Hello Tom,I'm more of an offline IFR, airliner type of simmer. Since a couple of years I exclusively fly complexe add-ons (PMDG, LVLD, PSS) with a realistic FMC and systems. My main interest is flying as close to real as possible, with checklists and charts. Airport sceneries, mesh and landclass come in second place for me. I prefer a smooth running FS and its default terrain and weather is good enough for me. (except the real weather dead zones)As for flying "low and slow", I do enjoy it very much and I'm clocking more and more hours in VFR these days.

In the 25 or so years that I've been simming, I've tried about everything. I went through a scenery building phase, an adventure writing phase, a VA flying phase, etc, etc, etc. My current addiction is FS Economy. One constant (since FS5) has been designing my own instrument panel for whatever plane(s) I'm currently using; it satisfies my artistic side. I feel that the common denominator to all of this is that I'm always learning and practicing new stuff and that's what sustains me in the hobby.R-Ron Broyles

42.Well, more seriously talking: I am the "how real can I get the environment"-smmer - I fly GA 90% of my time and I want to "be there". I invested a lot of money just to get my sliders to the utmost right, the broadest monitor setup and the best sceneries. And most of the time I am flying with the stock Cessna 172SP :-), touring the continents.I have to say that I come from the roleplaying genre as gamer, always liking the sandbox type of games most (where you can do what you want, not stuck to a plot or route). For me, flight simulation is just the largest possible sandbox game. And if they redo Elite for today's hardware, I will be the first to buy it *g*.

Elite was the best--my first ever space flight sim. Makes me wish I still had my old C64.

I have always had one simple criteria-at least since 1989-anything that helps me for real flying.What is interesting is that criteria has changed.In the beginning it was ability to do ground reference maneuvers, crosswind landings etc.When 3d terrain came out-it was a tool to explore future areas I might go for situational awareness.When atc came out it was a way to practice atc procedures.When real weather downloads came it-it was a way to practice ifr on days I might cancel and see what I would have really found.When I was working on my commercial rating it was practicing commercial maneuvers.Now-I don't really care all that much about atc. I do care about real weather-would like it more real-especially in the icing, weather instrument depiction (e.g. xm weather, stormscope etc). Would like more realistic real world instruments. Better fm's and sounds-especially in the multi dept.But I have never had any interest in anything else than GA flying-period. Never have even gotten around to trying even the default fs jets.I have bought some of the more famous jet add ins-but they collect dust.

Geof summed it up pretty well for me too... I think he and I would get along well in a cockpit or multiplayer with the sim.

Geof summed it up pretty well for me too... I think he and I would get along well in a cockpit or multiplayer with the sim.

Zane-I'd be glad to share a cockpit with you real or multiplayer anytime!

This may be a simple question, but I suspect that the answers are going to be convoluted, complex and not all that simple. So, here goes... How many types of simmers are there? Is it as simple as two; get me flying ASAP, or I want the total reality? Or is it more complex; VFR, IFR, Heavy Metal, GA, Sport, etc? Or is it online or offline? Am looking forward to your answers.

Tom I have been around flying all my life,[i am a boat captain] . I love to speed time dreaming of my own plane that I can not afford and I hope to sim the rest of my days .Bob

How many types of simmers are there?

As others have already stated, probably lots.My "type" depends on my mood. Most times, I fly IFR in passenger jets with FMCs. Other times, I enjoy flying IFR in GA aircraft. Still other times, I fly VFR in bush aircraft--especially since going to FSX exclusively. Lately, I've been getting into helicopters.A final note: I find that if I have lots of time to plan my flight, I like working out the route and programming the FMC when flying a passenger aircraft. If I'm tired or pressed for time, I like jumping in a GA aircraft or a helicopter and flying around and sightseeing.

1) Recreating real-world flights I've taken2) Practicing flights before I take them in RW3) Practicing failures4) Visiting areas of the world I will not likely get to in real life5) Testing authenticity of the aircraft (much harder with the Baron)6) Practicing in inclement weather7) Avoiding the in-lawsIn reality I spend much more time fixing the sim than flying, but when I do fly this is why.

Although I have zero pilot training, my entire working career was mainly airline and travel industry. I was a Pan Am reservation & cto agent for 6 years in the early 60s. While working for another airline I got to ride in the jump seat on numerous trips in the 727-200. Overall I have many hours as a passenger on many types of commercial props and jets. I have always been fascinated with airplanes and airports, especially with international gateways like SFO/JFK/MIA/LAX/LHR with ac from all over the world coming and going. To this day I wander around airports gawking at all the different planes. I am still in awe of the flight crews and I still wonder what mystical power allows those chosen few to do what they do.One day, after a couple years of retirement, I googled flight simulation not knowing what I would find. Bingo! There was FS2002! Not a clue did I have as to what it was, but I bought it along with a basic joy stick. With a little help from a few friends who are private pilots, retired military pilots, and retired commecial pilots (and a whole lot of help from AVSIM Forums) I can now (usually) get the big default jets (with rw paints) up and down. I spend a lot of time looking out the window and in spot view. The look and sound is very gratifying! My friends are getting weary of the videos I send them though.I seem, however, to have reached my threshold for learning and enjoyment. By that I mean, I seem to be content (I think) flying the different flags (default/control E) IFR between the major domestic/international airports. When I land at HNL I can hear the Hawaiian music and smell the plumeria!Maybe some day I'll tackle the more sophisticated stuff, but at present I am quite content with the default and freeware aircraft.Bruce

I had a brief dalliance with airliners when I first started out with FS. Like a lot of people, I never mastered the art of flying, and just jumped from plane to plane in the hope that nobody would notice. I joined a VA and completed many assignments... more or less. Landings were generously categorised as "arrivals which occasionally intersect with a runway".Then I started taking RW lessons, and dumped FS for a while. Having learned to fly properly, I came back to FS and started flying the small GAs I was flying RW.Now I fly exclusively GA, mostly piston, mostly VFR (but some IFR), and mostly on Vatsim (the American ATC on FS is so different from RW English ATC that it's a waste of time. Vatsim at least has correct phraseology and procedures). As for the nature of my flying, that's a mixture of long distance multi-leg touring, and short flights around the UK and Europe, with occasional general handling and circuit details.

Over the years, I've flown pretty much everything. Back in the day I was really big into commercial airliners and as realistic as possible. I always mixed in some general aviation flights too. Now, I find that I haven't touched a commercial airliner in quite a while. I can't say why exactly. Time commitment? Boredom? Not sure. Currently I find myself only flying realistic general aviation planes, with the occasional business jet thrown in for variety. A mix of IFR and VFR. I like complex general aviation add-ons right now because I can get realism along with simplicity. Sort of "get there ASAP" + realism. I like realism... to a point. As long as a plane has good flight dynamics and good avionics, I"m happy. I don't need to worry about an FMC or pressurization systems or anything like that. I used to all the time (and there's nothing wrong with it). I use a random destination finder and fly into all sorts of small to mid-sized airports where I've never been. With commercial airliners, I find myself doing the same flights over and over.

This may be a simple question, but I suspect that the answers are going to be convoluted, complex and not all that simple. So, here goes... How many types of simmers are there? Is it as simple as two; get me flying ASAP, or I want the total reality? Or is it more complex; VFR, IFR, Heavy Metal, GA, Sport, etc? Or is it online or offline? Am looking forward to your answers.

I must say I am a fan of commercial airliner flying in Flight Sim. Anything from a Dash-8 right up through the baby Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321, and smaller boeings like the 737, to the heavies like the 747, 767, 777, A330, and A340. Don't do any GA really, and all the aircraft I fly are addon's from the likes of PSS, Wilco, Level-D, and PMDG. I don't use ANY of the default MSFS aircraft!Just love to program flight management computers and navigate half-way round the world and still find where I'm going!This all means I also love my airports to be realistic, and busy!! The default Heathrow with default AI is NOT AN OPTION!! I tend to usually only fly to/from airports that I have scenery for, and they are buzzing with activity! I also use AES to further enhance the realism aspect of it!

Im different types at different times but I never take things too seriously.In FS9 I found myself trying to learn more about ATC and semi proper procedures but in FSX I dont even use ATC.I fly mostly GA aircraft. In FS9 it was the Mooney and currently its mostly the Cessna with some Baron thrown in (also some glider or trike).I dont drive anymore. I used to be able to get in my car and just go somewhere...anywhere...just so it was "away from here". I might have driven 10 miles, 20 miles, 50 miles or even 400 miles. I would take my camera and just explore and get away from things.Now that I dont drive I find myself pretending that Im at the airport and Im taxiing out to the runway and Im 'getting away' to some other place. It helps keep me sane (since I seem to be perpetually stuck in this city room).I like things to look as good as they can and I enjoy seeing other planes and traffic and I personnally think things like birds are a great touch. I fly GA when I want to get up close and personal with my make believe excursion and I fly jets when I need to get really far away really fast or if I just want to try and relive some real world flights Ive taken. For example, I was on a 737 from Dallas to Little Rock Adams and the guy came in from the south to land on 220 (left or right I m Not sure) but he put the spoilers out and it felt like we came to a complete stop in midair. I got pulled forward out of my seat and then the plane dropped out from under me. It was exceptionally cool. The dynamic head movement in FSX helps recreate this quiite well.all in all - Im not a stickler for the way things are in real life but I do prefer more realism to less. I just like to get away.