Anyone used FSX for IFR training at home?

tcco94 said:
Seems like a fun tool for home, as well as great training device for students. Pricey though for a monthly subscription. VATSIM is free and just as realistic as this...but I will say...are these LIVE controllers ? Like actual humans? That's the only bummer about VATSIM...people have to be online and in the sector you're flying. Plus some controllers are only on KSLC tower so after you takeoff, you're left empty handed unless another controller is online controlling that overlying airspace sector. If this would guarantee that I'd be able to get coverage no matter where I'm flying throughout the US then I'd consider it...

But still $19 a month?! $180 a year? That's pricier than PMDG models.
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You'll think me a shill for PilotEdge and I swear I'm not, but there's no comparision between PE controllers and VATSIM controllers.

PE controllers are paid, and scheduled. PE is a commercial venture with agreements with many schools and companies for pilot training. In PE you can use real world frequencies right off the charts, and the controllers staff consistent, scheduled hours every day.

Because they're paid, PE controllers are held to a much stricter standard. There are quite a few retired FAA/Military controllers on their network as well. If you ask for a contact approach or a full procedure practice approach, expect proper handling. On VATSIM anything other than flying a jet into a Class B airport to a vectored ILS final is likely to throw a lot of VATSIM controllers off.

The voice quality on PE is way better than VATSIM.

PE has a network of automated drone traffic to make the skies more realistically populated.

PE, being a startup from the minds of the folks behind the VATSIM virtual ZLA center (arguably one of the best VATSIM groups), has a pilot certification program that takes you from 0 knowledge through to IFR flying. VATSIM's ZLA center has this option as well, and it is good, but subject to availability of volunteer controllers.

All that said, I don't personally fly on the PE network because I don't sim that much. But it's a cut above VATSIM in every way except geographical coverage. But, I think you'll find plenty to practice within their area of influence.

They offer a free 2 week trial. I'd at least check it out and compare it to VATSIM.
 
FM_Weasel said:
You'll think me a shill for PilotEdge and I swear I'm not, but there's no comparision between PE controllers and VATSIM controllers.

PE controllers are paid, and scheduled. PE is a commercial venture with agreements with many schools and companies for pilot training. In PE you can use real world frequencies right off the charts, and the controllers staff consistent, scheduled hours every day.

Because they're paid, PE controllers are held to a much stricter standard. There are quite a few retired FAA/Military controllers on their network as well. If you ask for a contact approach or a full procedure practice approach, expect proper handling. On VATSIM anything other than flying a jet into a Class B airport to a vectored ILS final is likely to throw a lot of VATSIM controllers off.

The voice quality on PE is way better than VATSIM.

PE has a network of automated drone traffic to make the skies more realistically populated.

PE, being a startup from the minds of the folks behind the VATSIM virtual ZLA center (arguably one of the best VATSIM groups), has a pilot certification program that takes you from 0 knowledge through to IFR flying. VATSIM's ZLA center has this option as well, and it is good, but subject to availability of volunteer controllers.

All that said, I don't personally fly on the PE network because I don't sim that much. But it's a cut above VATSIM in every way except geographical coverage. But, I think you'll find plenty to practice within their area of influence.

They offer a free 2 week trial. I'd at least check it out and compare it to VATSIM.
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I will give it a shot! Not for a couple months since I have a lot on my schedule but at least where I can use it almost everyday for that 2 weeks. I'm glad to know about that now...would have never guessed that they're actually pain controllers! The worst part of VATSIM for me is the quality of voice and controllers, as well. When you said they have automated drone traffic, will that pop up in my sim as well so I can see a line of people waiting to takeoff and etc.?
 
So I'm working in my IR right now and could definitely see the value in doing some sim work. I'd also be interested after reading these posts about looking into PilotEdge and/or VATSIM.

I already have a capable computer, but is it vital to have the whole yoke/pedal set up? Are there some walkthroughs beyond buying and installing FSX to getting everything set up and working with one another? Seems like alot of moving parts. I've simulated many years ago and am fairly computer savvy, so I don't mind some time setting up / tweaking etc.
 
tcco94 said:
When you said they have automated drone traffic, will that pop up in my sim as well so I can see a line of people waiting to takeoff and etc.?
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Yep. I'm not sure how much it gets in the way at airports but there are definitely plenty of aircraft flying around the area.
 
BaronPete said:
So I'm working in my IR right now and could definitely see the value in doing some sim work. I'd also be interested after reading these posts about looking into PilotEdge and/or VATSIM.

I already have a capable computer, but is it vital to have the whole yoke/pedal set up? Are there some walkthroughs beyond buying and installing FSX to getting everything set up and working with one another? Seems like alot of moving parts. I've simulated many years ago and am fairly computer savvy, so I don't mind some time setting up / tweaking etc.
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I've got the whole set up with panels from Saitek but I also have the joystick and throttle. I don't care to haul it all around so I usually just go joystick and throttle. Not as realistic but you'll paint the picture. I wish I used it more on my IR, but thankfully I did mine so fast I didn't lose my scan. Just like private, the more you fly without breaks the easier the xride will be.

As far as setting up its pretty easy. You can install the drivers but your Sim, if it's compatible, will just recognize your yoke or joystick. Then go to settings and set the buttons for what you want and your axis you can verify. My joystick can twist for instance so that's my "rudder axis".
 
Have been watching videos on X-plane 10 vs FSX.. Seems to be pros and cons to each, but with weather and flight characteristics seeming more realistic on xplane 10.

What's everyone else using?

The take home point I got was that purchased add-ons are necessary for either if you want to really improve them, but the architecture of the software is a little newer for xplane 10, thus easier to develop models for etc.
 
P3D but not at all lately. Rumor is it will be 64bit with V3.0 maybe this winter (x-plane is already 64 bit and runs on linux and mac).
Many add-ons have installers for P3D as well as FSX. I heard PDMG is on P3D now as well.
 
BaronPete said:
Have been watching videos on X-plane 10 vs FSX.. Seems to be pros and cons to each, but with weather and flight characteristics seeming more realistic on xplane 10.

What's everyone else using?

The take home point I got was that purchased add-ons are necessary for either if you want to really improve them, but the architecture of the software is a little newer for xplane 10, thus easier to develop models for etc.
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The downside is that stuff is still being integrated to work for X-Plane but as far as I know a lot of it is being switched over at a fast rate.. Like said above PMDG. I use FSX because I have been for years on end. I have add one worth hundreds of dollars with airplanes, weather, and some other add ons.

If I were just entering I'd look into X-Plane since it's still eligible for upgrades and etc unlike Microsoft who's completely done.
 
Yep, played around with FSX / Prepar3D a bit. Took up too much space :)

Overhead 3.JPG
KSTL.jpg
 
This is Rob Ainscough's video (Rob frequents Avsim).
.


He doesn't have the cockpit hardware like the pics above.
 
X-Plane is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better at simulating helicopters. In fact, I wouldn't even call what FSX or P3D does with rotorcraft a simulation, it's just atrocious. I also prefer X-Plane because it feels more fluid, like actual flight, and not a series of scripts looking up aircraft data. For example, wind is effected by terrain and can bob you around like the real world. I think you need to be a little more tech savvy to really take advantage of X-Plane though. Out of the box it might not be that impressive but there are lots of free add-ins to do some pretty cool things. It seems like people prefer FSX/P3D for aircraft with really in depth systems, FMS, etc. So I think it depends on what you want to use the sim for and how comfortable you are researching and tweaking things.
 
JMK said:
X-Plane is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better at simulating helicopters. In fact, I wouldn't even call what FSX or P3D does with rotorcraft a simulation, it's just atrocious. I also prefer X-Plane because it feels more fluid, like actual flight, and not a series of scripts looking up aircraft data. For example, wind is effected by terrain and can bob you around like the real world. I think you need to be a little more tech savvy to really take advantage of X-Plane though. Out of the box it might not be that impressive but there are lots of free add-ins to do some pretty cool things. It seems like people prefer FSX/P3D for aircraft with really in depth systems, FMS, etc. So I think it depends on what you want to use the sim for and how comfortable you are researching and tweaking things.
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Good to know. I don't think it'll be long though until some of the high depth addons are making their way into the X-Plane market. Unfortunately, all this stuff just takes forever as is.

@jskibo that is exactly my bucket list item. Preferably a 320 but I've just been looking at prices and some it's pretty pricey to make your own cockpit. How much did all that run you to have (if you don't mind me asking)?

Also, I've always heard a lot about Prepar3d but I thought it was the head movement in the cockpit device..lol. What exactly is it and is it really worth $200? That PMDG 777 video looked amazing. Will for sure look at that being my next add-on, after the Aerosoft Airbus.
 
tcco94 said:
What exactly is it and is it really worth $200? That PMDG 777 video looked amazing.
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P3D is the commercial version of FSX (ESP) after having been bought by Lockheed Martin and improved GREATLY. (The head tracker is TrackIR -different company)
P3D has a 60 day no questions asked money back guarantee. The academic version is $60 also no questions asked. The only thing different on the academic version is a small "academic version" in the upper right corner. See it?
The best/worst thing about it is consistantly improving. If you update your installation you have to wait for add-on updates. But it just keeps getting better and better.
www.avsim.org www.prepar3d.com for much more info than I can offer.
142296116.VFbskd4N.jpg
 
Nukem said:
P3D is the commercial version of FSX (ESP) after having been bought by Lockheed Martin and improved GREATLY. (The head tracker is TrackIR -different company)
P3D has a 60 day no questions asked money back guarantee. The academic version is $60 also no questions asked. The only thing different on the academic version is a small "academic version" in the upper right corner. See it?
The best/worst thing about it is consistantly improving. If you update your installation you have to wait for add-on updates. But it just keeps getting better and better.
www.avsim.org www.prepar3d.com for much more info than I can offer.
142296116.VFbskd4N.jpg
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Thanks. I saw the academic but got confused. I thought it was an FSX add on. So it's a new sim like X-Plane.
 
tcco94 said:
@jskibo that is exactly my bucket list item. Preferably a 320 but I've just been looking at prices and some it's pretty pricey to make your own cockpit. How much did all that run you to have (if you don't mind me asking)?
.
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About $28k at that point with another $9-$11k to go..... Not a cheap hobby
 
jskibo said:
About $28k at that point with another $9-$11k to go..... Not a cheap hobby
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Okay that's what I assumed. Most of the A320 cockpits I've seen people or make, or componanies making the whole set, we're going for about $30k ish.
 
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