I personally love long hauls simply because they give me an excuse to get work done. I'll set up a flight that is 12 hours long in an A330 or A340, set it to managed mode, and be able to do school work, go out with family etc during that time. Currently the longest flight I've ever done was Aeroflot's Los Angeles to Moscow run which paused randomly in the middle so I can't say how long it took me. I do long hauls every weekend (2-3) in an A330 or A340 and then on weekdays I do 2-3 hour runs in the PMDG 737NGX.

Last I checked, you're not paying $150+/hour for the sim, plus the pilot's and examiner's hourly rates in your home sim...

Big difference.

 

Whether you're paying for your sim time and how much isn't really pertinent to a discussion of the utility of sim acceleration. In a real sim training environment, time is even more limiting than the expense, and sim profiles that position the sim to initial conditions other than cold/dark at a gate are by far the rule rather than the exception--with the purpose of getting the most out of the time simming. Whether the desire for time-saving shortcuts is motivated by time constraints, expense, or just the desire to maximize your sim time in the "fun" phases of flight, tools like acceleration and state saving/loading are indeed useful, and in fact downright necessary for many folks when considering the jet flies 15 hour legs.

 

I'm always amused by folks that decry accelerated flight as "unrealistic" or "cheating" yet think that leaving the sim to drone for hours on autopilot unsupervised while they occupy themselves elsewhere somehow meets a higher (and meaningless) standard of fidelity.

I'm always amused by folks that decry accelerated flight as "unrealistic" or "cheating"

 

I agree. Calling it "cheating" comes across as belittling and condescending. It's a game, have fun with it.

I fly the B747 on LSZH–LSGG

 

Compared to EDDT- EDDB, that is long haul!

The issue with real simulators is that they have several limiting factors:

-The crew ahead and behind of the crew that's currently in the sim session cuts time.

-The cost of the session, paying the pilot, and the examiner

-The requirement to cover concepts X, Y, Z, and sometimes Q.

 

In your own simming, you can make a stretched case for point 1, and that's about it. Your own schedule dictates your use of the sim. I get that, but to argue that my points would mean that they're cheating too ignores the context of the situation: they have requirements to meet in the sim - you do not.

 

I still think time acceleration is a way to cheat the simulation. Like I said earlier, if you want to spend less time in cruise, fly shorter routes.

 

In the end, as mentioned, it's "to each their own." My opinion is that you're cheating, but it really doesn't affect me (just as my opinions shouldn't really be affecting you), so in the end it really doesn't matter. I just don't understand the logic of those who use acceleration.

Compared to EDDT- EDDB, that is long haul!

If you're going to fly a flight that short (especially for a B747), you might as well fly VHHH–VHHX! At least it possesses an interesting approach, great payware scenery, and a variety of mountains and water.

VMMC (Thai Creation) passing VHHH (Imaginesim) to VHHX (Fly Tampa). The Best Route with 3 Airport Sceneries. Add FS Global and you got the ultimate quickie. :Devil:

VMMC (Thai Creation) passing VHHH (Imaginesim) to VHHX (Fly Tampa). The Best Route with 3 Airport Sceneries. Add FS Global and you got the ultimate quickie.

How about FlyTampa LOWW to FSDT LSGG via FSDT LSZH? Add Austria Pro X, Switzerland Pro X, GEX, UTX, etc. and you have another beautiful short-haul route!

 

UK2000 EGLC to EGPH via EGKK with FTX England must also be fun and spectacular.

In the end, as mentioned, it's "to each their own." My opinion is that you're cheating, but it really doesn't affect me (just as my opinions shouldn't really be affecting you), so in the end it really doesn't matter.

It is certainly less realistic, but it isn't cheating, any more than time acceleration, slews and repositions are in real world sim training. Cheating is too much of an accusation, unless you are breaking rules. In this case it's not a rule, but a subjective opinion of realism. For some people any flight that doesn't begin, involve reading every checklist and end in a cold and dark state is unrealistic.

I just don't understand the logic of those who use acceleration.

You might not agree with the logic, but I'm sure you understand it. B)

It is certainly less realistic, but it isn't cheating, any more than time acceleration, slews and repositions are in real world sim training. Cheating is too much of an accusation, unless you are breaking rules. In this case it's not a rule, but a subjective opinion of realism. For some people any flight that doesn't begin, involve reading every checklist and end in a cold and dark state is unrealistic.

Well said.

You might not agree with the logic, but I'm sure you understand it. B)

Exactly..

The issue with real simulators is that they have several limiting factors:

-The crew ahead and behind of the crew that's currently in the sim session cuts time.

-The cost of the session, paying the pilot, and the examiner

-The requirement to cover concepts X, Y, Z, and sometimes Q.

 

In your own simming, you can make a stretched case for point 1, and that's about it. Your own schedule dictates your use of the sim. I get that, but to argue that my points would mean that they're cheating too ignores the context of the situation: they have requirements to meet in the sim - you do not.

 

I still think time acceleration is a way to cheat the simulation. Like I said earlier, if you want to spend less time in cruise, fly shorter routes.

 

In the end, as mentioned, it's "to each their own." My opinion is that you're cheating, but it really doesn't affect me (just as my opinions shouldn't really be affecting you), so in the end it really doesn't matter. I just don't understand the logic of those who use acceleration.

I try to stay out of these discussions but you struck a chord. Typically I like to read your well constructed posts but this post right here lost you many respect points.

 

My opinion:

 

Just because you feel in your mind that time acceleration is cheating, you don't HAVE to come here and insult those who use the built-in game feature.

 

You don't HAVE to give your opinion that you feel so entitled to. Seemed quite abrasive and insulting IMHO.

 

If I remember correctly, you're training to become a commercial pilot of some sort, yes? If so, then I can easily understand the logic of staying as close to reality as you can. Now, why can't you understand the logic of a simmer that wants to have some fun flying around in FSX without your level of realism?

 

Scenario: I want to fly from TPA to SFO but don't have the time for the whole flight. By your "rules" I should fly from PHX instead of TPA. Now, I want to fly out of TPA.... think about it. I could care less about protocol or accurately following every procedure along the way... the built-in feature allows us to simulate a long route that many would not normally be able to fly.. I could pause it and pick it up later but that sounds worse to me than acceleration.. It's not difficult to understand.

I seldomly use the time acceleration on my flights. Mostly it´s the way that I take off late on the evening and set my alarm clock to some mintes before we shpould descend. With this technique I let the plane fly over the night and I can approach with it in the morning. But all in all I like flying the shorter hops with the 737 through the USA.

I was going to type out something verbose - as is typical for me - but I'm not in the mood, so you get this:

Your points have been noted, and I understand. I do see the logic, to a certain degree, even though I don't subscribe to it.

I maintain that I never said anything particularly mean or insulting to people, but I can see how claiming people are cheating could be seen as such.

I maintain that I never put anything across as a rule. I stated my viewpoint, and disclaimed it. Multiple times. Not being able to understand or note that disclaimer is not my issue.

I've had some hard times making turns properly at 8X before

I've had some hard times making turns properly at 8X before

 

8x is way too much accel for complex addons.

 

4x is the most these addons can reasonably handle