Newcomers -- What Brought You To FS?

[xxmikexx]

This thread is aimed at newcomers who have been reading in the forums but have been shy about posting. Let's see what happens if we ask that only newcomers to post to this particular thread, my hope being that a conversation among newcomers alone will emerge ...

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What has brought you into the hobby? One of the very interesting aspects of FS is that there are many, many different ways to enjoy it. What do you hope to experience and/or to accomplish?

And where are you from, geographically? And what do you do in the real world? And so on. Tell us about yourself. Remember, no need to be shy or to feel intimidated, nobody but newcomers will post in this thread.

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If questions arise during this conversation, please start new threads to handle them. Let's try to keep this thread open only to newcomers.

[414Scootermon]

Hello from Wisconsin,
As a former Private, Instrument rated pilot, I (still) am instreted in keeping up the skills learned while flying Cessna and Piper aircraft. Instrument flying is my main interest but first had to get the computer 'innerds' up to the task. This is where the Flight Simm forum was found. Thanks for all the information from everyone concerned. You are all the most helpful group I've ever found.

Paul (414Scootermon)

[Leadraft]

Hello from Maryland:

I've always been fascinated by planes since I was a kid and I can't explain why. I'm one of those guys who goes to my local airport here in Frederick and just sit and watch the 172s and lears take off and land.

As for FS, it's probably the closest thing I'll get to the real thing. Some of my gamer friends would consider it boring cause you're not shooting at something, but I tend to enjoy simulator games. The fun has been getting proficient in instrument operation and navigating. Calling FS a game does not accurately describe it.

I'm not into just flying around for the heck of it, so I've been flying to the different NASCAR events around the country since I'm into NASCAR. I guess I need a purpose to my flying. Will probably get Cargo Pilot this weekend to accomplish that end since I've read good reviews here.

I'm a freelance web developer and designer.

-- Mike

[WallysWorld]

Howdy from Calgary:

Haven't used FS since FS3 way back in my ol' Commodore 64 days when I thought a single white line against a blank green landscape was a thrill to fly over.

Didn't think I wanted to get into flight simming until I bought FS9 only because of the reduced price. Now about 70-80% of the time I spend on my PC is flying. 90% of the time I fly commercial IFR flights and only fly from and to airports that that I have downloaded updates for.

I currently work as a PeopleSoft Technical Analyst.

[the general]

Howdy Folks,
Just stumbled on this one about giving some personal info and reasons for getting into FS, so here goes.
Having always wanting to be a real pilot but being born at the wrong time and not coming from a background where driving for goals was stressed I missed the window. Getting involved with computers in the late '70s and interested in games I began buying PC games including an FS version that still had SubLogic on the box. Don't know the version but have collected and played with it off and on over the years, but nothing serious with long lapses inbetween.
This past Christmas, while visiting with our kids, my 10 year old grandson asked if I had any knowledge of FS2004. I showed him a couple of things I knew, I have about 2 hours of actual time in a 1946 Aronca in the mid '60s. This peeked my interest in this program to the point I decided it was time to take it seriously and have been trying to learn how to fly FS properly for the past 5 months.
I can't say much for the lessons in FS2004 as they seem to end early and so far the Taxi Lesson won't even start, so my progression towards the solo are at a stand still till I find some answers about how to get through the lessons.
I really enjoy reading the posts in the different forums here but don't spend as much time as I should because these old eyes get tired very quickly, so I just continue to take off from my local airport and fly down the road to a nice lillte dirt strip about 50 miles south where I practice landing. I have got to the point where I don't bounce any longer, but don't know how long it will be before I think I might be ready for the solo run.
My goal for FS2004 is to be able to comptently fly the Aero Commander anywhere in the US, and yes I have already downloaded it and several repaints.
I have also purchased FSUIPC but haven't figured out how to get my CH Yoke & Pedals properly programmed to work correctly with it; this is on my desktop PC. I currently just fly on the laptop with an MS Sidewinder.
I fly out of Boulder City Muni B61 and my favorit landing spot is Cal-Nev-Ari (Kidwell 1L4) dirt strip in Southern Nevada.
As far as what I do, well I'm really good at taking up space and not much else:mad: Gave up Corporate America back in '98 due to lack of interest and the fact that my ex got remarried which was one hell of a raise in income:D
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The General (AKA Dave Patton)

[nagua]

My wife and I are GA pilots as we get older 70's medicals get a little harder to get as does the 150.00 pr hr wet to fly. Have flown Fly Sym over the years currently FSX. Built a new machine Q6600 XP Home 8600GTS 2G Ram CH Fighter stick no rudders yet. Have a lot of Friends who are gamers but they don't fly. It's hard to explain to them why some things are needed. Transitioning to jets keep getting voice that say overcontrolling, too high or low and nothing I see confirms that. I may not even have my hand on the stick and I'm told overcontrolling.So many questions. FSX is such a "bear" or hog. that I sometimes think we underbuilt. So many thoughts and questions for the next time. Great site. Thanks.

[jwenting]

Dave, if your eyes get tired quickly looking at a computer screen you may need (new/different) glasses.
Best go see an optometrist or eye doc and tell them, they may be able to help you.

[the general]

I do use computer glasses and the Doc. told me last Nov that my current pair are just fine as my eyes haven't changed.
I think it's just plain being in the Golden Years and everything is getting worn out:D! I still think that whoever coined that phrase must have had one crappy childhood:D!

The General

[the general]

Well I guess you can all have a good laugh on this one, while updating my neighbors anti-virus software he asked if I could increase the size of the type in his emails. I showed him how and then came home to check this site and it suddenly dawned on me to check the type size here, bigger makes quite a difference:( So I guess I'll spend the rest of the day looking for me dunce cap:D
thanks for the assistance folks!
The General

[DarkMellie]

Hi all, my name is Murray and I'm a 31 year old living in Tasmania. I'm a bank manager by day and a fanatical gamer by night.

I'm not sure why I downloaded FSX other than perhaps early memories of wanting to be a fighter pilot as a kid. In the end I grew up to be 6'10" so I figured I might not fit!

I love everything about FSX. I'm working my way through the lessons with Rob Machado and once I've gone through them all I'll go through them again and again and again. Right now I need to work on my landings as I can't quite get the grip of the long and slow descent. I have turned autorudder off though as I find I naturally apply torque when banking.

I'm also a huge fan of a game called Project Reality. Its a conversion for the battlefield 2 game however it is for mature and teamwork minded players only. I think anyone with the patience for a flight sim should also try out a war sim (as that's how it's used by professional armies). You can find more information here; www.realitymod.com

Anyway, big fan of the forums, I've not seen a single troll yet. Really looking forward to receiving your advice, because I know I'm going to need to ask for it!

Murray

[jwenting]

Go see another optometrist General.
My regular one said the same thing you did, that my current glasses are fine.
Went to get a second opinion elsewhere. They did a far more thorough exam, and I do need new glasses but indeed only for computer use. The difference is massive, can't wait for them to arrive (the glass wasn't in stock, so it takes a while).

[klem]

A love of aviation and flying, born of being an Air Cadet many many years ago, which has never left me. Not a RL Pilot (except the long-expired gliding licence from the cadet days) but I've 12 plus years of on-line combat flying and a recent desire to fly the virtual 'real world' (oxymoron?). Done much commercial flying all over the world including a slightly dodgy Heron flight between Brussels and Rotterdam which I still remember from the 70's, a dramatic 707 flight between thunderstorm clouds over Kuwait where a fight broke out at altitude between two oilmen, heli flights to oil rigs and many other narrow and wide-bodied business flights since (you just don't get the excitement any more :0 )

I have tried FS on and off since 1998 without being much drawn in but now there is such terrific photo scenery available and, I suppose, having now reached an age of greater patience I am willing and looking forward to learning it properly.

"Chocks away".... "all clear above and behind"... and many other outdated sayings....

klem

[BillTheSlink]

Hello from a Cincinnati OH life long resident. Basically I got FSX last fall because I am a graphics junkie with a fascination with aircraft. I used to be in RC but I was never good at it and it was incredibly inconvenient and EXPENSIVE ; at least it was as late as 2001; I have no idea what stuff goes for now and I am going to have to find out as I have a bunch of stuff I want to get rid of locally.

I started with it back in Fall '07, but quickly became frustrated with the graphics my machine would give it, and the fact I could never get my controls set right with the controller I was stuck with up until this point:
Logitech duel analog sticks with typical 8 button control a digital D pad (looks just like Xbox 360 game controller). The rudder and throttle are on the right stick and it is impossible to control both at the same time and trying to change one affects the other and it is impossible to taxi and take of and land straight as increasing throttle is a left push and you end up pushing the rudder left and turn off the runway. I am going to buy a Saitek Yoke and throttle quadrant package as soon as my money comes in from a pending firearms sale. I can't get pedals at this time though, as something has to be done about the Hardware on the system:

Gateway GM5474
AMD ATHLON 64 X2 6000+
3 Ghz each Core
GeForce 8500GT 256 MB Video card
2 Gig mem ready boosted to 4 Gig via flash
500 Gig Hard drive

I do not yet have SP1 for FSX as I am on dial up, but am switching to DSL so hopefully after the download things will improve.


I am disabled, a student, and help take care of my grate aunt who is bed fast and I end up with a lot of time on my hands and "surfing the net" has just gotten old and I want to do something else.

Have a pig,
BillTheSlink

[DHC120]

I've been "flying" in FS for about a year now.. How I got into it is, I believe, somewhat interesting..
I'm a retired Automotive & Motorcycle mechanic. I raced motorcycles from '62-'75, the last three years as an AMA "Class C" Professional and I restored classic and antique cars for fourteen years. In my "spare time", I'm restoring my 1953 Jaguar XK120 DropHead Coupe.. one of 1700 built! I bought the Jag in May 1967.
A year ago this past March, I decided to build my own computer (I had no computer building skills), did the research, etc., to try to build one powerful and up-to-date enough that it should last for a good while. It took me till the end of June to construct this beast! Now I have a fast processor (Athlon64 x2 3800+ Dual Core) a "decent" graphics card (XFX GeForce 7300GS PCIx16, which has been replaced with an XFX Fatal1ty 8500GT), Four Gigs of RAM, 200GB Hard-Drive and a few other "go fast" goodies.
My brother-in-law gave my son the game "F-22 Air Dominance Fighter", I tried playing it.. did rotten at it as "keyboard controls" were jerkey, at best. I obtained a Joystick that wasn't much good, a friend of my son's gave us a better one, but not that much better and I found I know a lot less than I thought I did about flying.. My Dad was a Pilot in WWII & Korea.. flew B-17's, B-24's, B-29's, etc. and I've always had a dream to learn to fly the B-17 (when that lottery ticket pays off!)..
So, I bought FS9, a CH Yoke and Rudder Pedals.. this was my "chance" to fly the planes of my dreams.. I dug out my Dad's Flight Logs and "AF Form 5's", downloaded the "PT-19" and learned to fly. My "goal" now is to replicate, in the simulator, my Dad's 3783.5 hours of total Flight Time, in the planes that he flew.
I guess, sometimes we just "back into things" ;-}
Charles.

[xxmikexx]

DHC120,

We FS lovers come from all walks of life. Your story proves that point. By the way, I'm impressed that you built your own computer starting from zero knowledge.

[thinman]

Well a couple of months ago I was looking for a program that would run on my old computer. Ran accross FS2002 in a jewel case for about 10 bucks. Had no past experience with FS'ing but thought I'd give it a try, especially since I like watching planes fly anyway. Purchased a joystick, installed the program, got hooked, and the rest is history. I then did a search of the internet on flight simulation and that led me to this site. Started reading the forums and enjoyed the way people could ask questions and get informative replys. Decided I'd join and have not regretted it for one moment.

__________________
Bob

[davehero]

As a child in the mid-80's I used to use a flight sim on a Sinclair ZX Spectrum - it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. The earth was a uniform dark blue and flat, with three light blue lakes, the sky was light blue (no clouds) and if you flew off the right edge of the map, you'd join again from the left side. It was just the greatest thing, and only took about 10 minutes to load from tape!

I also had an ATC sim for the Spectrum (called Heathrow ATC I think) - wouldn't mind trying my hand at an updated ATC sim, if anyone has any suggestions for a decent product ...

I've always been interested in flying, and after going up RW for a couple of lessons (unfortunately never completed training) a few years ago, it inspired me to get into simming again, so picked up FS2002 and have been using it on and off ever since.

[NikeHerk67]

Well a couple of months ago I was looking for a program that would run on my old computer. Ran accross FS2002 in a jewel case for about 10 bucks. Had no past experience with FS'ing but thought I'd give it a try, especially since I like watching planes fly anyway. Purchased a joystick, installed the program, got hooked, and the rest is history. I then did a search of the internet on flight simulation and that led me to this site. Started reading the forums and enjoyed the way people could ask questions and get informative replys. Decided I'd join and have not regretted it for one moment.

__________________
Bob

Bob,

That's a great story! It's always nice to have another FS hobbyist on board. I've seen your progress, and must say your questions are getting tougher all the time. :)

Through the years, when newcomers would ask questions many would just say, why don't you read the manual? When I started flying the FS the last thing I wanted to do was to read a manual from beginning to end before enjoying flying.

My theory is that we should answer each question as if it were the first time it was ever asked. It really doesn't matter if the same question was asked a hundred times before. For newcomers, it's their first visit and that, of course, is their first impression. They have no idea what can and can't be accomplished. Your questions have been great examples for this forum, which is for newcomers. We owe thanks to xxmikexx and the moderators for starting and maintaining this forum and you for asking the questions, in the first place, that will benefit many others in the future.

We hope you stay with it. There's so much to do and to learn. A person could fly all their life with just one version of FS and still find something new and exciting each time they sit down to fly. Most of all, it's our imaginations that creates the enjoyment, and there are as many of those as there are flight simulator hobbyists.

Very soon you'll find yourself back here answering newcomers questions. ;)

[NikeHerk67]

As a child in the mid-80's I used to use a flight sim on a Sinclair ZX Spectrum - it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. The earth was a uniform dark blue and flat, with three light blue lakes, the sky was light blue (no clouds) and if you flew off the right edge of the map, you'd join again from the left side. It was just the greatest thing, and only took about 10 minutes to load from tape!

I also had an ATC sim for the Spectrum (called Heathrow ATC I think) - wouldn't mind trying my hand at an updated ATC sim, if anyone has any suggestions for a decent product ...

I've always been interested in flying, and after going up RW for a couple of lessons (unfortunately never completed training) a few years ago, it inspired me to get into simming again, so picked up FS2002 and have been using it on and off ever since.

Dave

There are at least of couple of ATC add-ons here in the library files you might want to take a look at for FS2002.
atcgame5.zip
atcrds50.zip

[davehero]

Thanks for the pointers - I'll give them a try.

[NikeHerk67]

Dave
Actually I believe they're stand alone add-ons. Just make sure they're compatible with your OS (windows version). I found some others that were for windows 95 and 98. Perhaps that's what you have.

[simmerpilot78]

hello from chicago,

Ive been playing FS for a while but im not a real pilot (going to be ;) ) and im still learning things about flying.

The only thing i dont like about it is that i cant get add ons to work :(

Peace

[NikeHerk67]

hello from chicago,

Ive been playing FS for a while but im not a real pilot (going to be ;) ) and im still learning things about flying.

The only thing i dont like about it is that i cant get add ons to work :(

Peace

It depends on what add-ons you're talking about. There are many How-to's here in the site which explain add-ons.

Let me go into my RANT mode for a minute, which is one of my pet Peeves. :(

Many times programmers think we all had a computer sitting on our desk when we were at the K1 education level. For instance you'll read in the installation instructions where it says to unzip the file into C:\Program File\Microsoft Games\FS2004\aircraft file. When actually your path is C:\Program File\Microsoft Games\FS 9\aircraft file. That really grinds me at times.

I'm older and a self-taught computer expert, but I've never had a formal class in computers. I taught myself AutoCAD, Micro Station, Visio, excel, word, etc back when they were CAD, MSCAD, Word Perfect, Lotus, etc. If it's FS9, why do they tell you its FS2004? I'll tell you why. They have no respect for the average person; it's all about what THEY know. No respect for anyone else trying to understand, however we are supposed to just know what they mean. Is it FS2004 or is it FS 9. It depends on what MSFS decided the file path you loaded your flight simulator file into! I happened to be thirty something when the Commodore 32 and 64 came out. I actually remember when DOS became MSDOS, which was the downfall of progress.................Ahem, I digress at this moment.

Anyway, you just need to know what files you have to drop into the proper folders. Pay attention to Panel folders, Aircraft folders, and especially the cfg. folder of whatever aircraft you're trying to add-on. :)

[MongooseMike]

hello from chicago,

Ive been playing FS for a while but im not a real pilot (going to be ;) ) and im still learning things about flying.

The only thing i dont like about it is that i cant get add ons to work :(

Peace

Give us a few of the Add-ons that won't work and maybe we can come up with a solution. And what sim your on, FSX or FS9. There is a lot of expertise on this forum. When I first got into FSX I went nuts trying to make even the simplest thing work until I checked out the forum.

[simmerpilot78]

I have both FSX and FS2004, but I only use FS2004 because FSX is too heavy and complicated for my computer. Well, i have followed the exact instructions in the Readme files but it still wouldn't show up. I had downloaded a 757 file and all it had said was "put this file into the Fs2004 texture folder" and "put this file into your aircraft folder". It seemed too easy and i thought there would have to be more moving/deleting with files for it too work. When i looked to see if it would work, it wasn't there. I thought if i restarted my computer it would work, but it didn't.

Anyways, thanks for helping but i don't want to waste your time or anything. I'm not too good with computers at all so thats why i have trouble with this.

Thanks,
SimmerPilot78

By the way, do you need to use WinZip in order to extract files? My computer came with an extracting wizard and i thought i could just use that.

[MongooseMike]

I have both FSX and FS2004, but I only use FS2004 because FSX is too heavy and complicated for my computer. Well, i have followed the exact instructions in the Readme files but it still wouldn't show up. I had downloaded a 757 file and all it had said was "put this file into the Fs2004 texture folder" and "put this file into your aircraft folder". It seemed too easy and i thought there would have to be more moving/deleting with files for it too work. When i looked to see if it would work, it wasn't there. I thought if i restarted my computer it would work, but it didn't.

Anyways, thanks for helping but i don't want to waste your time or anything. I'm not too good with computers at all so thats why i have trouble with this.

Thanks,
SimmerPilot78

By the way, do you need to use WinZip in order to extract files? My computer came with an extracting wizard and i thought i could just use that.

It's not a waste of time for this forum. Feel free to bring your issues here and see what happens. We all started as newcomers with no idea what we were getting into.
Also look in the 2004 forum and do a search. And also ask the question. I rarely look here in the Newcomers forum. I spend all my time in the FSX forum. You may find that the problem your having has already been discussed and solved there.
As for the issue at hand, I'm not into FS9 anymore and didn't do much add-on work so I hope somebody who is will chime in and help.
Did the texture folder you added have a thumbnail picture of the aircraft?
Did the readme file have an addition to add to the aircraft config file?

[simmerpilot78]

Oh i see. Well thanks ill try searching the forum.

...and to answer your questions:

1. The file for the texture folder was called like FanShadow or something and the picture was a small black box
2. I'm not sure if it had that, but there was this optional aircraft or livery and that could be it

[aircav1970]

Lets see,I grew up in an aviation oriented family from the start,My Grandfather worked for Jack Northrup back in the 40's til he retired in the mid 60's as a model maker in aircraft design.I remember watching him build all these really cool wood and metal planes in his workshop and was instantly hooked for life.One in particular that I was captured by was an odd looking plane called an XB-35,better known as The Flying Wing.When He passed away in the late 70's my dad and I were cleaning out his garage and found a steamer trunk filled with all of the planes he had built,my father still has them today and I hope to have them passed on when the time comes. I enlisted in the Army in 1969 and went thru the UH-1 maint.program at Ft.Rucker,Al.and was assigned to the 229th.in 1970...After the PC developed and MSFS started up I learned of FS9 and here I am today,100's of hours logged on several different versions and lovin' every minute of it.

[kwash55]

I'm retired from AT&T have been interested in aviation all my life . Spent 4 years In the USAF and never once flew in an Air force plane ( Was assignned to missiles ) Finally realised my dream of flying at the age of 59 and recieved my pilots license in 1999 at KLEW Maine . I purchased my own Cessna 150 and took most of my lessons in it . I have aprox 777 hours of total flight time most of which was accumulated flying all over New england with just one aborted x country attempt to Clinton Iowa for the cessna 150 fly-in ( bad alternator on takeoff from Jamestown NY ) Sold my plane in 2006 and have been renting since with a marked decrease in flight hours. Have been using FS now for about the same time as I have been flying . Unfortunately I'm not that clever with computors so when it comes to downloading new planes or scenery or manipulating files and troublshooting problems that involve manipulating files , I'm just a newbie . When I got my new gateway computor with more ram ( 2gb ) along with a better video card and a logitec Freedom 2.4 cordless joystick it allowed me to max out my settings on FS 2004 and I couldnt believe how it improved the flight experience !!! I was able to fly the 747 ILS out of Kennedy to LA by saving the flight in 6 legs or so. Able to get better 360 cockpit view as well as external views with the use of the mode switch. I can replay approachs and takeoffs and watch them from all angles from outside the aircraft. Im now looking forward to getting a cd of a cessna 152 ( basically that and the 172 is what I fly in RT ) that I ordered from PC aviator products to load in to my aircraft list. To the folks who have kindly offered me help and advice...thanks for your patience...looking forward to widening my FS experience by the use of this forum


Thanks Kent Washburn KLEW Maine

[Cruiser]

Hello from Oregon.

In the 1980s, I played a DOS version of FS. I can't remember the version but it was a lot of fun even though it was hard to find time to use the sim.

Recently, I acquired a copy of FS2002 Professional and decided to try it again after so much time had passed. I decided to begin this with 2002 since my computer is a bit old and I wanted to be able to crank up the settings.

I have be back at the controls for about a month and it is real challenge to climb the learning curve but at the same time, a lot of fun. Recently finished the first stage of Flight School and am working on the Private Pilot lessons. Right now, it is mainly practice, practice, practice.

This site attracted me because when I found it on the web, I liked the organization and helpful information. Soon, I'll try some of the downloads but right now, I want to get better at landing while looking at some of the sights and cities in the Sim. Great stuff and an impressive site. Thanks.

John

[Den]

Well.

I'm Den. 45, 3 daughters etc. Off work due to heart failure and as many have said love planes.

I have Flight Simulator 1998 right now but haven't really played it to be honest as I haven't had it installed ina few years. This P.C. is used by 5 of us so can't really use it for "gaming" sims etc.

I'm more a carguy actually and have been discovering the various race sims and am picking up a PC this week to get started on playing beyond my PS2. Hahahaaa. This old thing is a P3 and still has Windows 98 so even if I could use it all the time........:eek:

Anywaaaayssssss. I actually found this forum on the suggestion of Tysmyster at thewayIplay.com. I haven't had time to really explore much but hopefully next week, that will be solved. I have a LOT to learn!

I also figure I'll have to get a copy of FS2004 as I doubt there's much interest in 1998 here eh? I'll probably install it anyways for now until I can get 2004, and then will be coming around more to try to get off the ground, literally!!

So, that pretty much covers it and so far this seems to be a decent place to hang out. I know that on the automotive sim forums I've been on recently, there is a real good feeling unlike many forums and it seems to be here also. Thank you.