I have been updating the sextant by Dave Bitzer/Mark Beaumont (with their approval and support), to be compatible with FSX, and a beta version can be downloaded from my site: http://kronzky.info/fs/sextant/index.html
It is pretty much done, but it would be good if I could get some feedback before publishing it officially.
The basic functionality is the same as before, but the following features have been added or changed:
- Date/Time display for either local or GMT time
- Optimized mouse hotzones for use with mouse wheels
- Magnetic declination info is only shown on demand
- If within clouds, no reading can be taken
The first three items should be pretty uncontroversial, but I'm not absolutely sure on the last item yet.
It is supposed to simulate your inability to take shots when in cloud cover, but due to the limitations of FSX, the result doesn't fully match what you would expect when you look out the window. Sometimes you're at the top edge of a cloud, and still can't take a reading (even though the sky above you is clear), and at other times, when you're below some clouds you can take a reading nevertheless.
It does limit your abilities to take reading in cloudy conditions though (so that part is realistic), it's just that the visuals don't match 100%.
The implementation as is would be the only way to do it, so it's either an all or nothing thing (i.e. either it stays the way it is, or it goes altogether).
If we have some sextant users out here, I'd love to hear some feedback regarding this (or any other) issue.
Also, if you have any other questions regarding the sextant use (or possible improvements to it), or have questions about celestial navigation in general, feel free to post them here. There was recently an "upflare" of sextant discussions in the MP forum, but due to the forum and thread name probably nobody noticed it, so it was suggested to move the sextant-specific discussion to this place.
Bookmarks