Considering buying FsPassengers...

[xwhitemousex]

As the title says, I'm considering buying this addon. Sounds very nice and gives meaning to the flying as well.

But I'm wondering something. I fly almost exclusively the C-130 Hercules (from CaptainSim). Would I able to buy this plane in FsPassengers? Would it
be useful for the flying or does the game sorta "expect" that you keep upgrading to larger airplanes like the regular passenger airplanes such as
747's and so on?

I'm slightly torn between getting either FsPassengers or the Cargo Pilot one... not sure which one would be better considering I mostly just fly the
C-130. I tried the 737's, 747's and different Airbus ones, but I like the trusty C-130 too darn much : )

Any pointers on this would be nice.

[iflyfsx]

Download the demo, and find out.

The only limitation is that you can only take off from KSFO. Everything else is fully functional.

If that doesn't answer your questions, I don't know what could.

The software doesn't expect you to do anything. There's a career mode for your virtual company, but like everything else, it's optional. It's probably
the most flexible and customizable program you can find.

It's only going to help you fly better, rewarding you for doing a good job, or penalizing you for screwing up.

[gbapache]

I fly my Cap. Sim Herc all the time. It's great.



Post Edited ( 09-25-10 15:53 )

[Shaun Patterson]

You should use the C-130 / L100 with Fspassengers, because you can download, or make your own Payload model, so you can choose
to carry a full cargo payload, combi, soldier (which in the case you use a passenger class) or on the rare occaision passengers. If your
looking for an adventure, try flying around afghanistan or irag, as they are war zones, and you have an increase chance of failure, and
bonus points.

[xwhitemousex]

So you can fly with cargo loads rather than passengers in FSPassengers? Just feel it's a bit silly to serve drinks and hot meals in the back of a
C-130 :P Not to mention stewardess' and whatnot catering a flight of crates, humvee's or paratroopers.

Would like to do cargo flights and still have those failure risks associated with it all and a career thing to work on with a pilot. Not really into
the whole busdriver thing with 737's and passengers.

[gbapache]

You can fly cargo only if you wish. You will still be graded on your piloting technique and bonus points will be awarded accordingly.

[iflyfsx]

It would be much harder to accumulate points just with cargo in career mode, though. It's called FS *passengers*

So it really depends on what you want and how you prefer to fly. Again, you can try the demo and answer those questions all by yourself.

[xwhitemousex]

Yeah, I know it's called FSPassengers. But I like everything around the passenger thing. Things such as random failures instead of the predictable
preset ones you have in the Free Flights, getting rated with your landings, use of flaps and gear at correct speeds and things like that, not to
mention getting shot down in conflict areas.

The passenger thing itself, well... I love the C-130 way to much. That addon is just so awesome it makes the other airplanes unappealing. It has nice
size, not oversensitive on the controls (like smaller singleprop and twinprops tend to be) and, well... it's just the airplane for me hehe. Guess I
can try the demo, if it lets me fly the C-130 anyways. As mentioned though, sorta odd to be servering hot meals in a C-130 cargo compartment :D

[DavidK]

Pretend it's an old beat-up ex-Army one you bought for next-to-nothing, then installed some armchairs and chandeliers and now fly discerning
passengers with more money than sense who enjoy taking English tea while listening to the heavy-metal music drowning out the turboprops.
Once you've made some money, spend it on knocking through some windows in the fuselage.

On second thoughts, forget the windows and English tea -- make it the highest-altitude rave club serving outrageously expensive drinks and burgers. Just make sure the music's still loud, the flying straight and level and the weather very docile.

David



Post Edited ( 09-30-10 02:36 )

[xwhitemousex]

Well, I figured what the heck and bought FSPassengers.

Made a company, Viking Airways, and bought myself a Cessna 172. I've always been a fan of challenges, so I always play games in hard settings, and
flight sims I always run in 100% realistic settings.

So my first flight was a 2 passenger ride to an airport not far from the airport closest to where I live. Considering I prefer realism I always load
up the Real-Weather. Turned out that real weather today was 23knots wind, thunderstorms and 4000ft cloudlayer. My two passengers were already nervous
due to weather before takeoff, and even during taxi my little Cessna was struggling along the taxiway (one gust of wind nearly blew me off taxiway).

But despite heavy winds, rain and turbulence all along the way, I did a smooth landing at under 100ft sinkrate and got rated as a perfect flight with
very happy passengers :D

Have to say though, even if they are virtual passengers, it made the game totally different and alot more meaningful when I was trying to make smooth
flying and keeping them happy (though they did get quite nervous a few times due to turbulence and windgusts).

About to bring the Cessna back home now in a night flight. Hopefully that will go just as smooth as my FSP virgin flight

[gbapache]

check out the more downloads section. Under "categories" look at some of the scenerios. There are some that will give you enough
money and goals that will let you put that "Mighty Herc" to the test. And, NO, you can not land it at Lukla. I've tried.

[airmiles]

Did someone mention Lukla

[xwhitemousex]

My night flight back to base went good, but I did get a go-around as a Mooney Bravo cut me short on approach. It was actually my own fault
since I was told by ATC to fly 165 (my designated runway was RW11 and I was approaching from the northwest). But because of the
stormy weather I kept going off course as my tiny Cessna was drifting east due to the wind, and the direct result of that was me cutting
infront of the Bravo since I ended up to far east of the glideslope rather than approaching further from the west and comming in safely
behind the Bravo.

Anyways, I did the go-around and I had the Bravo in my sights all along the flight so no dramatics there. I slowed down to get distance
between me and the Bravo, but I knew even as I was approaching that I would get the go-around since he'd still be on the runway when I
would be touching down.

But despite heavy rain and storms I managed to get the little bird down, eventually landing on RW18 instead of RW11 (dunno why ATC
directed me to 18 instead, but I just followed directions). Yet another perfect flight (at least rated as such).

What I'm wondering though... because of the go-around, should I have been penalized? Afterall it was pilot error not compensating
enough for wind-drift during flight, thus putting myself too close to the other approaching aircraft.

I had no estimated time set for the flight, but on the first flight I used nearly 60 minutes from start to parking (including roughly 20 minutes
of ground time, and just under 40 minutes of airtime). On the nightflight back, due to the go-around, I used nearly 1h30mins before I was
on the ground and safely parked to let passengers out. Would you get penalized for not making it on time, even if you get a go-around?
And I mean a go-around that's not your fault (like it was in my case). Or does the game not acknowledge valid reasons for using extra
time and you simply get penalized whenever you are too late, or early? Also, is the estimated timer counting from the moment you get
passengers onboard, until they are leaving aircraft at destination? What is the margin of error? I saw some pilot reports where people got
penalized for arriving too early? Does it have to be on the minute, or within 10 minutes?

And one last thing (for now), since I made the company/pilot with the Career pilot ticked off, does that mean I'm stuck with Cessna's and
light aircraft until I am certified to fly a heavier one like the C-130? Seemed to me like being certed to fly the C-130, due to it's massive
weight, means I need alooooot of flying hours in smaller aircraft first before I can be allowed to fly it (already have loads of flights and
landings with the C-130 from Free-flights).

As for Lukla and the C-130, yeah I know it has limitations on the runways it can land at or take off from. For instance, I tried to take off with
a C-130J-30 from Vagar airport on the Faroe Islands and I think I had less than 50 metres of runway left when my landing gear lifted from
the runway. When it comes to landing though, it uses alot less distance. I normally land with flaps at 50 at around 130-145knts
depending on payload, but even with idle engine and just wheelbrakes it doesn't use much runway, but in a pinch I reverse the propeller
pitch and it breaks to a stop in no-time at all.

Funny though that I just read a pilot report where someone tried to land at Vagar and rolled off the runway... can't say I blame them...
guess you need to do some research on runway lenghts at your destination before you blast off with a 737 and think it can land at any
destination ^^

Very happy with FSPassengers so far. Tonight I think I'll try a Tour-flight and see how that works.

[Joeflyer]

airmiles wrote:
Did someone mention Lukla

Yes, your favorite place to crash