General Questions - And Feedback!

[andyp7]

First of all, I just bought FSpassengers. WOW what a difference!

I was reluctant to buy it at first, Thanks to some people on other forums telling me how good it was I got out my credit card and now im
happy! (and even more in debt :P ). It makes a huuuge difference to the game, really cool features! Obviously you guys already know it
cause you have it. I do have a couple of questions though.

1.) I normally do short flights because I only play on the computer for 1-2 hours, how on earth do you do an 8 hour fligh.do you speed it up
in parts?

2.) I am relativly new to flight sim, I have seen screen shots of peoples screens with jetways (airbridge) and pushback vehicles, how do you
get these?

3.) Please could someone post a description of a typical flight they will do within flightsim? I think I am doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance for your replies

[ivo]

1) you can use time accel.

2) you have to download them. Try avsim.

3) Do you mean a tuturial? Look online or try the learning center in FS.

[Agrajag]

Andy,

There are many ways to approach Flight Simulator. I highly suggest you try some of the very approachable and helpful Flight Simulator-based forums.
For example, there's a great beginners forum on SimFlight at http://forums.simflight.com/

They will have loads of past messages that answer this.

As far as how we fly, many of us are entirely different. I fly turbo-props which means I fly mid-length routes. Others fly VFR (visual flight rules)
in small prop planes. The majority of guys online fly the big jumbo jets and often spend a decent amount of money investing in complex planes that
come with 500 page manuals. They also tend to fly far longer routes.

For me a typical route is Philly to JFK. It takes under an hour and has some fun landing at JFK. Another typical flight might be KSFO (San Francisco)
to KLAX (Los Angeles). A bit longer but some great terrain. Last night I flew a great 90 minute flight from Philly (KPHL) to Burlington Vermont (KBTV).

This hobby is pretty diverse and its seemingly endless with all the variables that can be added to it. For example, these days I only fly on VATSIM
where I have real people providing actual air traffic control, but I don't recommend that for anyone who's new.

Do join the guys over at SimFlight and give your questions a shot there. FS Passengers is just a small taste (albeit a good one) of what's out there
for you to enjoy.

[Snake]

I use the flight planner provided with ms2004 then I plug the airways into my FMC. Get used to original fs2004 stuff b4 you go out and waste too much
cash

[m1r3o]

i did a flight from LHR to JFK and i never used time accel. or pause!!i started in the moning and ended in the evening!!!I



Post Edited ( 07-12-06 13:10 )

[runibl]

Welcome

It really makes it a lot more interresting to fly.

1. I fly both short hops, and long flights. Whatever i'm in the mood for. For the longer flights, I personally fly in real time.

2. As Ivo said, you can download them. Also they come in some payware airports as well.

3. Lately all my flights has been the ones in http://www.fspworldtour.com/ where we flew around the world. I'm still trying to finish them up, since i
couldn't finish with the rest because of pc problems.

A typical flight for me would otherwise start by selecting departure and destination airport, finding charts for them. Then planning the flight mostly
with http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ and then use http://www.fsroute.com/ to import them to Fs9.
And if i do a flight across the atlantic i would find the newest NATs on Vatsim.

Then i would startup ActiveSky 6 to load real weather, and maybe make some last minute planning correction. Then start up FS9 and load so i'm ready at
he gate. Next i would start Radar Contact 4 and FsP.

[andyp7]

Thanks for your answers, all very helpful.

I usually start out on the runway and then fly to whereever is withing about an hours distance. Then I land (usually very heavy/off centrline)
and I congratulate myself on not crashing!

I fancy Vatsim once I get more in tune with everything.

[Agrajag]

Andy,

Do yourself a favor and start breaking the habit of starting out on the active runway. First, it's more realistic to start at a gate or in parking.
When you pick your departure airport, look down at the bottom of that screen. On the left there's an option where where to start that defaults to
"Active Runway". Pick almost anything else.

If you're using the default air traffic control then contact them and you'll get cleared, realistically, to the active runway. The difference will add
only a couple of minutes and more realism. Most importantly it will get you ready for VATSIM. It's a HUGE no-no to show up in a multiplayer
environment and just materialize on the active runway. < grin >

I personally choose to start all my flights with the plane "dark and cold". I enjoy going through the start-up procedure. On my PSS Dash-8 (a payware
plane) I have to flip a series of switches, press a set of buttons, power up the APU and trigger the props to fire up. It's pretty cool in my view.

FSP also forces you to do some procedures correctly which is a good thing and it works in VATSIM or just flying alone.

What are you liking so far? That's usually a good question. Do you like certain types of planes? Do you just like the views. Do you like or dislike
the complexities?

[Sovek]

1. I will fly a few 5+ hour flights here and there, I did a six hour flight this morning. started at 0500 local and landed at around 1130 local.
OEJN-EGCC nonstop, in realtime. (if anyone online saw ALT2009 and ALT2024 that was me and one other guy on the same route) Usually I fly about 3 hours
in real time

2. go to http://www.avsim.com and there is a massive database of planes, repaints and other stuff. most of its free. There are some planes which you have to
pay for, and usually are quite worth it, One payware stuff to avoid would be the freeware, From what Ive seen, (this even more evident in the Caravan)
your better off with freeware and save your money.

3. Typical flight...... hmmm. I start at the last airport I was at, and some gate, choose a plane (right now its the EMB-120), setup the flightplan
and then start up from a cold and dark situation, taxi to the active, takeoff, climb to cruise level. From there I fly the flightplan untill its time
to land, fly the STAR, establish a 5 mile final, land and taxi to the gate. Shutdown engines, open the doors and turn off the seatbelt sign. Of course
there is more but thats diffrent for each flight and each plane.

[andyp7]

Agrajag:

Do yourself a favor and start breaking the habit of starting out on the active runway. First, it's more realistic to start at a gate
or in
parking.
When you pick your departure airport, look down at the bottom of that screen. On the left there's an option where where to start that defaults
to
"Active Runway". Pick almost anything e

I have just started doing that now, you are correct it is way better.

What are you liking so far? That's usually a good question. Do you like certain types of planes? Do you just like the views. Do you
like or
dislike
the complexit

ies?

I love flying large jets, I like the bigger jets because they impress me more. My favourate at the moment is the 747-400, I did start out on the
smaller cessna to learn the basics though. I am loving fspassengers though, some really neat features such as the in-flight report and the
music/drinks/food.

Cheers for the links and help peeps, nice community here

[runibl]

Some payware links:
http://www.precisionmanuals.com/ Propably the best payware 747 and 737NG on the market
http://www.leveldsim.com i think the best payware 767
Check this out for a list of well liked payware addons http://www.fspassengers.com/forum/showth...?tid=12554

Freeware sites:
http://www.avsim.com
http://www.flightsim.com
There are plenty more but these two are my personal favorate

For a freware 747 try searching for fly74710.zip on http://www.avsim.com I have heard different opinions about it. Some say it's very good and some say it's
not, but it's propably one of the best freeware 747.

[Agrajag]

Just be aware that the good payware models often come with documentation that can take months to absorb. I have a plane I own that I've still not
figured out how to start from a cold start after a year of trying here and there. Just haven't had the time to really devote to it (The ATR-72).

The default planes have a few switches and such. The payware ones have almost every real switch and button modeled. It's quite a step up.

[ivo]

yes, but since you are new to Flight Sim, I suggest sticking to the C172 for a while, and taking Rod's lessons. Once you complete the Commercial
Lisence, got and get yourself a nice payware plane(jet or turboprop). They are a lot more realistic that the default, with nearly every single switch
modeled. And the switch isn't just there so people are like "OMG, this thing has so many switches". It actually has a function!

Those planes come with a .pfd manual(if you download them), or a printed if you buy the CD. Manuals range from 100-600 pages.

but its worth it.

[Agrajag]

ivo,

Does the ATR offer a printed manual? I might actually take them up on that as I refuse to print 500 pages on my printer. I should have thought about
that when I bought it but I suspect if they have them I could still pay for one.

By the way Andy, PMDG also has a very nice Express line of Turbo Props. It's all the great work of their bigger planes without the need for huge
manuals, etc. I own both of these as well (1900C and 1900D).

Seriously though, I still think the beginners forum at SimFlight would be the best spot for you to start out. There's just a HUGE mountain of
possibilities ahead of you and a forum like that will let you slowly go up that ramp. It's likely that most of the posters here and at the other BIG
sites like AVSIM and FLIGHTSIM.COM are very much in the advanced level of the hobby.