Questions from a Newbie

[Ian1357]

Hi al

I am fairly new to flight sims. Although I did dabble many moons ago. However real life and a slow computer stopped all that.

 

Ten years later......

Like most people I have a bucket list and on the bucket list was a promise to my self that should I have some spare cash one day, I would endeavor to obtain my pilots licence. However due to medical reasons that will now never happen. ( Yes I know I could get a sports licence)

 

So sim flying is all thats left to me.

I recently obtained FSX Steam a logitech Extreme 3d pro stick. Stick was $16 in a sale new.

My questions to you:

1 Best place to learn to fly ?

2 Do the planes similar to A2A ones fly any better than the ones supplied in FSX? I aim to start in Cesna type aircraft.

3 Recommended controls? Basic set up yoke, throttle and pedals. Sub $400.

Any other advice would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Ian

[PhantomTweak]

1) Try the Tutorial lessons in the Sim it's self. They are actually very well done and well thought out as to order and information given.

2) Usually, and I'm gonna take a ton for this, the payware planes are more realistically modeled and the systems are more accurately portrayed. Generally. Overall. Some freeware stuff is nearly as good though. The exceptions that prove the rule.

3) Personally, as I love to fly the fighter type birds, and since I learned on a glider back in '74 that had a stick, I will ONLY ever fly with a stick, never a yoke. CARS are driven with steering wheels, PLANES are flown with a stick, I feel, and never the twain shall meet, whatever Lockheed forced into the market (P-38 for example). Nothing wrong with rudder pedals though.

 

Bear in mind, all this is just MY personal opinion, and you know what the saying is about opinions...

Pat☺

[ScatterbrainKid]

Remember FSX can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. For example at the "fun flyer" end of the scale you can simply load the sim, hop in the cockpit with the engine already running, slam open the throttle and you're away.

At the other end of the scale (the "hardcore simmer" end), you can get in a cold dark plane and spend 5 minutes tweaking all the switches and levers to start it, tuning in to the correct beacons, waiting for ATC to tell you which runway to taxi to, then wait for takeoff clearance and so on.

I tend towards the "fun" end of the scale.

PS- FSX is beautiful enough straight out of the box, so newcomers shouldn't think they have to rush into buying all sorts of addons for it. Instead, get comfortable with it first, and only think about getting addons later, especially as addons can trigger glitches if you're unlucky.

After all, if you start dating a beautiful woman, you wouldn't tell her to look more beautiful or she'd take offence and slap your kisser, and FSX can be like that..:)