On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:42:32 GMT, "Vaughn"
wrote:


"Eggs" wrote in message
et...

In the meantime, anyone have any suggestions for a good PC flight
simulator
progam for soaring? I've loaded the trial version of "Soaring Flight
Simulator" and it seems pretty impressive, but before I part with the $70
registration fee, I thought I'd ask you gurus for your opinions.

It all depends on what you want the flight simulator for. If you just
want to have fun and perhaps learn a little about flight management and
procedures, or even play with different virtual glider designs, then go for
it. If learning to fly is your goal, then go spend your time and money on
real flying and forget the sim.

I recognize that there are many here that vigorously disagree, but I
have to go with my own experience, both at being a student and an
instructor.


I'll second that. I have SFS 3 (but then my PC is too slow for SFS 4
and has no OpenGL support). I thought SFS 3 was a fine sim and even
bought pedals for it. However, I haven't touched it since being about
half way to solo for two good reasons:

- no glider simulator can give realistic all round views and won't
until there's a good VR helmet available. Looking through the
'letterbox' and flipping it round with the coolie hat is no
substitute.

- no butt feel

That said, the BGA have a demo booth that's the front half of a two
seater (G 103?) with a projection screen for forward view and the
instruments projected onto a blank instrument panel. It uses SFS4,
connected to the original stick and pedals. That means that the trim
must work too. Dunno about the air brake. I saw it in decidedly
sub-optimal lighting conditions, but it seemed to work quite well.


--
martin@ : Martin Gregorie
gregorie : Harlow, UK
demon :
co : Zappa fan & glider pilot
uk :