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Jay Honeck writes:
While they were waiting, I set him up in our newly upgraded Kiwi flight simulator (see it he http://www.alexisparkinn.com/flight_simulator.htm), at their home airport. I knew he would want me to program in some crosswind (to better simulate the landing at home) and while tinkering I ran across a choice I had never used befo "Download real-time winds and weather." I clicked on it, not knowing what to expect. Well, quicker than I can check ADDS weather, Flight Simulator X had gone on-line and downloaded the current weather at their home airport. It then incorporated this weather into the sim, and within moments our guest was getting tossed around in real-life turbulence, fighting a stiff, 80-degree cross wind to land -- at his very own airport -- EXACTLY like he was about to do in "real life". Very cool! I know there are those here who don't think sims are very useful, but this new (to me) feature really enhances the overall experience. And our pilot-guest certainly agreed! This option exists in FS 2004 as well. MSFS is surprisingly good at weather from version 2004 on. Vast improvements were made and the sky really does look realistic, and the weather really does match the correct and current weather at your sim location (if you choose to download real weather). However, if you want the absolute best in simulated weather, download and install ActiveSky (about $37, http://www.hifisim.com). This is the standard for MSFS weather for serious simmers and it is astonishingly realistic. It was designed by pilots and weather fanatics and goes into extraordinary detail. Many weather scenarios in the sim are pretty much indistinguishable from real life with ActiveSky running. Even more amazing, frame rates are the same or slightly better with ActiveSky, as compared to MSFS' own weather engine. I was walking home a few days ago and looked at the sky and thought "that looks as nice as ActiveSky," before I realized the absurdity of that thought. A few days ago I nearly ended a flight in tragedy when I got caught on the outer edge of some thunderstorm activity while trying to reach KJFK (I use ActiveSky now). I diverted to KEWR and survived, but not without injuring a FA in turbulence. I saw the anvil-shaped thunderheads from miles away, but I didn't make the connection and recognize the danger until I was nearly in it. And lately the winds along the Pacific coast have been quite hellish, too--great for challenging simulation but not something I'd want to fly in for real. You also get turbulence over the mountains, thermals to order, and wake turbulence, as well as severe icing if the circumstances warrant it. |
#2
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On Oct 23, 8:58 am, Mxsmanic wrote:
Jay Honeck writes: While they were waiting, I set him up in our newly upgraded Kiwi flight simulator (see it hehttp://www.alexisparkinn.com/flight_simulator.htm), at their home airport. I knew he would want me to program in some crosswind (to better simulate the landing at home) and while tinkering I ran across a choice I had never used befo "Download real-time winds and weather." I clicked on it, not knowing what to expect. Well, quicker than I can check ADDS weather, Flight Simulator X had gone on-line and downloaded the current weather at their home airport. It then incorporated this weather into the sim, and within moments our guest was getting tossed around in real-life turbulence, fighting a stiff, 80-degree cross wind to land -- at his very own airport -- EXACTLY like he was about to do in "real life". Very cool! I know there are those here who don't think sims are very useful, but this new (to me) feature really enhances the overall experience. And our pilot-guest certainly agreed! This option exists in FS 2004 as well. Jays Kiwi is a flight simulator that can be used by real live pilots to enhance their real flying skills. What you have is a game! |
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On Oct 22, 1:05 pm, george wrote:
On Oct 23, 8:58 am, Mxsmanic wrote: Jay Honeck writes: While they were waiting, I set him up in our newly upgraded Kiwi flight simulator (see it hehttp://www.alexisparkinn.com/flight_simulator.htm), at their home airport. I knew he would want me to program in some crosswind (to better simulate the landing at home) and while tinkering I ran across a choice I had never used befo "Download real-time winds and weather." I clicked on it, not knowing what to expect. Well, quicker than I can check ADDS weather, Flight Simulator X had gone on-line and downloaded the current weather at their home airport. It then incorporated this weather into the sim, and within moments our guest was getting tossed around in real-life turbulence, fighting a stiff, 80-degree cross wind to land -- at his very own airport -- EXACTLY like he was about to do in "real life". Very cool! I know there are those here who don't think sims are very useful, but this new (to me) feature really enhances the overall experience. And our pilot-guest certainly agreed! This option exists in FS 2004 as well. Jays Kiwi is a flight simulator that can be used by real live pilots to enhance their real flying skills. What you have is a game! uh, the 'kiwi' is a metal frame with a computer screen and a joystick attached. |
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On Oct 23, 10:17 am, buttman wrote:
Jays Kiwi is a flight simulator that can be used by real live pilots to enhance their real flying skills. What you have is a game! uh, the 'kiwi' is a metal frame with a computer screen and a joystick attached. Yes. And? It doesn't change. mixedup is playing a game Those who try the Kiwi appear to, in the main, be real live pilots. Or do you think that a sim flight game player is a 'pilot' ? |
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george writes:
Yes. And? And the same software drives the sim in both cases. It's the same "game." Those who try the Kiwi appear to, in the main, be real live pilots. Whether or not the sim is a game has nothing to do with the people using it (or "playing the game"). If a six-year-old steps into a full-motion sim, that doesn't turn the sim into a game. Or do you think that a sim flight game player is a 'pilot' ? Some are, some aren't. But that has nothing to do with the nature of the sim. You're making a distinction that doesn't really exist. Better to be controlled by reason than by emotion. |
#6
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Mxsmanic wrote in
: george writes: Yes. And? And the same software drives the sim in both cases. It's the same "game." Those who try the Kiwi appear to, in the main, be real live pilots. Whether or not the sim is a game has nothing to do with the people using it (or "playing the game"). If a six-year-old steps into a full-motion sim, that doesn't turn the sim into a game. Maybe not, but if you stepped into a photo booth it would turn it into a horror show. Or do you think that a sim flight game player is a 'pilot' ? Some are, some aren't. But that has nothing to do with the nature of the sim. You're making a distinction that doesn't really exist. Better to be controlled by reason than by emotion. You don't fly, therefore you can't say. You will never fly. Ever. Bertie |
#7
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On Oct 24, 5:56 am, Mxsmanic wrote:
george writes: Yes. And? And the same software drives the sim in both cases. It's the same "game." The difference is that the 'Kiwi' is populated by pilots who give each other feedback on real life problems they have observed throughout their flying careers both as PPL's and CPL's and testing the different solutions possible in safety. Those who try the Kiwi appear to, in the main, be real live pilots. Whether or not the sim is a game has nothing to do with the people using it (or "playing the game"). If a six-year-old steps into a full-motion sim, that doesn't turn the sim into a game. Bad simile. For the 6 year old it -is- a game! For trainee flight crew it is a full on 90 minute hour and for line flight crew it is maintaining ratings, route famil and the constant training/revision required.. |
#8
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george writes:
The difference is that the 'Kiwi' is populated by pilots who give each other feedback on real life problems they have observed throughout their flying careers both as PPL's and CPL's and testing the different solutions possible in safety. That's not a difference at all. You're confusing the user with the simulator. The simulator is the same. No matter who uses the simulator, it will remain the same. Therefore, if the simulator is adequate in one instance, it is also adequate in another. It cannot be simultaneously good and bad. For the 6 year old it -is- a game! But not for everyone else. If the user's opinion counts, then my set-up is a sim, since I consider it to be so. |
#9
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george writes:
Jays Kiwi is a flight simulator that can be used by real live pilots to enhance their real flying skills. What you have is a game! He is running the same software I am. The only real difference between the two is in your attitude towards their owners. |
#10
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Mxsmanic wrote in
: george writes: Jays Kiwi is a flight simulator that can be used by real live pilots to enhance their real flying skills. What you have is a game! He is running the same software I am. The only real difference between the two is in your attitude towards their owners. Neither sim is anything like a real airplane. But the idiot attached to your's is definitely the genuine article. Bertie |
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