jelloy683

I'm thinking about buying this today, and I was wondering if this really helps out training in IFR conditions, such as flying approaches/working on the scan etc. The flight school that i'm at doesnt offer a sim, and i was wondering if this is a decent equivalent to one.

Also, from the threads i've read before, does this help you prepare well for the airline sim evaluation at all?

Thanks

detpilot

It's good for basic instrument scan. Don't use the default planes though, they fly like crap. I've got a list of a few downloadable ones with glass, and a few with conventional panels that fly smooth enough to actually practice instrument stuff.

WhiteH2O

Unless you already have a good scan, it will most likely help you develop bad habits.

Rocket Bob

If you had a fast computer and a decent joystick, it does an excellent job of speeding up your scan. I bought it for my son, but ended up playing it a lot more due to the complexity of the game. Once you get used to the varying views, systems, etc., I just use the snapshot to set me up outside FAF's and fly approaches. I think there are 24000 airports in the sytem with all of the associated plates, huge program.

jelloy683

Thanks for your answers

Does anybody have the list of aircraft that is available in this program? Does it run slow on an ordinary laptop or do you need something really complex computer to run this?

Juicegoose

When i bought MS flight sim i had to drastically upgrade my computer. Mainly because i didn't see the point in flying a plane that was really choppy(real planes won't do that). Alot is going to depend on the laptop you have now. I will tell you that you'll need a good vdeo card and large large processor the minimum system requirements are a joke. Let me put it this way I'm running a Asus board with and Intel dual core chip(3.2gig)nvidea graphics card and 2 gigs of ram and it's still choppy if i add to much extra scenery in. Now that being said i used it alot when i was doing my private and don't know if it helped but i do know i when i took my checkride it put my total time at 41.5 hours i would go home after every lesson and practice what i had that day. It is what it is and make sure you look at it that way. Definatly buy you the CH products control yoke and foot pedals or your wasting time as well!

HSLD

My opinion is that desktop aviation sims are OK at introducing a concept or instrument maneuver - but lacking at developing proficiently at that skill. The best thing I've seen done with FS is Vectors

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/web_v...071011262.html

EvilGN

well one could go all out and become part of the virtual airline/pilot world with multiplayer aircraft and ATC. Vatsim.com is where you will find all that info. requires a few more downloads, and some training on how to get things working, but its a little more fun than the in game ATC. All free stuff BTW.

N0315

Its nice to work on holds in high winds, shoot that NDB approach without gps overlay with a nice wind. It's quite helpful, I feel.

Stryker

Its a cheap and decent way to look at different panels of several types of planes and now it even has a couple that have G-1000 glass panels. On occaision I use it just to shoot an approach down to mins with really bad visibility to see if I can make it.

Now I wont say that it is a great "training aid/teaching tool" but it did come in handy for practicing some real world situations. After a 2 hour trip (real) had 1mi vis and 400ft ceilings. I shot a GPS approach down to mins - had to go missed - then flew to the alternate and shot an ILS down to mins (conditions dropped to 1/4mi vis and 200ft ceilings) - go missed - starting to get low on fuel and almost HAVE to land - shot the ILS again and finally made it.

NOW having said that I had practiced that same scenerio in a frasca simulator and the weather looked MUCH more real in MS Flight simulator X than in the frasca sim. Now of course the handling of the plane was much more real in the frasca sim, but FSX definitely had it beat on visuals.

There really isnt anything you cant practice on there, and you can set the weather to whatever you want. But just remember, nothing completely substitutes for the real thing.