More flight simulator stuff

[ryoder]

I can now fly hands off the mouse for the most part.

I just bought the Saitek radio panel and switch panel. This allows me to tune com, nav, transponder, adf, put the gear down, engage magnetos, landing light, pitot heat, etc without using the mouse.

That is great for vfr but I'm practicing IFR. To get a clearance I had to interact with atc via keyboard.

So I bought VoxATC, an updated ATC that supports sids, stars, and voice recognition.

Now I can file my flight plan with the keyboard and talk to Unicom to takeoff, switch to approach and get vectors to the next airport for an approach. I can even ask for the full approach if I want. All without touching the keyboard or mouse.

I don't have a ton of time in it yet but it should help me learn the system. The controllers use standard phraseology and expect me to as well.

How do I move this topic to miscellaneous?

[Oscar Avalle]

What joke and rudder do you use? Saitek too?

[ryoder]

All Saitek but the Cessna branded Saitek yoke and rudder. It's nicer than the regular one with a metal shaft and accurate movement.

[podair]

what software do you use? Xplane or FSX? I assuming not Flight Simulator II !

Just tried Xplane with a very expensive force feeback yoke. Amazing. Much much better.

[Danb]

cool i use the same rudder control with my redbird j and have a setup from the simulator to one of my iPads to do the approaches from fore flight or jeepesen...they are making these tools amazing being able to practice in the comfort of your home...

[romair]

what software do you use? Xplane or FSX? I assuming not Flight Simulator II !

Just tried Xplane with a very expensive force feeback yoke. Amazing. Much much better.

Which yoke are you using?

To add to the simulator experience, consider the flight1 GTN simulator. It is awesome. Also, fsx can integrate with foreflight. Remote flight hd allows you to use an iPad for better viewing of your gauges. Finally I also recommend trackr IR for an easier way to orient yourself when flying.

[ryoder]

172 gagues with my Carenado 172 at kzph. I want a Mooney cluster or at least a 182. Asked the developer.

[romair]

what are you running to see the gauges on the ipad?

[bonal]

Man that's an impressive set up, does it have a sim for comm with ATC

[ryoder]

what are you running to see the gauges on the ipad?

It's an iPad app. Go to the App Store and search for fsx gauges. It's a 172 panel and I asked the devs for a 182 to get manifold pressure. It connects over wifi to a service on the pc.

[ryoder]

Man that's an impressive set up, does it have a sim for comm with ATC

Yes. VoxATC is an add on that allows you to click the push to talk on the yoke and talk to atc directly. I literally have to read back clearances and instructions when being vectored. I'll try to take a video of it some day. It's not perfect but much better than clicking menus.

[carusoam]

There seems to be a similar group of ATC folks interested in practicing com skills...

Best regards,

-a-

[cliffy]

Had a friend (passed away now) who flew round the world on PC stuff in real time weather at real airports in B17s to 747s with real time ATC from guys all over the world practicing ATC skills. He flew twice around the world in an F-104. The aircraft modeling was very realistic. Could "look" around the cockpit to see all the controls. Every switch and gauge worked.

[ryoder]

All my gauges and switches work too. It's the Carenado 201 which is pretty realistic inside. Flight wise it's ok. My C pitches down when adding flaps but this one doesn't. I assume the J does too.

[Raptor05121]

Had a friend (passed away now) who flew round the world on PC stuff in real time weather at real airports in B17s to 747s with real time ATC from guys all over the world practicing ATC skills. He flew twice around the world in an F-104. The aircraft modeling was very realistic. Could "look" around the cockpit to see all the controls. Every switch and gauge worked.

This is what I do. I fly using VATSIM, both as a controller and a pilot. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,000 hours since I started flying FS98 many moons ago. I don't fly anything bigger than a DC-3. Cessna 337s, Mooney, A2A's fantastic Cherokee 180, etc. I've got head tracking software so when I turn I can see out towards the wing or get close to my monitor and "Zoom in" on the dials, switches, etc. I'm also using Lockheed Martin's Prepar3d, which is a buffed up version of FSX.

[bradp]

www.pilotedge.net Keith Smith - who runs this site - is a good guy and an experienced pilot. Like VATSIM in that it simulates real time ATC with actual humans but much more professional. It's being used by hobbyists, training programs and professionals alike to integrate flying "in the system". Good stuff. . http://www.flyingmag.com/blogs/fly-wire/real-atc-pc-pilots

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Will W]

This is a great discussion to see in aviation communities.  I think that flying no VATSIM or Pilot Edge both allow you to make mistakes as we are "Shaking off the cobwebs" and really keeps us proficient for a much cheaper cost.  I wish more pilots explored the home flight simulator equipment.  Unfortunately, most the flight students walking into my flight school are always pushing the 6 approaches in 6 months with nothing to keep their head in the game when they aren't at the airport.

 

I love going on VATSIM and finding hard IFR weather in the USA and doing a few approaches every week.  It's great for proficiency.