:( seems like we have the first masochist simmer?

frankla- For curiosity, I just set my local airport- FS9 weather/surface winds to Speed 10k with Gusts to 40K & moderate Shear Strength - on a heading 90

--------also, you should really try using the VC w/ your setup together with IR4. I've seen your triple screen posts many times, but what it lacks is the ability to scan around your plane. In RL, in VFR, you are constantly scanning around your plane. Not just left and right, but below you, above you, etc....looking for traffic, avoiding clouds, looking for landmarks...-feng

feng- unfortunately VC won't work with multi mons- (ie multi m's via dual video cards). So IR4 is not possible. One approach would be to dedicate 3 views to triple mons with a fourth or fifth mon displaying the panel/popups etc. My nearly six yr old 'puter is breathing pretty hard with 3 mons and that is another reason to shorten the view vertical height if possible. (Fewer pixels to display.)I can easily go to full view on main monitor via W key and the outer mons can also easily be set to full height by clicking on the view which instantly overlays it on top of any popups. Attached pic shows left mon full height view with switch panel underlayed. I find this config so flyable that after 5+ years it's like an old shoe! ( But 5 mons would be nice!)Cheers, Alex ReidBonanza approaching Mt Baker WA. Note full height View LFwd and corresponding "look down" capability. Same could be done with right mon- simply clicking on the view overlays the view on top of any popups.Keying W will make main mon full height also. Panning not necessary since the combined views span 147

i see what you mean. I didn't know that VC's don't work w/ multi-video card setups (i'm guessing it only works with 1 video card running that Triple-to-go thing...sp?).Have you considered running on just one LARGE screen instead of 3? Use a 30 screen + VC + TrackIR = best experience you can get on today's technology. On a 30" screen, the instruments are almost at 1:1 scale. And because the screen is so big, you have to physically move your head to look around; and with Track IR, this really fools your brain to think that you are in a "3d" world. TrackIR is especially useful during traffic patterns. You can literally look back 180 on downwind, and on final, you can "peak up and see over the instruments" to get a better view of the runway....just like in real life. I've seen Microsoft demo a "3d screen" at E3 in 2006. It was pretty cool, except the setup costs about 150K USD! Lol...-feng

Nobody has mentioned yet that several times, people with no flight sim or flying experience have been talked down in GA aircraft after the pilot had health problems. So I think if a simmer didn't let his knowledge get to his head and accepted help in landing; they would have an advantage over someone with no flight sim experience.In my younger days, I had about twelve hours of yoke time but no medical so no solo. If I was up with no other passengers and the pilot suddenly slumped over; I would strongly be tempted to land ASAP to get them medical attention. I am fairly certain I could pull off a survivable landing in a GA single... but if there were other people on the aircraft that would complicate things a *lot*.Robert

Nobody has mentioned yet that several times, people with no flight sim or flying experience have been talked down in GA aircraft after the pilot had health problems. Robert

has this really happened or is this a urban myth? I did some research and can only find cases where the passengers are pilots themselves, and with the help of ATC, landed the planes safely. Couldn't find any articles or news on zero flying experienced passengers landing planes. Can you please post some links, because that'll bring a lot of insight into this topic. There was one possible case where the cabin crew tried to land that Greek flight, but it ended up crashing (tho he was also a pilot in training).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522-feng

I remember reading about one such case in Reader's Digest "Drama in real life" years ago. RD is not an aviation rag; but they are very accurate. A married couple was flying together, husband had a heart attack. ATC enlisted a pilot to intercept, and after talking her through various maneuvers for an hour and a half she landed safely. Her husband after all that time with no treatment could not be revived.There have been several other cases I know of, but in those cases the person who landed the aircraft had some actual stick time; if only in gliders.Robert

has this really happened or is this a urban myth? I did some research and can only find cases where the passengers are pilots themselves, and with the help of ATC, landed the planes safely. Couldn't find any articles or news on zero flying experienced passengers landing planes. Can you please post some links, because that'll bring a lot of insight into this topic. There was one possible case where the cabin crew tried to land that Greek flight, but it ended up crashing (tho he was also a pilot in training).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522-feng

has this really happened or is this a urban myth? I did some research and can only find cases where the passengers are pilots themselves, and with the help of ATC, landed the planes safely. Couldn't find any articles or news on zero flying experienced passengers landing planes. Can you please post some links, because that'll bring a lot of insight into this topic. There was one possible case where the cabin crew tried to land that Greek flight, but it ended up crashing (tho he was also a pilot in training).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522-feng

The Mythbusters did an experiment on this, with neither one of them had sim or flying experience, using a Level-D sim (I believe i was a 737 sim) when taking control with no help from a instructor, or ground, they couldn't control it and both crashed. They redid the test, this time with the aid of ground instruction from a CFI and while it wasn't the smoothest flight both made it down safely. As for a simmer with no prior real flying experience landing a GA, I can tell you from personal experience with a CFI to guide you they can. Doing it alone though with no help they probably won't be so lucky. You can see my experience here

----------Have you considered running on just one LARGE screen instead of 3? Use a 30 screen + VC + TrackIR = best experience you can get on today's technology. On a 30" screen, the instruments are almost at 1:1 scale. And because the screen is so big, you have to physically move your head to look around; and with Track IR, this really fools your brain to think that you are in a "3d" world. TrackIR is especially useful during traffic patterns. You can literally look back 180 on downwind, and on final, you can "peak up and see over the instruments" to get a better view of the runway....just like in real life. -feng

feng- A major limitation of displaying multiple views on a single large screen is that the views and horizon will only line up and synch properly in level flight. As the aircraft rolls, the three horizon segments get twisted and no longer remain a staight line. With any monitor/view, your eyes need to be square to center point of that display. That is why you angle the outer monitors toward you. That is why a visitor to your sim- sitting beside you- will see a quite distorted image.Unfortunately we can't do this vertically so there will always be some twisted horizon in pitch up/down- but there are a couple of tricks to minimize the effect- rather than having to bob one's head up/down to maintain straight alignment.Awhile back I experimented with triple views on a single mon- it works wthin the limits just described. see attachment.As a result I concluded that multiple displays is the choice.If money was no object, I would have 4 view monitors, probably 3 20's and a 17 with views LFwd,Fwd,RFwd,R. These would represent in sequence- Pilot's side window,Pilot's window, Copilot's window (ie Pilot's view fwd right), Copilot's side window (Pilot's view right).I have trouble accepting the concept of panning. In real life, the world doesn't slide sideways- our eyes slide sideways and the world remains stationary. Sometimes we turn our heads laterally so as to allow our eyes to focus more narrowly- but the world remains fixed. And assuming your seatbelt/harness remains buckled, there isn't a great deal of up/down head movement possible.Alex ReidPMDG 747 experiment- 3 views on a simulated, single large display. Aloft over CYVR- note horizon twist as the aircraft rolls.Black areas are inactive monitors 2&3. Note double centre posts due to dual panels.

feng- unfortunately VC won't work with multi mons- (ie multi m's via dual video cards). So IR4 is not possible.

Alex I don't know what your goal is with Flight Simulator but if you want a realistic experiance that could help in the real world Feng is right. You've got to loose that multi-monitor setup and start using one monitor and the VC. Get IR5 (new version is out), yoke/peddles, and one nice sized monitor and your on your way plus you'll have more desk space. You have to get off of 2D panels and those monitors plain and simple. Now for non-serious enjoyment have at it, don't get me wrong here... :(

Nobody has mentioned yet that several times, people with no flight sim or flying experience have been talked down in GA aircraft after the pilot had health problems. So I think if a simmer didn't let his knowledge get to his head and accepted help in landing; they would have an advantage over someone with no flight sim experience.In my younger days, I had about twelve hours of yoke time but no medical so no solo. If I was up with no other passengers and the pilot suddenly slumped over; I would strongly be tempted to land ASAP to get them medical attention. I am fairly certain I could pull off a survivable landing in a GA single... but if there were other people on the aircraft that would complicate things a *lot*.Robert

Robert I hate to say this but the only instances I've ever heard of ('heard' not facts) is where someone was able to land an airliner using the autopilot. Just like what was mentioned above other pilots on a said flight were able to land plane but never someone with zero experiance (especially a GA bird). Believe it or not a novice would have a greater chance in a modern airliner versus a GA aircraft. It's been outlined correctly here the many issues one faces in the real world versus the sim world. A simmer is 'not' going to land a real world aircraft of any type without proper instruction. Everything outside of landing is feasible but that's about it. If ever one was in trouble on an airliner it's best you use that autopilot to it's fullest ability, a simmer can do that and be successful...

Alex I don't know what your goal is with Flight Simulator but if you want a realistic experiance that could help in the real world Feng is right. You've got to loose that multi-monitor setup and start using one monitor and the VC. Get IR5 (new version is out), yoke/peddles, and one nice sized monitor and your on your way plus you'll have more desk space. You have to get off of 2D panels and those monitors plain and simple. Now for non-serious enjoyment have at it, don't get me wrong here... :(

dillo- any photos I've seen of Commercial Simulators have multiple views- nowadays via fancy and expensive projection systems. I think the FAA would be less than impressed with panning to achieve a wide field of view in a real simulator. Have you simmed with triple views and a 147

dillo- any photos I've seen of Commercial Simulators have multiple views- nowadays via fancy and expensive projection systems. I think the FAA would be less than impressed with panning to achieve a wide field of view in a real simulator. Have you simmed with triple views and a 147

Hey, I know what I have read. Try searching Reader's Digest archives for their "Drama in Real life". I believe the name of the specific article was "I don't know how to fly!" That was the woman's first words to ATC when she grabbed the mike... "Help me! My husband has fainted and I don't know how to fly!" It actually happened.And the woman did not just go ahead and land. Her husband had the autopilot on when he collapsed. Then a pilot familiar with her husband's aircraft type was vectored to join up with her in another plane, and while he maintained visual on just what her aircraft was doing over the next hour and a half as she hand flew he gradually guided her to practice all of the necessary maneuvers for a successful landing... such as straight and level, turns, and descents at certain rates in certain configurations.When she was on final the pilot talking her down positioned his aircraft back a ways and could tell pretty accurately whether she was in a safe airspeed range for her aircraft.Yes, eventually she hand flew the approach and landing in a GA aircraft. It was far from pretty, but she was uninjured.Robert

Alex I don't know what your goal is with Flight Simulator but if you want a realistic experiance that could help in the real world Feng is right. You've got to loose that multi-monitor setup and start using one monitor and the VC. Get IR5 (new version is out), yoke/peddles, and one nice sized monitor and your on your way plus you'll have more desk space. You have to get off of 2D panels and those monitors plain and simple. Now for non-serious enjoyment have at it, don't get me wrong here... :( Robert I hate to say this but the only instances I've ever heard of ('heard' not facts) is where someone was able to land an airliner using the autopilot. Just like what was mentioned above other pilots on a said flight were able to land plane but never someone with zero experiance (especially a GA bird). Believe it or not a novice would have a greater chance in a modern airliner versus a GA aircraft. It's been outlined correctly here the many issues one faces in the real world versus the sim world. A simmer is 'not' going to land a real world aircraft of any type without proper instruction. Everything outside of landing is feasible but that's about it. If ever one was in trouble on an airliner it's best you use that autopilot to it's fullest ability, a simmer can do that and be successful...

Hey, I know what I have read. Try searching Reader's Digest archives for their "Drama in Real life". I believe the name of the specific article was "I don't know how to fly!" That was the woman's first words to ATC when she grabbed the mike... "Help me! My husband has fainted and I don't know how to fly!" It actually happened.And the woman did not just go ahead and land. A pilot familiar with her husband's aircraft type was vectored to join up with her in another plane, and while he maintained visual on just what her aircraft was doing over the next hour and a half as she hand flew he gradually guided her to practice all of the necessary maneuvers for a successful landing... such as straight and level, turns, and descents at certain rates in certain configurations.When she was on final the pilot talking her down positioned his aircraft back a ways and could tell pretty accurately whether she was in a safe airspeed range for her aircraft.Yes, eventually she hand flew the approach and landing in a GA aircraft. It was far from pretty, but she was uninjured.Robert

Alex I don't know what your goal is with Flight Simulator but if you want a realistic experiance that could help in the real world Feng is right. You've got to loose that multi-monitor setup and start using one monitor and the VC. Get IR5 (new version is out), yoke/peddles, and one nice sized monitor and your on your way plus you'll have more desk space. You have to get off of 2D panels and those monitors plain and simple. Now for non-serious enjoyment have at it, don't get me wrong here... :( Robert I hate to say this but the only instances I've ever heard of ('heard' not facts) is where someone was able to land an airliner using the autopilot. Just like what was mentioned above other pilots on a said flight were able to land plane but never someone with zero experiance (especially a GA bird). Believe it or not a novice would have a greater chance in a modern airliner versus a GA aircraft. It's been outlined correctly here the many issues one faces in the real world versus the sim world. A simmer is 'not' going to land a real world aircraft of any type without proper instruction. Everything outside of landing is feasible but that's about it. If ever one was in trouble on an airliner it's best you use that autopilot to it's fullest ability, a simmer can do that and be successful...

Hey, I know what I have read. Try searching Reader's Digest archives for their "Drama in Real life". I believe the name of the specific article was "I don't know how to fly!" That was the woman's first words to ATC when she grabbed the mike... "Help me! My husband has fainted and I don't know how to fly!" It actually happened.And the woman did not just go ahead and land. Her husband had the autopilot on when he collapsed. Then a pilot familiar with her husband's aircraft type was vectored to join up with her in another plane, and while he maintained visual on just what her aircraft was doing over the next hour and a half as she hand flew he gradually guided her to practice all of the necessary maneuvers for a successful landing... such as straight and level, turns, and descents at certain rates in certain configurations.When she was on final the pilot talking her down positioned his aircraft back a ways and could tell pretty accurately whether she was in a safe airspeed range for her aircraft.Yes, eventually she hand flew the approach and landing in a GA aircraft. It was far from pretty, but she was uninjured.RobertHey, I know what I have read. Try searching Reader's Digest archives for their "Drama in Real life". I believe the name of the specific article was "I don't know how to fly!" That was the woman's first words to ATC when she grabbed the mike... "Help me! My husband has fainted and I don't know how to fly!" It actually happened.And the woman did not just go ahead and land. A pilot familiar with her husband's aircraft type was vectored to join up with her in another plane, and while he maintained visual on just what her aircraft was doing over the next hour and a half as she hand flew he gradually guided her to practice all of the necessary maneuvers for a successful landing... such as straight and level, turns, and descents at certain rates in certain configurations.When she was on final the pilot talking her down positioned his aircraft back a ways and could tell pretty accurately whether she was in a safe airspeed range for her aircraft.Yes, eventually she hand flew the approach and landing in a GA aircraft. It was far from pretty, but she was uninjured.Robert

I remember that incident!...

LOL Geoffa, alas our collective memories are not proof? Can you remember any more details that might give me an idea of where to look for news archive links?Robert

I remember that incident!...