Microsoft Flight Sim 2020/2024

[BOO]

38 minutes ago, DD_Arthur said:

Low latency did seem to help on my ancient system.

What really helped was getting a g-sync screen that allowed me to turn off the in game v-sync without having screen tearing.

Given the screen also doubles as the TV sadly Gsync is a non starter. 

[Chief_Mouser]

14 hours ago, Lusekofte said:

And I am doing a ful reinstall . I leave for Whales the day after tomorrow. I will make it ready and dandy until my return

 

If only I'd have known earlier I would have come across and bothered you! ?

Going to be on the other side of the country in (hopefully sunny) Norfolk instead.

Have fun in wet Wales. ?

[BOO]

2 hours ago, BOO said:

 

Im currently at Pembrey VTOL-ing a cub ?

 

42Kt headwind at Pembey meant I only had to lift the nose and apply a little power to take off backwards.  Climbed up to 14500ft and in amongst specatular clouds before landing with a 22kt crosswind a Cardiff.  A feat that clearly impressed someone...

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by BOO

[Lusekofte]

19 minutes ago, Chief_Mouser said:

 

If only I'd have known earlier I would have come across and bothered you! ?

Going to be on the other side of the country in (hopefully sunny) Norfolk instead.

Have fun in wet Wales. ?

We Are well aware of the weather, but forecast say it gonna ease up a bit. 
this f***Ing software are now acting up and restart the computer. It apparently need a lot of gpu power to install updates and I had to tune graphics down I just do not Kronos how I did it last time
 

[BOO]

13 minutes ago, Lusekofte said:

We Are well aware of the weather, but forecast say it gonna ease up a bit. 
this f***Ing software are now acting up and restart the computer. It apparently need a lot of gpu power to install updates and I had to tune graphics down I just do not Kronos how I did it last time
 

I can sense all that Island wellbeing and oneness with nature evaporating.........

[Hoots]

24 minutes ago, BOO said:

I can sense all that Island wellbeing and oneness with nature evaporating.........

A stormy weekend in Wales will bring it all back...

 

[BOO]

4 minutes ago, Hoots said:

A stormy weekend in Wales will bring it all back...

 

Sounds like the last city break I ever had with my 1st wife....

[DD_fruitbat]

1 hour ago, Hoots said:

A stormy weekend in Wales will bring it all back...

 

Is there any other type of weekend in Wales???

[Lusekofte]

1 hour ago, DD_fruitbat said:

Is there any other type of weekend in Wales???

I tell you, whatever weather coming my way. I have seen my share of it , and me and my missus have open ticket home.  We stay for two weeks or more. Or maybe less. We will rent a car and use trains. See Scotland. My daughter wanted to go shopping In Cardiff. 
I might even take a trip to a museum. Once in UK everything is in a northerner’s mind ,just a car drive away

Edited April 12, 2023 by Lusekofte

[Hoots]

15 minutes ago, Lusekofte said:

I tell you, whatever weather coming my way. I have seen my share of it , and me and my missus have open ticket home.  We stay for two weeks or more. Or maybe less. We will rent a car and use trains. See Scotland. My daughter wanted to go shopping In Cardiff. 
I might even take a trip to a museum. Once in UK everything is in a northerner’s mind ,just a car drive away

 

We joke, Wales is a beautiful place. But shopping in Cardiff is my idea of hell

[LukeFF]

Guys, back on topic, please. ?

[Hoots]

Sorry Dad

[DD_Arthur]

Where’s the picture of Snowdonia gone? I was going to use it for some VFR flying.

 

[CUJO_1970]

Just some Wednesday randoms...

 

 

 

 

[JimTM]

MD500E dropping in on Lady Liberty:

 

MD500E at the JFK helicopter shuttle location:

[BOO]

18 hours ago, CUJO_1970 said:

Just some Wednesday randoms...

 

 

 

 

How are you finding the Maule? It’s gotten some mixed reviews. 

[CUJO_1970]

3 hours ago, BOO said:

How are you finding the Maule? It’s gotten some mixed reviews. 

 

I've only had time to fly it for about 45 minutes total, for initial release I think it's great. The interior model is superb.

 

I've not done any cold and dark startup or cross country with it though.

 

 

[BOO]

Day 7- Îsles de la Madeleine Magdalen Islands, QC– Deer Lake, Newfoundland – 214 Nm – Calm and Clear

 

 

 

Far from the tiny fuzzy dot I landed at, in the daylight and with a clear screen, the airport looks positively huge as we head out on a direct course to Newfoundland over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The look of the NX Cub is starting to win me over now but the limited functionality of the G3X in terms of ADF etc means there is little to keep me entertained on long transits.

 

 

Newfoundland was a beautiful looking winter wonderland. Valleys and hills spread out below me and the glorious clear weather draw me into flying the last leg low ‘n’ slow, following the rivers and powerline cuttings to Deer Lake.

 

 

 

 

Day 8- Deer Lake – Cartwright, Newfoundland – 298 Nm – Increasing Cloud and Rain from the West.

 

 

A transit flight that the sims turns into a wonder!  I did me pre-flight research for this and timed the leg so that I would stand a good chance of flying into the advancing weather front’s leading arm and out the other side as I approached my destination.

 

Taking  of into clear skies overhead but the building clouds to the West, the journey already has me totally immersed in the scenery and skies.

 

 

Transiting across the mainland of Newfoundland and Labrador, the clouds grow thicker and darker, whilst the mountains, bays and valleys below us provide interest no matter where we look.

 

 

Approaching Charlottetown on the East Coast, we hit the front, a vertical wall of rain cloud. If I’ve gotten this right we should make progress through it and be back in clear skies at our destination.

 

 

More by luck than judgement, the plan works and we fly the full approach path to Cartwright’s runway 25 out over the bays and Islands to the east. As the sun begins to fall towards the horizon and the clouds of the front we passed though catch us up, Im left awestruck just how well the sim does this kind of stuff.

 

 

Touching down at Cartwright, I start to wonder about the next leg. Its a lot of ocean to cross and I kinda want to do something more in terms of using the radios. I taxi past a Kodiak and start to think.......

 

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by BOO

[CUJO_1970]

These flight diaries are great stuff gentlemen, keep 'em coming!

[DD_Arthur]

55 minutes ago, CUJO_1970 said:

These flight diaries are great stuff gentlemen, keep 'em coming!

Agree 100%?

[LukeFF]

For those looking for new airport scenery, iniBuilds has released KJFK, an absolute beauty:

 

https://store.inibuilds.com/products/inibuilds-new-york-john-f-kennedy-kjfk-msfs

 

[Lusekofte]

I flown over Aberystwyth Wales and cannot recall seeing the castle on the shores. 
Do anyone knows if any of the uk updates got it? 

[DD_Arthur]

1 hour ago, Lusekofte said:

I flown over Aberystwyth Wales and cannot recall seeing the castle on the shores. 
Do anyone knows if any of the uk updates got it? 

Don’t think so. I’ve undertaken quite a few nostalgia trips around West Wales and there’s not a lot to see at Aber.

Certainly not below a thousand feet anyway.

 

 I don’t remember the castle being anything special in real life. It got ‘Cromwelled’ in our civil war and it’s basically a grassy mound with earthworks and a ruined tower iirc…

[LukeFF]

Picked up Soldier Bar and McCall airfields today from MSFS, along with the campground addon, since MSFS is having a big sale right now. Been meaning to do more bush flying with the DHC-2 once I complete my round-the-world tour, so this should be a good place to start.

[Lusekofte]

1 hour ago, DD_Arthur said:

Don’t think so. I’ve undertaken quite a few nostalgia trips around West Wales and there’s not a lot to see at Aber.

Certainly not below a thousand feet anyway.

 

 I don’t remember the castle being anything special in real life. It got ‘Cromwelled’ in our civil war and it’s basically a grassy mound with earthworks and a ruined tower iirc…

We went there today. You Are right but all the same fascinating. Thx for information 

I wish for a more detailed wales. Excellent terrain 

[BOO]

1 hour ago, LukeFF said:

Picked up Soldier Bar and McCall airfields today from MSFS, along with the campground addon, since MSFS is having a big sale right now. Been meaning to do more bush flying with the DHC-2 once I complete my round-the-world tour, so this should be a good place to start.

As tempted as I am, having spent best part of £250 in a month already.............:-) 

 

I did pick up the Kodiak though whilst I was hanging about (aboot) at Cartwright Airport. 

 

 

Nice fella came up to me "Im C. Sis" - bit formal I thought but thats probably a Canadian manners thing. Anyhow Mr Sis explained it was a bit of a fixer upper but that the Cartel who owned had had some bad luck recently so it was going for a song. I said I was in an acraft cartel myself once but got sick of finding sucked boiled sweetss in the ashtray and sandwich wrappers stuck down the side of seats.......anyhow it was 50% off list so.......

 

Had a fun day working out some control logic to suit the Warthog throttle.

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, BOO said:

As tempted as I am, having spent best part of £250 in a month already.............:-) 

 

I did pick up the Kodiak though whilst I was hanging about (aboot) at Cartwright Airport. 

 

 

Nice fella came up to me "Im C. Sis" - bit formal I thought but thats probably a Canadian manners thing. Anyhow Mr Sis explained it was a bit of a fixer upper but that the Cartel who owned had had some bad luck recently so it was going for a song. I said I was in an acraft cartel myself once but got sick of finding sucked boiled sweetss in the ashtray and sandwich wrappers stuck down the side of seats.......anyhow it was 50% off list so.......

 

Had a fun day working out some control logic to suit the Warthog throttle.

 

LOL, nice! 

 

Yep, been looking around at some of the "backcountry" addons that are out there that I've yet to pick up (I already have the Misty Moorings package). Lots of good stuff on the Bush League Legends site for the Idaho area and lots of other locations. Should be fun! 

[BOO]

13 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

LOL, nice! 

 

Yep, been looking around at some of the "backcountry" addons that are out there that I've yet to pick up (I already have the Misty Moorings package). Lots of good stuff on the Bush League Legends site for the Idaho area and lots of other locations. Should be fun! 

I have all the BLL scenery add-ons ready to go - all in theri own folder hierachy using the MSFS Add-on Linker (genius app). Ive found that some of the fields actually look better in default (i presume some were made prior to the US update). I also encountered frequent "your GPU is aout to explode" errors but I think this is now likely down to Nvidia Profile Inspector as opposed to add-ons. 

 

Nice tip on Misty Moorings - downloading that now!

 

Not BLL and Canada but this one https://www.msfsaddons.org/freeware/airport-machmell-fisheries-canada is a gem (i think youll alredy have it though). 

 

I think the Kodiak is likely to replace the NX cub. As much as i love the thing, its a backcountry hopper not really a globe trotting cruiser. Whilst the Kodiak isnt one either its got the NXi G1000 which means more to play and practice with as I progress. 

[LukeFF]

3 hours ago, BOO said:

I have all the BLL scenery add-ons ready to go - all in theri own folder hierachy using the MSFS Add-on Linker (genius app). Ive found that some of the fields actually look better in default (i presume some were made prior to the US update). I also encountered frequent "your GPU is aout to explode" errors but I think this is now likely down to Nvidia Profile Inspector as opposed to add-ons. 

 

Nice tip on Misty Moorings - downloading that now!

 

Not BLL and Canada but this one https://www.msfsaddons.org/freeware/airport-machmell-fisheries-canada is a gem (i think youll alredy have it though). 

 

I think the Kodiak is likely to replace the NX cub. As much as i love the thing, its a backcountry hopper not really a globe trotting cruiser. Whilst the Kodiak isnt one either its got the NXi G1000 which means more to play and practice with as I progress. 

 

Thanks for the tip on the BLL files - I'll be sure to do a comparison before I fly into any of them for real. 

[LukeFF]

On we go, from Tribhuvan International Airport (VNKT) to Tulihal (VEIM) (aka Imphal). Real-time weather, traffic, and time of day. Distance flown: 537 nautical miles:

 

 

Another hazy day on the ramp at VNKT, this time using improved airfield textures. I think this was the first time I flew from an airport that had accurately marked taxiways. ? 

 

Owing to the haze, we took off in IFR conditions, but after taking off we were able to switch back over to our VFR flight plan. Today we were afforded a view of the Himalayas as we headed east-southeast back into India:

 

 

The flight east was a little bit bumpy, but now that I have figured out my controls, the autopilot is now capable of keeping the sudden climbs and descents due to the turbulence in check. Needless to say, it was another gorgeous view as we headed east:

 

 

Soon we left the Himalayas behind and crossed one of the rivers that comes out of the mountains:

 

 

This part of India is more verdant than the western part of the country, and as we approached Imphal from the west a number of imposing valleys came into view:

 

 

[LukeFF]

 

As we began our approach into VEIM, the mountains rose up again, as well as the fog and haze:

 

 

VEIM sits on the valley floor seen in the middle-upper part of that last screenshot. Combined with the hills all around the player and that this approach is only via VOR DME, you really have to manage your altitude well with this airport. Thankfully I noticed early enough that I needed to steepen my approach if I wanted to make the runway, and the 310 is very willing to lose altitude if you cut the power - something you really have to watch because if you cut too much power you'll sink like a rock. So, combined with the fact this was a non-precision approach, into the haze, and I had to make quick decisions about my descent rate, it was no small feat that we made it down safely. But we did, and we made it to our parking area, just as two jetliners came in behind us a few minutes later.

 

 

The post-flight inspection revealed the spark plugs on the righthand engine needed replacing, so I took care of that before calling it a day. Off to see some of the local WWII battlegrounds! 

 

[BOO]

Persistence and servicing needs to be a thing across the board. 

 

As does keybinds for the FMS knob on the G1000 for the love of Pete! Flying from Gamston, I spent so long trying to dial in the ADF at Finngley with my crappy WiFi mouse , I was nearly over Leeds by the time I did...........in a Cessna 152!

 

BTW not sure what the rules about tents near runways are (i expect pretty severe) but that thar image NEEDS the //42 camp out set up ?

 

Edited April 15, 2023 by BOO

[ZachariasX]

4 hours ago, LukeFF said:

On we go, from Tribhuvan International Airport (VNKT) to Tulihal (VEIM) (aka Imphal).

The sensible choice with the 310... Nice flight!

 

Had another go at the Kathmandu - Lhasa route. This time with superchargers:

 

 

Topping her up half way plus only half the max payload. I have burned some engines by starting with max. T/O weight and then taking her high. She doesn't like that.

 

 

Pushback denied as the airport was IFR only. Bloody fog. I thought then I just discreetly follow another jet to show me a way out.

 

 

Some crosswind... and misearble view. The last experience with the 310 however taught me well that as soon as the wheels leave the runway, you bank and climb over the airport!

 

 

Fiddling around with the buttons AGAIN brought me too close to the mountainsides. At least with a sensible loadout and engines firewalled, she has the climb required. But barely.

 

 

If you fly the Himalayas and try to find Kathmandu, it's there where dark soup between the mountains is.

 

 

Yay, superchargers! I can fly direct route to Lukla.

 

 

Still, flying up the valley toward Everest, it becomes evident that I still have to look out for mountains... I cannot fly over highest ones.

 

 

Everest... I am somewhere over the base camp. But off I go north, toward Shigatse airbase (ZCAR) by tuning in on the beacon. As I go north, again, the AP doesn't follow localizer, same as in the 310. Guess what. Changing the stack to the ASOBO one showed the AP being set on GPS! Setting to VLOC on the ASOBO stack and then switching back to the analog stack - *miracle* - the AP could follow a radio beacon now...

 

It's a software issue. You can't do anything about that.™

 

 

I press on north.

 

 

Passing the Everest mountain range, the plateau of Tibet apears... Down there along that river I was creeping with the 310. Now there's a bit more snow. I am at FL240 and not very high about those ridges.

 

 

Shigatse airbase (ZCAR). Now towards east.

 

 

It's getting evening. And I suspect it will get pretty dark pretty soon. Lhasa's airport Gonggar (ZULS) directly ahead. I follow the ILS to runway 27 to set my approach.

 

 

As I extend east to make for the westward apporach, it gets dark very qickly.

 

 

A mystic sight as I reverse course to intercept the ILS.

 

 

In the last light, I just made it. It is pitch-dark as I shut down the aircraft.

 

Again, solved another mystery that only weird people like me who toss out the GPS cheating devices notice. Anyway...

[Lusekofte]

I love the DC 6. And you can do it better than me. Thanks for the tip about lesser weight. 

[LukeFF]

Nice! By the way, about this:

 

1 hour ago, ZachariasX said:

Pushback denied as the airport was IFR only. Bloody fog. I thought then I just discreetly follow another jet to show me a way out.

 

There is an option in the ATC menu to ignore weather warnings from the control tower. That'll give you the clearance you need to taxi out and take off.

[Hoots]

Flying around the top of Africa and as I made a decision not to fix anything until it broke it finally happened. A warning light for the right alternator. I made a completely uneducated guess (helped by having no real risk) that because I had two I'd be ok with one out.

 

Luckily the terrain here is very forgiving...

 

[Bremspropeller]

18 hours ago, ZachariasX said:

Everest... I am somewhere over the base camp. But off I go north

Isn't that pic above showing Everest's Kangshung (North) face?

 

Flew around Everest once in a VL-3 with a buddy. It was...exciting ?

[LukeFF]

Tulihal (VEIM) to Naypyitaw Intl, Myanmar (VYNT). Real-time weather, time of day, and traffic. Distance flown: 351 NM

 

 

Another typically hot, hazy day here in this part of the world. We filled up our tanks, taxied out, and rid ourselves of the haze before long:

 

 

As we flew east with a moderate crosswind, we had to traverse one more set of mountains before the terrain gradually flattened out. 

 

 

Once clear of the mountains the terrain gradually levels out past the river running parallel, before eventually flattening out into farmland.

 

Note: at this point, I had a weird issue(?) pop up again for the second time: the 1st engine started suddenly increasing and then decreasing power before finally cutting out. The DME display showed no failure codes, so I dunno what was going on - other than that, like last time, eventually my plane went into a spin from which I couldn't recover, so I had to start over.

 

I think there might be some sort of glitch here: I've noticed that if you start a flight from the runway, the left engine will act similarly and will eventually cut out. The preventive measure I've found there is to re-prime and restart the engine. Anyways, yeah, one of those head-scratchers... 

 

 

Other than passing over a few cities on our way south, the terrain was fairly unremarkable the rest of the way, though finally it did become greener:

 

 

The landing was much like our previous few: hazy and a bit bumpy, but manageable. After landing we opened the windows as soon as possible, owing to the hot weather on the ground (97F, which combined with a plane that has no AC is not great).

 

[Hoots]

1 hour ago, LukeFF said:

Tulihal (VEIM) to Naypyitaw Intl, Myanmar (VYNT). Real-time weather, time of day, and traffic. Distance flown: 351 NM

 

 

Another typically hot, hazy day here in this part of the world. We filled up our tanks, taxied out, and rid ourselves of the haze before long:

 

 

As we flew east with a moderate crosswind, we had to traverse one more set of mountains before the terrain gradually flattened out. 

 

 

Once clear of the mountains the terrain gradually levels out past the river running parallel, before eventually flattening out into farmland.

 

Note: at this point, I had a weird issue(?) pop up again for the second time: the 1st engine started suddenly increasing and then decreasing power before finally cutting out. The DME display showed no failure codes, so I dunno what was going on - other than that, like last time, eventually my plane went into a spin from which I couldn't recover, so I had to start over.

 

I think there might be some sort of glitch here: I've noticed that if you start a flight from the runway, the left engine will act similarly and will eventually cut out. The preventive measure I've found there is to re-prime and restart the engine. Anyways, yeah, one of those head-scratchers... 

 

 

Other than passing over a few cities on our way south, the terrain was fairly unremarkable the rest of the way, though finally it did become greener:

 

 

The landing was much like our previous few: hazy and a bit bumpy, but manageable. After landing we opened the windows as soon as possible, owing to the hot weather on the ground (97F, which combined with a plane that has no AC is not great).

 

Just a thought but you hadn’t knocked the fuel pump into high had you?

[JimTM]

3 hours ago, LukeFF said:

…

Note: at this point, I had a weird issue(?) pop up again for the second time: the 1st engine started suddenly increasing and then decreasing power before finally cutting out. The DME display showed no failure codes, so I dunno what was going on - other than that, like last time, eventually my plane went into a spin from which I couldn't recover, so I had to start over.

 

I think there might be some sort of glitch here: I've noticed that if you start a flight from the runway, the left engine will act similarly and will eventually cut out. The preventive measure I've found there is to re-prime and restart the engine. Anyways, yeah, one of those head-scratchers... 

…

I don’t know about your problem in the air, but I have had your runway start problem. Try setting your RPM and mixture controls close to the maximum before spawning on the runway. Then, just as you spawn, push those controls to maximum. 
 

I enjoy your globe-hopping flights.