IFR Sims

[jcmissionary]

Has anyone found any of the IFR sims to be useful, like ASA's On Top or Elite? The reason being is that we're to the point in my instrument where we're flying approaches all day, and we have very little chance to do them in IMC, so I'm wondering if the IFR sims are worth the $120+ or if I should just stick with FS2002.

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[Lou_Betti]

Stick with FS2002- seriously!

As you are also doing it for real, that's all you need to use. :-)

Regards,
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[flyinggriffin]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-03 AT 02:33PM (EST)[p]Like that old song says "ain't nothing like the real thing baby". First time you are in the clouds without an instructor it will be the same feeling you had when you realized you were flying solo by yourself. Let the training take over and it will be just like flying the sim...only the bill is higher and you can't take a potty break when you want.

Seriously I would continue to use FS2002 for your practice. The only thing that On Top has is the ability to set up weather and condtions faster. Set up a series of canned weather scenarios from your home field and others and use it to shoot approaches and fly holding patterns with some really wicked winds aloft.

About the only thing that On Top can do better is a quick setup and go and you can make conditions improve or get worse over a period of time.

Truthfully what is probably the most valuable part of FS2002 is if you are tempted to duck down under the MDA or DH and a big old building or mountain comes rising out of the mist and scares the heck out of you. No terrain to go splat in the night in the other sims.

[toddrf]

Truly, Elite has nothing on FS2002. Actually, as far as graphics go and shooting approaches, Elite really doesn't have much on FS98.

I used FS98 exclusively to practice for my Instrument and multi-commercial checkrides and I found it to be very helpful. I would go fly approaches for real, eat dinner and then that evening fly three or four approaches on FS98. It was a perfect tool.

I have used Elite products and I find them overpriced and lacking.

Todd :-wave

[KenG01]

I have to agree with everyone. I used ASA's software for the PCATD and found it severly lacking compared to FS2002 in many ways. Even my instructor agreed. It is fine to use it at the FBO, but when at home use FS2002. As was said, make a bunch of saved flights with different weather scenarios and go practice.

I had the opportunity to get ASA's program very cheap, but decided I just didn't really want it. I'd rather practice with MSFS and X-plane. For personal use, they are far better.

-----
Ken G:-wave

[flyinggriffin]

For anyone who doubts that these sims are lacking in graphics there should be demos out there you can download. I got On Top because I had FS2000 at the time and it clanked and clunked on my system I had at the time. FS2K was fine for VFR work but was way too laggy for precsion.


The graphics for most of the other systems are a blast from the past. In fairness to the publishers, FAA certification process of computer products does not encourage innovation.

[jcmissionary]

I just tried out the On Top demo, and was certainly unimpressed with it. It had lagging VSI's and all that, but the demo is supposed to be in Billings, Montana, and it was as flat as Kansas. So I guess I'll stick with FS002/FS:COF. :I guess I'll stick with FS002/FS:COF. :-)

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