I'm getting ready to buy a new PC and want to set it up for a little IFR simulation work. Not looking for a PCATD or anything. I'm thinking the latest version of MS Flt Sim and the appropriate control peripherals. I'm not a gamer - really just looking for a little procedure training. Looking...

The last 2 times (yesterday and 1 week ago) I've tried to used CBAV to get Nexrad images, I get a blank screeen with the word "display" on it. Anyone have this problem recently? Is there a problem?

So is CBAV Nexrad offline for good? Seems like I saw something saying that Palmnet is gone at the end of August but I can't verify. Any info or links appreciated. (Sorry if this has been discussed - I've been offline for 2 weeks and can't seem to find any archive info)

I'm looking for information, feedback, pitfalls of updating Bendix-King GPS's such as the KLN-89B and KLN-94 by updating the cards directly as opposed to plugging into the GPS itself. I understand that there is a card reader you can buy and that there is a firmware upgrade to it that allows the...

Has anyone here taken an extended hiatus from flying and then returned to currency? I sold my airplane and quite flying 4.5 years ago to build a house and for some other economic reasons. I'm about ready to re-enter the flying world and know that a fair bit has changed since 1999. Any...

Well, I passed by instrument checkride recently and thought I would share my experiences. Started off the day with a flight from Fort Smith, AR (FSM) where I generally fly out of down to Hot Springs (HOT) where the examiner was. Started out as you might expect, paperwork, going over the logs,...

I've recently earned my instrument ticket, and feel that I still need to learn more about weather. I've been looking at several resources for study and would like recommendations on which ones are good/bad, which ones are best, other suggestions. Jepp Aviation Weather Buck Weather Flying Sportys...

The flying club that I am in just purchased a second 172, a really nice plane, new interior and paint and a nearly new STCd 180hp engine. Anyway, it has a IImorrow (or Apollo?) 2001 NMS GPS installed. It is not IFR certified, but pages I've found about it online seem to indicate that it can be. ...

A question about something that I guess I just didn't get enough info on during my instrument training. What exactly are you looking for when looking at a radar image. Are you trying to avoid all returns? Is an area of just green ok? Any other things in particular to look for?

Ok, a curious question just popped in my mind. Say that one was flying IFR in a piston single, maybe a 172 or 182. While enroute, either in actual or above a cloud layer, the engine fails. Will the windmilling prop keep the vacuum pump going enough to make the AI and DG usuable during descent...

Today I learned a lesson about practicing IFR flight. I was practicing with another member of our flying club who is a private pilot, but not instrument rated, coming back from Rogers, AR to Fort Smith after a pancake breakfast fly-in. Fort Smith was landing 7. My safety pilot wanted to fly just...

Does a safety pilot have to have a current medical and be current as far as landings go, or just be rated in the category/class being flown?

Does anyone know if a site that provides an "offline" version of the GPS nearest airport function? I'd like to be able to enter a given city and find the nearest aiports to that city. Yahoo's SmartView will find larger airports (I'm guessing those with airline service), but it misses the smaller...

A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out. I expected...

Does anyone know if a site that provides an "offline" version of the GPS nearest airport function? I'd like to be able to enter a given city and find the nearest aiports to that city. A quick net search didn't turn up anything. Well, I did find a site to use to locate the nearest Shell...

Has anyone succeeded in using the automatic route generator in the DTC DUAT system? I've used GTE/CSC/whatever it is today DUAT system for years and the flight planner has always generated routes automatically for me. Not always the optimal route, but at least I get one. I hadn't used DTC in a...

I was just reviewing the new Elmira One departure procedure. I think the government has let GPS go to their heads. Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, it specifies the initial heading out to TWO decimal places! The procedure is pretty trivial as it basically says to fly runway heading to 4000...

I just restarted my subscription to NACO for a select few instrument charts and am not impressed with their quality. I just got my new charts effective for 9/1 and found two errors in less than 5 minutes of reviewing them. Here are the errors in case anyone is interested and uses these charts...

I think I know the answer to this, but would like a second opinion. Does FAR 61.129 (a)(3) (iii) and (iv) really require an instructor ride along on these two long VFR flights? I have over 600 hours TT and an instrument rating and plan to obtain my commercial certificate. however, in reviewing my...

I haven't seen a post in a couple of days. Is this ng just quiet or is my news server broken? Matt