Patinthedesert

I'm back on the thread. Was not monitoring things the last couple of days. The confusion that I had was that I was seeing the speed quoted in MPH and then was looking at the knots speed (KIAS ?) as indicated on the speed display. I think that explains the whole difference for my confusion. I then moaned a bit about trying to understand speed in knots and nautical miles. I will just have to get used to that one, it seems. So it is a global default to have the speed in KIAS on the speedo? i played with changing default units to metric in MSFS. This changed the distance measurements to Km but did not change the instruments. >>>I never expect a DA40 to achieve 150 KIAS, except in a dive. The TDi is a modest-powered aircraft! The NG is the one, I believe, rendered here and has the even more-modest AE300 diesel engine with just 168 hp. Yes the model in the standard version of MSFS in the NG with the turbo-diesel. It does not have a mixture control (fuel-injected ?) so one just sets the throttle. I read a review about the plane IRL, they pointed out that the turbo-diesel maintains horsepower at altitude up to like 10K feet. So it may match or pass the gas engine in performance as one goes up. Not sure if this is modeled in MSFS. My flying is not detailed enough to give an answer to that. I did play around with some flights in western Colorado, flying out of Telluride - KTEX. The performance climbing from 10k to 12K in the DA40 was definitely better than the Cessna 172. The Cessna was struggling at that altitude. I had set the climb using VS with the autopilot and the climb rate was too much. I noticed it when the stall warnings started sounding. I could only climb at 300 or 400 fpm.

Ah, perhaps that explains it. I get confused why aircraft use knots. Why do we need yet another speed or distance measurement. Is this tied back to ships somehow? I guess if it confuses me too much I could switch to metric. There probably is a way to switch to KPH in the controls somewhere. Pat

I have mine installed with Steam, Which I have used for several other apps, including Civilization 6. The MSFS has been stable for me. I have once or twice exited the application and restarted it, or rebooted the PC. But I usually shut down every evening and do a fresh boot in the day. Not sure what to tell you. Have you tried to get any support from Microsoft, or logged any tickets with them? Their site is flightsimulator.com . Not sure where trouble tickets get logged.

I have been flying the Da-40 several times in MSFS. A nice-looking plane and it flies very nice. Has a similar instrument layout as the Cessna 172 (with G1000 of course). I looked at references to the Da-40 in the real world. Specs say that a cruise of 150 or so is normal specification. On MSFS the speed display goes to yellow at 130. And full power at level flight does not go faster than 130. Did MS downgrade this airplane? Or is it just not accurate.

Don't try to validate in Steam. It breaks the installation. You should know this by now. I feel sorry that you have to do the huge download and install again. :(

Ah, that button! I had no idea what it did. I will definitely try it in the next session. It looks like just what I was talking about to set the course directly to the destination in the flight plan. Thanks so much!:) The only other question is how to switch airports. I decide to change where I am landing, for one reason or another. Like if it is taking longer for a flight than I have time for. I can fly it on manual, and call in with ATC to the airport when close enough. It will display the landing pattern in the air (still using the helper on this). But I don't know what the process would be to enter a new airport on the auto-pilot. Pat

Don't do a Steam validation on MSFS. It can't figure out all the files. Only Microsoft can handle it. Hard to say exactly what happened. Hope the reinstall helps.

Thanks for all the responses. I have tried some of the advice that I could understand. I can set the heading to be followed by using the Heading knob to dial in a left or right turn and set a course. Which will show on the compass dial displayed as the heading 'bug'. This works fine but turning it one way or the other with the mouse is kind of touchy. Or I can fly off of autopilot to where I want to head, then engage the AP and do a push-down on the heading knob to set the current heading. I didn't know the push down to take the current heading. That will work. The reference to setting a direct-to heading. Not sure about that one. I don't see a direct-to control. Is that a choice on the soft-tabs on the Garmin screen? Pat

I have now got to the point of being reasonably able to fly on the light planes in the standard edition of MSFS, from the Cessna 152 up to the Bonanza. My next challenge is using the autopilot. Many of these planes have the G1000 dashboard so I can use that as an example. I understand pretty well how to set the altitude hold. Use the Alt knob to 'turn' the knob (with the mouse) to an altitude then engage the autopilot and use the VS and set the climb or descend rate using the up or dn buttons. Setting a heading is another issue. If I want to just follow the line from takeoff to the destination airport using the GPS mode it is easy. Just use the Nav mode and it goes to the heading. However if I have flown somewhere without the auto pilot, to look at a city or go around a mountain or something, then want to use autopilot to go to the destination, I have trouble. IF I engage the AP, it wants to set course back to the line from the departure to the arrival airport. I want to be able to do a direct line from where I am to the destination. I have tried a couple of things and it seems to go in unexpected directions when I engaged the AP. Any insight on this?

Please specify your CPU and your graphics card. It could be you are a bit low on the requirements and one or another is overloaded. MSFS 2020 is a demanding piece of software.

I usually let the AI copilot handle it. And mostly ignore it if not trying to fly to a busy place. There are times when I have taxied from a ramp to the runway when I hit the throttle and get going and get a message box about not being authorized on the runway. I try to ignore it and nothing seems to come of it.

Microsoft server problems? They could be overloaded.

If you are running it on one 1080 monitor, it should be good. Whether all settings at high will run with a decent refresh rate, I'm not sure. The problem with going to any higher-end graphics is 2 issues. One they are expensive and not likely to be discounted. Second, they are all out of stock, due to the demand from all the bitcoin-mining rigs being set up. My current setup is about like your current rig. With a GTX-1050 for the graphics. I run at medium-level settings except a couple at high for ground details.

The way to do this that I have found is to follow the checklists. Pick it from the dropdown menu on the upper screen. The button with the check mark. These walk you thru the start-up procedures for the plane that you are in. If it calls for a switch or control that you can't find, click the Evaluate Item button and it will show you where. Both the basic Cessnas are well documented. Some others seem to be a bit more sketchy.

Ctrl + number gives predefined view. Ctrl + 3 is the right-hand instrument panel. Ctrl + 2 is the left-hand panel.

Are you flying in the areas around the UK with the upgraded locations and scenery, or other places? I could see if it was chewing on the greater detail that would increase the graphics usage. If you are in other areas then it suggests other parts of the sim were upgraded. I did not see where they were saying the main sim engine got changes. Pat

I have done a couple more sessions on the Bonanza. Flying is getting smoother. Landing is getting more predictable and routine. When in the pattern for the landing I don't drop below 35-40% power (stated as percentage in the external view), unless I am above the desired slope. I don't go to full flaps until maybe a mile from the end of the runway. And I don't cut back power until just about the end of the runway. I have done a couple of cross-country flights. One was Phoenix, AZ to Wickenburg, around 60 miles. That gave me time to get up to 7 or 8K feet and settle into a cruise. So the flying is looking good!

File a claim for a lost package. It got lost or stolen. With DHL or the vendor. Or both.

Thanks for the info. I think I have located where the Community Folder goes. My software is installed under the Steam folders. I bought and downloaded there when I got started. I'm familiar with Steam for some other items. No turbo-prop? Well a turbo-charged engine is good too. Should be especially for performance at altitude. I can get there eventually. Pat

reply to Terry. Thanks for the info and the encouragement. I am still getting the feel of it and holding a good straight approach to the runway is still a challenge. The feel for the controls and the response takes a good touch. I am flying from an XBOX controller at this point so not quite ideal. You mention third-party update. I think I read a comment on an older post talking about that, but I don't know where one would install such an update. It said they were in .zip download form. And a turboprop version too! Something to look forward to.

Thanks for the response. Very good info on flying the Bonanza. So the final approach is better with power on a fair amount, like 30% or so. I have to learn the markings on the control, I'm not on the same PC as the Fight sim right now. When trying to fly at lower cruise settings does the RPM setting get changed to less than 2500? Also does the behavior on the simulation match the real plane fairly well? I have seen posting to suggest some planes seem to be modeled better and others not so well. Which is why mods happen i assume.

I had not done a flight sim in years and in January bought MSFS 2020 to run on a new-built PC. I have been learning to fly with the new system. I worked thru the Flight Training series for the light planes. Which was a very nice way to get started. I had the most trouble with landing and flying the traffic pattern. So I have got to where I am comfortable on the Cessna 152 and 172 and wanted to step up to next challenge. So I chose the Bonanza as a faster plane. Also I had seen on Youtube the story of the young pilot who did solo around the world in the Bonanza. The first flights were not good, but I am getting a better feel for it now. I have an observation and a question on this plane as modeled in MSFS. I make a landing approach and get lined up on a reasonable height and distance. And I have gear down and flaps going to full. As the speed drops below 80 kts, it seems to sink rapidly. And unless I am very quick on the throttle back up to 50 -60 % throttle, I am fighting stall warnings and sinking to the ground short of the runway. It seems like it does not glide down to a landing well at all. And the question. The Bonanza has an extra control for the engine power. It has a throttle like usual, then a second lever for 'RPM'. The checklist says to set it to max rpm. Is this or prop pitch or what? I did not see any explanation. I don't understand the relationship, and I don't know the keys for changing it in flight without having to zoom down to the lever to click on it. Any advice would be most helpful.