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On Feb 13, 11:48 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
writes: I'm a longtime lurker here, but now I have a question I hope the group can help me with. I am working toward my instrument rating (21 hours so far), and want to use MSFS to practice (cheaply). I do fine with holding a heading, but I find it very difficult to maintain an altitude. The real plane is much much easier. Difficult in what way? If you have an autopilot, use it. Flying by instruments concerns the method(s) through which you obtain situational awareness, not the methods you use to control the aircraft. I guess I have to disagree with you there. The first priority should be keeping the airplane from stalling/spinning/spiraling into the ground (AVIATE, navigate, communicate). This is easy when using an autopilot, but unfortunately autopilots aren't as common on light single engine aircraft as one would hope. And if there is one, it's usually just a single axis (heading only). Failure to Aviate seems to be the most popular method of killing yourself in instrument conditions. The second priority is navigation. This is where you need situation awareness so you don't fly into mountains, and can find the runways. Navigating can also kill you (CFIT, midairs). . Finally, it's important to let ATC know what you are doing (communication). Not too many people have died by failing to communicate. Trimming the aircraft is time-consuming in MSFS because it's hard to tell when you have the trim just right. You can save time by using the autopilot to hold altitude and set trim, at which point you can turn off the AP and fly by hand, if you wish. I also noticed that even when the scenery flies by smoothly (when I'm in VMC!) the instruments seem to update at a slower rate. To some extent, that depends on the aircraft model. There's a setting in MSFS that controls gauge quality that might help. Add-ons sometimes have a separate setting for gauge update speeds (which are independent of scenery update speeds). The only setting I saw in MSFS for gauge quality is for 3D. I don't use that mode when flying instruments, but maybe there's another setting I haven't found yet. In any case, if you are using the simulator for instrument practice rather than flying practice, frame rates are a bit less important, unless you are taking off or landing. Set the weather to a constant heavy fog, and frame rates should improve all around. I've been using the advanced weather to set 200 ft ceilings 8/8 overcast stratus with 10,000ft tops, and 1/2 mile visibility. Will heavy fog be present at 5000 ft? I'll try it. The default aircraft on MSFS don't have the resolution of some add-ons, so you may see them snap from one degree to the next on a dial, instead of moving smoothly. Instruments such as those from Reality XP behave as smoothly as in real life, but they cost extra (some aircraft include them). I've seen those advertised before, but I haven't met anyone who has tried one. If they are that much better, I would be very willing to buy one. Thanks. -- Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail. |
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