I have recently aquired MSN Flight Simulator 4000,and have been trying it out by using keyboard commands.It is becoming rather obvious to me that is not the way to go, or is it? What i am getting at is it dosen’t seem to be quite as easy to master as I thought using the keyboard or perhaps my computer isn’t fast enough, Processer:2.07 AMD Athlon XP
Hard drive:120.3 gig (92.36 free)
Memory : 512 megs
Display : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
The keyboard is cordless not infrared though I think it is some kind of radio wave transmitter.
The biggest problem is it seems that using the keyboard I over compensate when taxing or or trying to compleat an airieal (sp?)manouver.Should I buy a Yoke and set of foot pedals,I guess if I want realisim that would be an affirmitive, so I guess i am asking for the advice of the Sdopers who may already have passed through this crisis of lack of knowledge.
I suggest a quality stick with twist axis for rudder. Less elegant than a yoke and foot pedals but more practical IMO. It will be vastly easier to fly this way than by keyboard.
4000? Damn, I wanna see what kind of airplanes they have.
I see that no (known to me) pilots have responded to this - there is probably a reason.
Micro-computer (PC, MAC, whatever might be found in a residence) flight simulators have no bearing whatsoever on flying - if you want to learn to fly, find an aircraft (airplane, land, single-engine is the norm) and an instructor - there is a world of difference between sitting in a chair and sitting left seat at 3,000 AGL.
The micro-computers simulators, however, are rumored to help with radio work - that comes AFTER stick-and-rudder have been mastered.
IOW, virtual reality is not real, and sitting on the ground, where the worst that could happen is you fall off the chair is not, in any shape, manner, or form, like sitting in a plane at altitude, where the rule is ‘you screw up, you die’ - ALT+F4 is not an option, and there is no ‘reset’ button.
Yeah, in part it might be because those of us who fly in the analog (as opposed to digital/pixel) sky really aren’t paying much attention to the computer sims. However, PC flight simulators are a legitimate hobby unto themselves. The only time I get annoyed is when some sim-jockey starts to think that flying the Concorde on his computer makes him qualified to speak about put-putting around in single-engine land airplanes in reality. You learn some things from a good sim, but you do not become a pilot without a bunch of other stuff on top of it.
No, the keyboard is not the way to go.
I would take the joystick recommendations already given. I’m partial to using rudder pedals as well, because that’s what I’m used to in real life. However, the “rudder twist” variety of joystick is just fine for what you’re doing.
And a good sim is harder to use well than, say, your average video game shoot-em-up.
You know, I’m a real pilot. I fly real airplanes. I do the same darn thing with flight sims. I think what you’re talking about is normal for many folks and what you need is more practice. Overcontrol happens with student pilots in real airplanes, too - most of the time you need a very, very light touch on the controls.
MS Flight Simulator, if I recall correctly, does allow you to “turn down” the reality features so it will help you out more. Real-world physics may be a bit much to tackle for a novice (that’s why in real world flight training you have someone sittign next to you to save your butt when required). Our copy of MSFS is many years old now, but I recall they included a “flight training” manual - if you have one read it. Go step by step through the lessons.
