Microsoft Flight Simulator Discussion

[pcfan123]

Figured I'd start a thread, since I have many questions and there are some sim enthusiasts here.

Quick question about the 737.

What is the optimum takeoff and cruising speed? I manage to take off but before I even reach 10,000 ft it says "overspeed" and I lose control of the plane.

I also just got a joystick, Logitech 3d so hopefully my flying will be less choppy.

 

[Covvy]

Don't know about that 737 question Mark, but a joystick does help a lot.

Haven't played 2002 in ages. Might start playing again.

 

[pcfan123]

Joystick is brilliat, the look around with the Hat switch alone makes it a better game.

Going to try to do a proper flight now, taxiing and everything.

 

[pcfan123]

First flight using joystick. My flight paths are so much smoother

Flight went rather well, good take-off, maintained the recommended altitude and did all the proper Air Traffic protocol.

Only thing dodgy was my approach to the landing, I set myself up for the wrong runway, when ATC tried to confirm I realized at the last minute I was approaching the wrong runway and had to alter course. Thus the chaos at the end but I had slowed down so much that the landing was a breeze.

Oh and progressive taxi ftw! I actually know where I am going in the airports now.

 

[mattfb]

Worth buying? Always been tempted

 

[hedger_14]

I'm sure I had this game somewhere but I've never played it. I might try and have a look around for it. I'm sure I've got it.

 

[Dutch]

Going massively against my own rules I have decided to stick my nose in here just once as the thought of Mark at his desktop with an out of control 737 is just too good to be true! You can set up the take off and TOGA button near the throttle. You put your weight into the FMC when planning a flight and it will automatically compute the neccessary speeds called V1, V2 etctera. Flightsim is very complicated, as is flying a real airplane. There are different call outs at 80 knots and rotation speed (ie lifting the nose) usually around 126 knots and take off at 140. But as I say you can programme the differnet speeds into the autopilot as you want to be getting a thrust of over 80 procent maximum thrust. Once you are at cruising speed you can back off as the air resistance is less. You can follow the various lessons and they will lead you up to these more complicated areas. there are some beautiful add-ons out there particularly from PMDG; there 747 and 737 are absolutely stunningly realistic but takes patience to learn to fly properly. Good luck Mark and hello to all! I am doing well and enjoying my life. Busy as heck but hopefully when the Ashes are in full swing I will have some time to get back on here every now and then. Cheers.

Dutchad

 

[pcfan123]

Going massively against my own rules I have decided to stick my nose in here just once as the thought of Mark at his desktop with an out of control 737 is just too good to be true! You can set up the take off and TOGA button near the throttle. You put your weight into the FMC when planning a flight and it will automatically compute the neccessary speeds called V1, V2 etctera. Flightsim is very complicated, as is flying a real airplane. There are different call outs at 80 knots and rotation speed (ie lifting the nose) usually around 126 knots and take off at 140. But as I say you can programme the differnet speeds into the autopilot as you want to be getting a thrust of over 80 procent maximum thrust. Once you are at cruising speed you can back off as the air resistance is less. You can follow the various lessons and they will lead you up to these more complicated areas. there are some beautiful add-ons out there particularly from PMDG; there 747 and 737 are absolutely stunningly realistic but takes patience to learn to fly properly. Good luck Mark and hello to all! I am doing well and enjoying my life. Busy as heck but hopefully when the Ashes are in full swing I will have some time to get back on here every now and then. Cheers.

Dutchad

Bloody hell that is the best bit of news forum has heard in a while!

and after reading that post I have decided to stick to my single engine Cessna until I perfect the basics

Will try jets after I pass all the flight lessons, I had a peek and the jets look too complicated, spent 30 minutes trying to figure out what ILS is :laugh

Have some genuine questions, will post them when Im more awake (9am here)

 

[themuel1]

First flight using joystick. My flight paths are so much smoother

Flight went rather well, good take-off, maintained the recommended altitude and did all the proper Air Traffic protocol.

Only thing dodgy was my approach to the landing, I set myself up for the wrong runway, when ATC tried to confirm I realized at the last minute I was approaching the wrong runway and had to alter course. Thus the chaos at the end but I had slowed down so much that the landing was a breeze.

Oh and progressive taxi ftw! I actually know where I am going in the airports now.

Approaches are tricky. The best way of descending when starting from a distance out from the airport which is 3x your altitude. E.g. If your at 30000ft start to descend at 90nm out from the airport.

Optimum takeoff speed is 145-155 for the 737, with flaps at 5. Though, if the runway is shorter, extend flaps further and the speed will be reduced. As for the runways - check on gps. Type in the airport code e.g. Gatwick is EGKK and there will be a map of the airport and frequencies for tower etc.

Play about with the gps. It's got a hell of a lot of things in it. You can pick from about 10 different approaches into each airport for instance.

When your planning your flight you can move your waypoints by dragging, so you can set an ideal approach into the active runway. Another tip - Try an ILS Flight. ATC guide you through everything. You'll learn a lot about approaches etc.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Going massively against my own rules I have decided to stick my nose in here just once as the thought of Mark at his desktop with an out of control 737 is just too good to be true! You can set up the take off and TOGA button near the throttle. You put your weight into the FMC when planning a flight and it will automatically compute the neccessary speeds called V1, V2 etctera. Flightsim is very complicated, as is flying a real airplane. There are different call outs at 80 knots and rotation speed (ie lifting the nose) usually around 126 knots and take off at 140. But as I say you can programme the differnet speeds into the autopilot as you want to be getting a thrust of over 80 procent maximum thrust. Once you are at cruising speed you can back off as the air resistance is less. You can follow the various lessons and they will lead you up to these more complicated areas. there are some beautiful add-ons out there particularly from PMDG; there 747 and 737 are absolutely stunningly realistic but takes patience to learn to fly properly. Good luck Mark and hello to all! I am doing well and enjoying my life. Busy as heck but hopefully when the Ashes are in full swing I will have some time to get back on here every now and then. Cheers.

Dutchad

Hi Dutch, long time no 'see'!

Shame the Flight Sim serious came to an end - they were actually thinking of finally implementing a proper career mode in FS 11 (!), but it never materialised - typical; as soon as the one feature the game has been crying out for finally emerges, the rug is pulled out from under them. There might be some light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of these guys:

Cascade Game Foundry

I think they've been formed from members of the Aces team.

They don't seem to have updated for a while, but then again if they're busy on a MS style Flight Sim, they might not have too much time to update.

 

[themuel1]

Hi Dutch, long time no 'see'!

Shame the Flight Sim serious came to an end - they were actually thinking of finally implementing a proper career mode in FS 11 (!), but it never materialised - typical; as soon as the one feature the game has been crying out for finally emerges, the rug is pulled out from under them. There might be some light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of these guys:

Cascade Game Foundry

I think they've been formed from members of the Aces team.

They don't seem to have updated for a while, but then again if they're busy on a MS style Flight Sim, they might not have too much time to update.

Microsoft flight out in the next two years bud - http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Microsoft flight out in the next two years bud - http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/

Ah! Good news - let's hope they include a career option and not force you to buy a third party add on, eh?

 

[pcfan123]

A few quick questions:

1) How do I read headings on the flight planner? If I want to know what heading a particular airport is in, how do I tell?

2) What are some good areas to fly around in? Im bored of Texas, its just flat plains and by the time my plane gets out of the state, its out of gas.



Still yet to try jets. Im too afraid :laugh

 

[themuel1]

A few quick questions:

1) How do I read headings on the flight planner? If I want to know what heading a particular airport is in, how do I tell?

2) What are some good areas to fly around in? Im bored of Texas, its just flat plains and by the time my plane gets out of the state, its out of gas.



Still yet to try jets. Im too afraid :laugh

1) In flight planner choose "nav log" has a heading in there. Failing that use the GPS.

2) Try the Caribbean islands - doing shorts hops - Good scenery, lots of take off and landing practice too. There were some missions on 2004 I believe which had mountainous airports which were fun.

 

[pcfan123]

I'm staying far away from the mountains. Tried flying a few times and even though the altimeter said I was 5000 feet up, I still crashed into the ground

Do you have to reset the altimeter? If so how do you do it and how often do you have to do it?