Microsoft Flight Sim 2020

[DD_fruitbat]

1 hour ago, Trooper117 said:

 

Think I'm in the same boat... every time I fire up a flight sim game I play it for a bit and then sack it.

Spending major amount of time with Assassins Creed franchise at the moment... patiently waiting for Valhalla to arrive next month.

 

Very much looking forward to valhalla myself, after finishing origins and oddessy. Both cracking games.

[Chief_Mouser]

30 minutes ago, DD_fruitbat said:

 

Very much looking forward to valhalla myself, after finishing origins and oddessy. Both cracking games.

 

 I still dabble with Civ5. Haven't won with all of the factions yet.

[Lusekofte]

54 minutes ago, 216th_Cat said:

 

 I still dabble with Civ5. Haven't won with all of the factions yet.

I think I payed civ 1 

[Trooper117]

2 hours ago, DD_fruitbat said:

 

Very much looking forward to valhalla myself, after finishing origins and oddessy. Both cracking games.

 

Finished Origins a good while back... I'm 87% done at the moment with Odyssey 

[SAS_Storebror]

6 hours ago, Feathered_IV said:

It's no biggie.

Truth being told there's many planes where the conversion simply doesn't work.

Or at least it doesn't work if you do it like shown in any of the videos from the converter release thread.

Which is not really a surprise, just wanted to mention it before someone thinks it was time to convert the full set of some thousand FSX mod planes: It's not. Won't work.

So far I've had some luck with single engine prop planes and with a handful of twins.

Rule of thumbs seems to be: The newer and bigger the plane in question, the less likely it will convert.

 

Mike

[Tyberan]

@Feathered_IV were did you get the tiger moth from (website). I tried for a few hours last night to convert a plane into msfs2020 but the old FSX model needed a json file list which it didnt have.  Going down a rabbit hole to try and make one I gave up. 

 

[Feathered_IV]

Hi Tyberan.   I got it from this page:

https://www.antsairplanes.com/freeanddemos.html
Its the Tiger Moth at the bottom of the page.

[ST_Catchov]

@Feathered_IV I must say those pics of the Tiger Moth are the closest thing I've seen to plane porn in some time. Absolutely fantastic!

[Tyberan]

Thanks @Feathered_IV

 

Ha, figured it out. Managed to import a vampire and a He51. The He51 didnt have a seen through cockpit window though. oh well .

[AndyJWest]

Visited Athens. Found a convenient spot to land. Not sure what they are building here, but I'm sure it will look nice when it's finished. ?

[Lusekofte]

6 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

look nice when it's finished. ?

It do look nice. Unsurpassed in beauty this sim

[AndyJWest]

Back on my world trip. Occasional holes in the cloud offer me glimpses of the mighty Congo, as I follow it eastwards through central Africa. Not sure where I'm going to land yet - I'll see if I can get as far as Kisangani, another 230 nm or so, though I may have to land sooner if the cloud gets worse. Plenty of options, fortunately, as there are small landing strips dotted along the river.

 

If I get to Kisangani, the next leg should take me over the Rift Valley. 

Edited October 29, 2020 by AndyJWest

[Lusekofte]

My work trip got prolonged one week. 
so I really appreciate these reports pics and videos

[Tektolnes]

My round the world trip continues steadily too. Working a circumnavigation of Africa at the moment. After going Libya -> Tunisia -> Algeria -> Morocco -> Western Sahara -> Mauritania I can safely say that, while a lot of it has been nice to look at, I've seen enough desert for a while. Some greenery finally awaits in Gambia on the next leg.

 

The Richat Structure / Eye of the Sahara:

[AndyJWest]

Good luck with the central African weather, Tektolnes. I've seen so much rain and cloud that the emptiness of the Sahara sounds positively enticing.

[ZachariasX]

Patch 1.10.7.0

[DD_Arthur]

1 hour ago, ZachariasX said:

Patch 1.10.7.0

 

From the notes

"Huge hole in Brazil has been fixed"  

[Tektolnes]

2 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

I've seen so much rain and cloud that the emptiness of the Sahara sounds positively enticing.

 

Yep was pretty lucky with the weather for the most part so far. Just some windy days and an over-abundance of thunderstorms thanks to Asobo who decided to make up for not having them modelled originally to giving us all the lightning all the time. Made for some pretty shots sometimes though.

 

[ZachariasX]

Update worked, but it seems REX WeatherForce cannot inject data anymore. Oh well.

 

Currently over France, near Chambry (LFAF), from Switzerland to England (Biggin Hill). Time shifted as pleased, but "real" weather. Weather is getting English already.

 

Trying an "around the world" via UK - Greenland - Canada - Alaska - Japan - Korea - China & over the Hump - India - Pakistan - Iran - Turkey - Italy - Switzerland.

 

Starting to like the Baron, even though it is not yet really a complete module.

 

[Blooddawn1942]

Almost Halloween ?

 

 

[DD_Arthur]

Imo the Baron is the best of the twins so far.  

 

Starting to plan my round the world trip as it's becoming obvious we're heading into our second wave lock down.

 

Lets see, my flight plan is Exeter - Shoreham - Le Touquet and then.....Italy via either the French or Austrian Alps?

[Tektolnes]

34 minutes ago, ZachariasX said:

but it seems REX WeatherForce cannot inject data anymore.

 

How do you find Rex generally for live weather? Does it give you more accurate representations? 

[AndyJWest]

Into the Rift Valley, and signs of human settlement after endless miles of rainforest. Volcanoes ahead! I turn on my virtual oxygen, and climb to 13,000 ft to take a look, though the cloud, as per usual, isn't helping.

 

Nyamuragira, possibly Africa's most active volcano. As of June this year, it was producing seismic activity, and showing hot spots. Something's brewing...

 

Trying to see down into Nyiragongo, through the cloud. As well as lava, it produces 'mazuku', pockets of carbon-dioxide-rich air, which can be fatal. 

Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, below, with Gisenyi, its Rwandan neighbour adjacent. Lake Kivu beyond. A nice spot, as long as you don't think too much about the volcanoes only 10 miles or so to the north, or the political upheavals that have marred its recent history.

 

[ZachariasX]

Ok, second leg of my trip, Biggin Hill to Donegal. The chocolate run. Before there be customs on the route.

 

Weather is... English. I was fiddling a bit with the heading bug going on autopilot. I couldn't see a thing. Set altitude lower util I saw lights. I was flying almost between taxiing A/C over Gatwick. Full power, climb... high.. wondering if I ever manage to get above this. Thank God I have the Isle of Man on my route, just incase I get someone nasty on the radio and I have to seek asylum. I decided to clim to 12'000 ft that I reached over Wales.

 

Beautiful Wales. Can it get any worse?

 

Spoiler

Yes. I just love that de-icing functionality on the Baron. I sorely missed that in the Robin, climbing of Jan Mayensfeld airport. Didn't turn out to be much of a climb.

 

But at least now, I am on steady cruise, breathing moral fiber instead of oxygen, but you have what you have. Besides, withing two month time I will have to fly under the radar for not getting trouble with the customs on this route. After all, I loaded 100 lbs of After Eight as baggage.

 

 

I didn't opt to go down to sea level in order to get a glimpse of the Isle of Man. So i venture on.

 

Oh Ireland.

 

As I found a friendly hole in the clouds, I use that to do see a bit more of the island.

 

On approach. The wind is a pain, but at least on this island, I can see something.

 

 

From there, I guess I will travel to Iceland via the Faroe islands. *maybe I get to see a glimpse of Scottland...

[DD_Arthur]

Just returning to Exeter this afternoon in my luuurvley Mooney with live weather. 

 Been on a quick recce of the county borders to establish where we'll place our volunteers with their pitchforks and burning torches next week*

  

 

Evening and night time look fantastic.....but; 

Where I live our roads are only lit around junctions, intersections, roundabouts, etc.   At night you can certainly 'see' major roads from the air but out of town they're all unlit.  This string of pearls effect I feel is slightly over done.  A minor gripe really as night flying in this is a joy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Someone's got to repel all those second-home owners heading this way next week!

[AndyJWest]

Flying east over Rwanda. Lots of hill-top settlements and terraced fields.

 

Lake Ihema, on the Rwandan - Tanzanian border.

 

Lake Victoria. AKA Nam Lolwe, 'Nnalubaale or Ukerewe. It's big. I'm skirting the southern edge. Kampala, on the northern shore, is about 120 nm away.

 

[Lusekofte]

I have to admire your resilliance against choosing faster planes

[AndyJWest]

4 minutes ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

I have to admire your resilliance against choosing faster planes

 

I tried out the Cessna Citation Longitude earlier. Flew for two hours. Hardly looked outside. No point in going anywhere if you can't enjoy the scenery on the way.

[Lusekofte]

16 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

 

I tried out the Cessna Citation Longitude earlier. Flew for two hours. Hardly looked outside. No point in going anywhere if you can't enjoy the scenery on the way.

True. But still there is GA going faster than 70 knot’s ?

I see no point in speed up a virtual world tour, but your patience truly is admirable 

[DD_Arthur]

Interesting....I'm downloading another update

 

Patch 1.10.8.0?

Edited November 1, 2020 by DD_Arthur

[AndyJWest]

Just a hotfix for CTDs some have been having, Arthur.

[ZachariasX]

So... up for the next leg of my round the world trip.

 

It started out with a discovery. There is no airport on the Faroe islands. Vágar Airport doesn't exist within FS2020. So... Change of plans. I should visit Scotland. This leg will bring me to Kirkwall (EGPA). From Donegal, it should theoretically be achievable with the residual fuel I have, a tad below a third of the tank. On my way to Scotland, I found not spending money the sensible thing to do. Weather cleared up since yesterday. I think I have tail wind on my trip.

 

 

After takeoff, I keep flying below the clouds to get a better view of the nort coast.

 

 

It is not always that green. Over Scotland, weather is getting British again on me.

 

Will it fit?

 

I'm trying to venture along down low, to get a better picture of what I've missed last sping in cancelled holidays. I am extending my leg slightly to the north, zooming low over Oban for some castle sightseeing along the route.

 

 

Castle Stalker... Maybe I don't spend too much of my little fuel left on looking for such places. I wenture on to Loch Ness.

 

 

For the record, it is not a great idea to use the autopilot to minimize air between yourself and the Loch. Worse, when you see that things go south and disengage the AP, you earn yourself a forward trimmed aircraft. Oops...

 

 

But made it to Inverness... and lastly to Kirkwall with 2% fuel left, but at least the weather getting better along the way. If it wasn't for a monumental crosswind... But made it. Will be a long flight from Kirkwall to Iceland.

 

 

 

[AndyJWest]

I believe there's a freeware Faroes airport available somewhere. Though it really should have been included as stock, considering its significance to long-distance GA travel.

[ZachariasX]

2 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

I believe there's a freeware Faroes airport available somewhere. Though it really should have been included as stock, considering its significance to long-distance GA travel.

Yes, you are right. Someone had mercy and provided EKVG.

[AndyJWest]

Olduvai Gorge, with Ngorongoro in the distance. The gorge cuts through stratigraphy rich in fossils, including multiple hominin finds dating as far back as 1.9 million years.

 

Ngorongoro, a volcanic caldera rich in wildlife, with a salt lake in its centre.

 

Multiple volcanic peaks. In the far distance, Mount Kilimanjaro reaches up into the clouds.

 

Ol Doinyo Lengai, the  'Mountain of God' to the Maasai. Active, producing unusual carbonatite lava.

 

[DD_fruitbat]

24 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

Olduvai Gorge, with Ngorongoro in the distance. The gorge cuts through stratigraphy rich in fossils, including multiple hominin finds dating as far back as 1.9 million years.

 

Ngorongoro, a volcanic caldera rich in wildlife, with a salt lake in its centre.

 

Multiple volcanic peaks. In the far distance, Mount Kilimanjaro reaches up into the clouds.

 

Ol Doinyo Lengai, the  'Mountain of God' to the Maasai. Active, producing unusual carbonatite lava.

 

 

Be careful if you try to land in the Ngorongoro crater, its wetter than it looks, have first hand knowledge......

 

 

 

A bemused hyena watches on...

 

 

Edited November 1, 2020 by DD_fruitbat

[AndyJWest]

Presumably the caldera is slowly filling up, possibly with wildebeest droppings. There doesn't seem to be any obvious way for the water to get out, other than evaporation, so I can understand it being rather marshy. In real life, dead flat land adjacent to a body of water is usually a clue as to what to expect. MSFS is more forgiving though, allowing you to land more or less anywhere reasonably flat. Even mountain tops that in real life are nothing but loosely-piled rocks.

 

How does it feel to have the wildlife laughing at you, Fruitbat??

 

 

Edited November 1, 2020 by AndyJWest

[ZachariasX]

Grace of Aeroportus-Ex-Andy, I could make the final part (with a nicely tipped off  tank this time).

 

 

I speculate that I still will have some visibility upon arrival. But I better hurry, hence I have no time checking the weather bulletin. But what could be worse than Atlantic cross wind on the Orkneys? Ah... Takeoff comes close.

 

 

Nice sunsets... But It is REALLY getting dark. Upon descent, I get below clouds. Pitch black. Now... I will have almost 90° crosswind during approach, 20+ knots. Ugh... "Choose your runway".

 

 

I chose badly. This is awful. Turning in on final, I find myself getting directly blown to Jan Mayensfeld.

 

 

Made it. At last. Landed on the right wheel and wingtip. This was NOT good. But came in intact. Again. Just lucky, I guess.

 

 

Edited November 1, 2020 by ZachariasX

[DD_fruitbat]

@AndyJWest

 

I didn't mind the hyena laughing (they're well known for it!). Was pretty glad there were no lions around at that point though,  as they might well of been interested in more than just laughing!

Edited November 1, 2020 by DD_fruitbat

[Feathered_IV]

Still heading north.  Flying along the Gold Coast and closing in on Brisbane.  The great thing about visiting Queensland in FS2020 is you can leave at any time.