A better approach to learning FSX?

[goanywhere]

Hello all. I am sure I'm not the only person who finds the flying lessons provided with FSX by Rod Machado a bit intimidating. I know I'm not dumb, and usually have a good learning curve when acquiring new skills, but for some reason I find myself sweating and feeling anxious when taking the flying lessons in the game. I think it's because I find that the learning curve is quite steep and the pace of introduction of new skills and information is a bit brief but steep (if you know what I mean). Consequently I often 'bomb out' of lessons because I'm 'going too slow' or 'too fast' or banking too steeply, or any of a hundred other things.

 

Is there a better, more user-friendly but systematic flight school available other than the stock one? I have found some excellent videos by people like FSX Genius on YouTube, which I find better than the stock lessons, but are there any others you can recommend?

[neptun]

Have a look for the Programm called: FSIPANEL

[mrzippy]

http://www.fsflyingschool.com/ Has a free demo!

[tvieno]

Here is another thread from last year that asked the very same question you asked. It has some some links you might find useful.

 

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?263229-Learning-to-fly-in-FSX

 

In one of the posts of that thread, teson1 mentions a book, "Microsoft Flight Simulator X for Pilots: Real World Training" by Jeff Van West and Kevin Lane-Cummings. I highly recommend that book. The book is geared to using FSX and there are downloadable lessons that correlate with the book.

 

The book "Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots: Real World Training" will lead you very far...

http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0764588222.html

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Flight-Simulator-Pilots-Training/dp/0764588222

 

You can preview three chapters at avweb:

http://www.avweb.com/news/avtraining/flight_simulator_x_for_pilots-chapter_13-weather_196384-1.html

[lnuss]

Sometimes the symptoms you describe are caused by making control movements that are too large, trying to rush the correction. Try smaller, more gentle control movements, and think control pressure rather than control movements. You don't say, but I'm assuming you're using a control stick or yoke, rather than trying to fly with the mouse and keyboard. If not, get one.

[jandjfrench]

Hi goany,

The lessons were designed for, and work fine, in FS2004. The problems you've experienced are not due to any shortcoming on your part. I tried various remedies without much luck. If you don't want to give up on them you might try turning your realism settings all the way down and see what happens. I thought of this after I gave up in disgust. It is possible to complete, at least the first few lessons, in FSX but you have to pretty much ignore what you're being told to do, except in a very general way.

Jim F.

[goanywhere]

Hi goany,

The lessons were designed for, and work fine, in FS2004. The problems you've experienced are not due to any shortcoming on your part. I tried various remedies without much luck. If you don't want to give up on them you might try turning your realism settings all the way down and see what happens. I thought of this after I gave up in disgust. It is possible to complete, at least the first few lessons, in FSX but you have to pretty much ignore what you're being told to do, except in a very general way.

Jim F.

 

I have read comments from lots of people who have trouble with the lessons. Sometimes pro pilots forget how frustrating it is for a newbie to master even what might seem very basic things. My experience (and I am an experienced trainer in another field) is that it doesn't help to push people beyond their comfort zone too much. Some people soar at some stages and really struggle at others, and it's different for everyone. These lessons seem to me to push the learning curve too fast, and the jump from one to the next can be quite a step. I will look at some of the suggestions posted and see how I go.

 

Cheers.

[goanywhere]

Sometimes the symptoms you describe are caused by making control movements that are too large, trying to rush the correction. Try smaller, more gentle control movements, and think control pressure rather than control movements. You don't say, but I'm assuming you're using a control stick or yoke, rather than trying to fly with the mouse and keyboard. If not, get one.

 

I am flying with a Logitech Attack 3 at the moment. In free flight I seem to be able to manage fairly well. I have flown several short-haul trips and had no real problems with takeoffs or landings. My nav skills are improving and I seem to be able to manage things without too much drama. It's only when trying to follow commands within seemingly unrealistic time limits that I get into trouble. Maybe I'll just skip the lessons in the game and find other more enjoyable tutorials that are more user-friendly.