    Report

28/06/2007, 8:23 AM grobflyer Joined on 18/04/2007 Posts 98 Re: Which flight sim?? Hmm. Most of the dedicated IFR flight sims don't have airliners on them and little or no support from addon producers. It's far from ideal, I know, but Microsoft Flight Simulator has a worldwide navaid database, can produce good IMC, and has reasonably good flight models. With it you can fly an NDB hold in an airliner which might not fly quite right (I quote from Pilot's flightsim correspondant 'Airliners in FS2004 are little better than arcade simulations') but you can get better addons. Far from ideal, but better than nothing! A. 'Flying is really the art of throwing yourself at the ground and missing' (Douglas Adams).    Report

28/06/2007, 1:53 PM puff o'wind Joined on 08/02/2007 Posts 179 Re: Which flight sim?? Thanks mate.  I have also seen Elite flight sim, but thats probably more sim than I need for what I want!   David    Report

17/07/2007, 5:47 PM TomMc Joined on 17/07/2007 Posts 2 Re: Which flight sim?? I've got an older copy of IFT-PRO which is a very accurate IFR training sim.  There is no scenery whatsoever - just green grass and runways (in the correct places).  You can accept their standard aircraft - or swap instrument fits to practice on a fit that is the same as in your own plane.  The wheather is not very realistic.  It is either grey (in cloud), grey with rain, or blue sky - and the switch over is instant.  (No gradual darkening /r getting lighter as in real life.  If you are happy with this - its very good value.   MS Flight Sim - slight less accuurate aircraft modeling, has excellent scenery and even better photographic add on scenery that does allow VFR flying (yes you can recognise the landmarks, towns, villages road / rail junctions etc etc - all look exactly as they do from 2000ft.  I can even identify my own house).  It is ok as an IFR procedural trainer - and you can call up a Garmin 430 if you need to.  The weather is also very realistic - with fluffy clouds that you can see through , and options to set whatever you need.   Tom      Report

05/09/2007, 1:09 PM grobflyer Joined on 18/04/2007 Posts 98 Re: Which flight sim?? Had a look at my copy of FS2004 and saw that it has a full Jeppesen approaches database which can be accessed through the GPS or FMS. It also includes holding patterns. AL   P.S. Saw what looked like a letter from you in Pilot, Mr. Perry... 'Flying is really the art of throwing yourself at the ground and missing' (Douglas Adams).    Report

05/09/2007, 6:53 PM puff o'wind Joined on 08/02/2007 Posts 179 Re: Which flight sim?? Thats me!   D    Report

22/11/2007, 8:23 AM grobflyer Joined on 18/04/2007 Posts 98 Re: Which flight sim?? Did you have any luck with the sims in the end David? 'Flying is really the art of throwing yourself at the ground and missing' (Douglas Adams).    Report

27/11/2007, 9:09 PM puff o'wind Joined on 08/02/2007 Posts 179 Re: Which flight sim?? Sort of, bought the FS2004 which the kids love but it IS a game. Also got the CH pedals (good) and the Ch yoke (not good). the yoke needs fettling to make it slippy, still very sticky and therefore not useable for real sessions. But the kids love it.   Ineed to fettle that yoke then try again. D    Report

28/11/2007, 8:28 AM grobflyer Joined on 18/04/2007 Posts 98 Re: Which flight sim?? Yes, essentially it is a game, but if you turn all the flashy graphics off, put yourself in one of the airliners in heavy cloud, and try to fly that NDB hold then it could start to resemble a game less and a training program more! All I can say is that both in terms of simulated avionics and flight characeristics is is miles ahead if  ASAs 'On Top' (a dedicated IFR trainer costing about £100). Probably as an ATPL there is only so far home computer sim can take you vis. not very! Sorry if i've caused you to waste money on a useless sim; all I can say is that a lot of people do find it useful for IFR training, as Pilot's sim correspondant will testify! 'Flying is really the art of throwing yourself at the ground and missing' (Douglas Adams).    Report

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