Hi all,

 

We have all this cool software and airplanes with VC cockpits and it's very immersive most of the time but I am having a problem with GUMPS. It's a little different on every airplane but similar too. As an example, I'm flying the C310 at the moment and trying to efficiently do a GUMPPS check. (I've had the same problems in other excellent aircraft too.) In a real C310, according to what I've been learning, you do the following:

 

1) Gas: glance between the seats (or just quickly feel) and make sure the main tanks are selected. If not, reach down and change them.

2) Undercarriage: reach up and push the gear handle down and keep your hand on the handle until you have three greens.

3) Mixture: Push the mixture leavers forward

4) Props: Push the prop leavers forward

5) Pumps: Glance down. Ensure they're on low. If they're not, reach over and flick them down.

6) Any switches you might need.

 

Done. If you notice, with a bit of practice, you would only have to glance momentarily at things...very efficient.

 

Ok, here's what *I* am having to do in the sim:

 

1) Gas: Use a button mapped to an EZDoc view to look completely down at the fuel selectors and then press another button to get my forward view back. If they're not set properly...hoo boy...can't spend that much time looking at and adjusting them in the pattern but rotate my mouse over each (in the right direction!) to get them set right. And then get my view back. (Optionally, open a 2D view on the throttle quadrant that has the selectors and use my mouse wheel on that.)

2) Gear: Use my yoke gear handle to put the gear down. Easy. THEN, remove my hand from the gear handle, reach down and use my mouse to glance down to make sure I get three greens and then recenter my view. (It's important to make a habit of checking the lights).

3) Mixture: Push my throttle quadrant mixture levers forward. Something easy.

4) Props: Push my prop levers forward. Something else easy.

5) Pumps: Use my mouse to adjust my view to look down at the dash to see if the Aux Pumps are set. If they're not, click on each and then quickly click a button to get my view back. (Optionally open a 2D view that shows the switch strip below the yoke and use that.)

 

As you can see, in FSX it's a good deal more involved and can be distracting. I'd love to hear from folks how they tackle these kinds of problems and make them easier. I am hoping that all the creative folks out there have come up with some fairly interesting and useful stuff.

 

Gregg

I use Track IR.... makes it a lot easier hehe...

I have TrackIR but haven't been able to use it for this. The controls are moving around when my head moves and I have trouble clicking on them. I see some potential in TrackIR but haven't figured out how to make it effective.

I have a thumb button on the side of my mouse set to TrackIR Pause. It's perfect for manipulating VC controls, as the only time I need to pause is when my hand is on the mouse anyway.

 

This makes it very easy to glance around the cockpit and quickly adjust anything that needs it.

Well, TrackIR makes it very similar to the actual experience in the cockpit for me. You can always map a pause key to something handy so that once you're looking at what you want to be looking at, you can pause TrackIR so that you have a steady screen for mousing, but I never find it to be an issue for me.

 

But, even without TrackIR, I don't think it's that big a deal. You don't do GUMPS quickly, nor all on final in RL. If you'll start the checklist on downwind, you'll have plenty of time to work through it and still keep your attention mostly out of the cockpit and on the pattern.

I have TrackIR but haven't been able to use it for this. The controls are moving around when my head moves and I have trouble clicking on them. I see some potential in TrackIR but haven't figured out how to make it effective.

 

You need to pause it once in a while... the ability to pause is really important. I think default key is F11 maybe??? I changed mine around anyway.

Hi again Gregg-

 

AND.... now you know why so many people spend $$ on hardware!

 

[edit] FWIW that last step sounds a little dubious. I'd get specific on your checklists.

FWIW that last step sounds a little dubious. I'd get specific on your checklists.

 

GUMPS isn't a substitute for a checklist, and I don't think Gregg's implying he's using it that way. It's really a "doublecheck" mechanism.

 

Some VC's make the process easier than others, that's for sure. The more physical switches you can map to hardware, the easier many tasks get.

 

Scott

You need to pause it once in a while... the ability to pause is really important. I think default key is F11 maybe??? I changed mine around anyway.

 

I've tried pausing it. When I use it, I feel it doesn't reduce the added complexity that FSX adds to what is, in RW, a fairly simple set of tasks. Move head, remember to pause it, then click or roll mouse wheel, remember to unpause it. Move to the next location and repeat. Maybe it's something you get used to but, so far, I've found it to be very unnatural.

What I'm saying is that there's no reason to have a "do whatever you might need to do" item.

 

Either get specific, or don't have it at all. Obviously with simming, there's very little to worry about :)

 

In real life the only thing I generally need to manipulate after GUMPS is the throttle and flaps.

GUMPS isn't a substitute for a checklist, and I don't think Gregg's implying he's using it that way. It's really a "doublecheck" mechanism.

 

Some VC's make the process easier than others, that's for sure. The more physical switches you can map to hardware, the easier many tasks get.

 

Scott

 

Yes, my point was to be less about my limited knowledge (or the C310 checklist) than the challenges presented doing GUMPS in a VC. The same is true about other airplanes that have other switches, some have fixed gear. Just hoping to find the ways people meet the challenges. I fly a lot with the AP off which makes these things more challenging. (You can imagine how delighted I was with the VC on the Legacy: gear handle and indicator right in there front of your face. Problem is, most airplanes don't make it that simple.) Hardware, often, doesn't help. I have a bunch of unused switches and buttons because the programming of the buttons can be daunting.

 

(Aside: For the C310, as explained to me, the last P in GUMPP is the same as the S in GUMPS...just more specific.)

I've tried pausing it. When I use it, I feel it doesn't reduce the added complexity that FSX adds to what is, in RW, a fairly simple set of tasks. Move head, remember to pause it, then click or roll mouse wheel, remember to unpause it. Move to the next location and repeat. Maybe it's something you get used to but, so far, I've found it to be very unnatural.

 

If you have more than a standard 3-button mouse, use one of the extra buttons for pausing TrackIR. That makes it very natural to pause and unpause, as you aren't having to reach for any buttons you aren't already putting your finger on.

 

But for most buttons and switches, I don't even find pausing necessary. It's only when making "complex" inputs to VC controls that I need to pause. But again, having the pause button on the mouse makes it easy.

I've tried pausing it. When I use it, I feel it doesn't reduce the added complexity that FSX adds to what is, in RW, a fairly simple set of tasks. Move head, remember to pause it, then click or roll mouse wheel, remember to unpause it. Move to the next location and repeat. Maybe it's something you get used to but, so far, I've found it to be very unnatural.

 

You get used to it. TrackIR was awkward for me at first. It is now second nature and I can do GUMPP in the C310, B55, Lancair with ease and I only use hardware for Throttle (not even part of gumpp). I can't imagine flying without it at this point.

 

Another thing to try, is to hold your space bar while moving the mouse to look around, then release the space bar and click away (something like that). RealAir also has those VC click spots to jump views if your flying one of those models. That might help there.

Either get specific, or don't have it at all. Obviously with simming, there's very little to worry about :)

 

Fair enough. The 'switches' thing always bugged me too. Other people substitute 'safety'...seat backs, seat belts. *sigh*.

Another thing to try, is to hold your space bar while moving the mouse to look around, then release the space bar and click away (something like that). RealAir also has those VC click spots to jump views if your flying one of those models. That might help there.

 

I have my mouse wheel programmed to where if I put pressure on the right side of it and move the mouse it moves my view in the VC. Still, not at all like glancing down with your eyes. I keep trying to like TrackIR...sigh, sigh, sigh.

 

Another thing I am experimenting with is a 'GUMPS' view...a *slightly* zoomed out view of the cockpit that is mapped to a button. Click and you can see everything you need but the fuel handles. Click another button and back to 'pilot' view.