Flight Simulators

[theblakeness]

Im surprised knowone else has mentioned falcon 4.0..i mean the manuel is a binder!! The cockpit is so realistic, especially if you have the service pack, which even comes with a trainer to teach you how to power up the F-16 from rest on the ramp.

I really liked Janes F/a-18, and being hopefull Navy, I really hoped that it would rule over the other flight sims, but unfortunately, imo, it just didnt compare to Falcon 4.0

 

[HueyCobra8151]

When I was a kid (w/ my 386 computer) I had the Tornado flight simulator...it was pretty realistic.

Spend hours plotting a mission.

Takeoff, Autopilot on, go to the kitchen and get a bite to eat, TOT - Pickle your ordnance, Crap your pants while SAMs and enemy CAPs try and kill you, then autopilot back to your base. Autoland takes you down the glideslope right up to the flare.

Longbow is a pretty cool helo sim, even though it is an Apache. "Troops in the open, fire for effect!"

 

[Kycntryboy]

It's even approved for ppl's without the full-motion sim hardware.

How do you get credit for it?

 

[thundersquid]

I use Microsoft FS 2004 with the Alphasim T-34 cockpit. I got the old Navy terrain files for FS 2000 (the florida and alabama ones) and all the checkpoints are there as well as the OLF's. The flight controls I use are a set of elite rudder pedals I found at a thrift store for $5 and I modified the Saitek X45 stick/throttle console. The modification I added was I put a 2 foot bar between the base of the stick and the actual control, that way you can have it come up between your legs like the stick in the T-34. If your at all familiar with basic soldering you can easily make that modification.

To set up the Flight simulator, I usually expand a pop up screen and enable the virtual cockpit. That way you have the cowling on screen for reference during climbs and such.

As far as realism, it is about as close to realistic as your going to get with the t-34. The alphasims cockpit, is right on, but not all gauges are working properly all the time (ex. some times torque gets stuck at 200 ft lbs but throttle still controls engine power the gauge is just stuck). In any case, I think it helps with instrument scan. Other than that I just use it to practice course rules and procedures. If your a 'visual' person for learning procedures(ex. you like to see it done before it clicks in your head how stuff works) than I think this helps because you can practice the procedure over and over instead of just trying to chair fly it.