I don't have to shoot things to enjoy flying a plane.

 

...And thank God!

 

IIRC, very early versions of MSFS had WW1 "side sim" included... so it's been a part of it sense the start. The Civi P51 by A2A looks real fine. Not a fan of the Mil stuff, but that one has my eye for sure.

I just bought that.... at first I was a little miffed at the things like foggy windows and startup but now it's almost my favorite GA (right below Legacy)

Since FSX is a civil oriented flight simulator I wonder why buy (or develop) a military plane ? I mean you can't shot other planes down or bomb targets in FSX. So how do you fly them in FSX ? Do you fly them as ordinary GA plane like take off at one airport and land at another ? Or do you fly for example a bomber from England to over Germany and then return to the same airport in order to simulate what the plane did for real ?

What do the military plane in FSX offer you that you don't get with a civil plane ? Why didn't you spend your money on a more dedicated combat flight simulator if your are interested in flying military planes ?

 

 

I like to fly military aircraft - 'cos I live next door to a military airfield, and guess what ? I rarely see any civilian aircraft using the airfield. No NG or A320 here...

 

However, when a Herc or an EF2000 call in....I cannot resist 'The Call' to fire up FSX...with the audio up to 'Window Rattling Mode' to emulate them... :lol:

 

..and as for that 'Roar' from the Grob overhead... :tongue:

 

Bill

I bought Bear Studios Mig 17 just because it's soviet. I find western made, especially modern military planes extremely boring but these old Soviet birds are nice.

 

I mainly like to just do some fun low flying around some good scenery.

 

And I do have Captain Sim weapons pack too if I wish to shoot something down though I haven't really used it in ages.

For me, it's because myopic vision dashed my hopes of joining the RAF.

 

I still went and got my PPL fixed wing, but here in Australia, flying is very expensive. With FSX, UK2000 scenery, and the SkySim Hawk T1, I have virtually been able to replicate the entire training syllabus of the RAF, it's been cool. I've also run a few low level strike exercises against French aircraft in the Wilco Harrier, lots of fun indeed, and the land/water details are awesome.

 

Downloaded a very nice French Super Entendard as well. Still waiting a payware late model MiG-21.

 

Robertorizzo; are you using REX there? If so, can you bounce me a PM and advise me of which sky you are using? I want a darker blue sky for the Northern Hemisphere.

 

Awesome videos, can't wait for the next Captain Sim sale.

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew.

With all of my military aircraft, I always simulate bombing missions over Sweden.

LOL, you must be from Finland or Norway. Have you heard the joke about the aircraft that lost altutude and passengers had to make sacrifices. The Brit jumped out with"Long live the Queen" and the German "For Vaterland¨. The Finn and the Norwegian grabbed the Swede and threw him out and shouted: "Long live the Nordic co-operation!".

 

Seriously speaking I tried to keep the military out of my peaceful sim, but there are true aviation history classics available which you just cannot neglect. They offer also missions and flights that demand different skills and precision than their civilian sisters. Also in the combat sims you get shot at!

 

I would like to add that a fast jet is a good tool to monitor AI-traffic.

Besides all that... the skills you can gain managing different types and systems... military aircraft are known for their beautiful lines (and many for their liveries) which make excellent subjects for screenshots.

 

What do they offer? A whole 'nuther world of fun flying that you can't get with so many civilian planes.

 

Flying a military type does not mean you have to use it in a combat role to enjoy flying it or the challenge it can provide. Just try and land the MilViz T-38 successfully on your first attempt.

 

Factors mentioned that could make me consider spending money on a military plane would be

1) Deep system simulation and realism

2) New and greater challenges

Considering these factors what could be the best recommendations to get ? Also notice my PC system isn't the most powerful. I suspect fast planes also can toll fps more.

 

It boils down to a few things for me. First of all, they're a lot faster, more agile than a tubeliner, and a lot less labor intensive. I mean, flying a realistic airliner is cool, but I get bored of just flipping switches and reading a ten page startup checklist.

 

But does not a complex simulation of a military plane also mean a complex checklist and procedures ?

 

How about flying a Spitfire over England (RealAir or A2A) and soaking up the sound of that Merlin engine...

 

Are these equally good ? Or if one is better in what way ?

never thought of this question myself..

And to be honest most of the world's air forces don't fire anything either.

 

Seriously speaking I tried to keep the military out of my peaceful sim,

 

I enjoy flying from several airports that are in close proximity or share runways with a civil airport; it's great immersion to have say, military trainers practicing touch and goes near by to where you're planning on arriving with your GA flight, or flying say a C-130 into a busy international airport while keeping similar to real life because that's where they're based.

 

I had a blast the one night the other week, flying touch and goes in a properly painted T6 Texan II along with a few other AI planes in my squadron doing the same thing. (Of course I realized after the fact, that I need to actually go in and remove one of those AI planes, since it had the same number as me!)

 

I also really enjoy the historical aspect as well, I get an immense amount of pleasure of flying historically accurate planes that the air force of my country used to fly, properly painted and stationed where they once were.

But does not a complex simulation of a military plane also mean a complex checklist and procedures ?

 

Not necessarily. Most of the start procedures for the more advanced planes, such as the F-16, F/A-18, etc. can be completed in about five or ten minutes.

Are these equally good ? Or if one is better in what way ?

 

I don't have the A2A Spit only because I bought the RealAir first (a number of years before the A2A release). But I own enough A2A Accusim products that I wouldn't hesitate for a heartbeat to recommend them. I don't have to "wonder" if any of those products will be good.

 

I can remember first flying the RealAir Spit and thinking how "awesome" it was. I have a ball flying it out of small grass strips.

 

The Accusim P-40, P-51s (D & civvy) & Spitfire high on my "purchase priority" list.

 

Factors mentioned that could make me consider spending money on a military plane would be

1) Deep system simulation and realism

2) New and greater challenges

Considering these factors what could be the best recommendations to get ?

 

I think there would be general consensus here that the VRS Superbug would fit that billing... as far as realism... I do not have experience with any actual military types...

 

Learning to trap flying a proper pattern is a great challenge. If you can trap well, that is a great foundation to land about anything well.

If you really want to fly Combat Training missions or on line combat missions all within the FSX format check out this link for the new MadCatz Combat Pilot Program now released.

Link; http://combatpilotseries.com/

I was one of the Beta Test team and find it very intense and would expect it to appeal to those with a Military bend to their flying interests. It has to have FSX installed to use as the parent program. Might be right up someone’s alley.

http://www.captainsi.../products/w001/

 

Has anybody used that program with A2A fighter planes ? Does it work ?

 

But I own enough A2A Accusim products that I wouldn't hesitate for a heartbeat to recommend them. I don't have to "wonder" if any of those products will be good.

 

Since you own several A2A planes I would like to ask if you have the civilian B377 stratocruiser and if so how it compare to the B17 bomber regarding system modeling and challange to fly ?

Since you own several A2A planes I would like to ask if you have the civilian B377 stratocruiser and if so how it compare to the B17 bomber regarding system modeling and challange to fly ?

 

 

Both you need to be careful not to overboost the engines - or risk associated problems.

 

The B377 (I have both Accusim & Capt of the Ship) w/ the Accusim only you are primarily managing the engines during climb, whereas with the B-17 it is mostly a matter of sync'ing MAP. B377 - takeoff & climbout is very busy... in the pilot position switching between that and Radio-Nav Position to get the plane on course and appropriate rate of climb.

 

Then quickly into the Engineer position (mainly) to manage the Turbo Bearing Temps / CHTs / Carb Air. Once in cruise, little has to be done (beside navigating)... maybe transferring oil from the central tank to the engines...

 

Descent is fairly easy if you plan ahead... this is not something you can chop and drop... have to watch Carb Air Temps.

 

Landing... getting the pax to clap can be a challenge.

 

I don't build checklists for FSX planes w/ the exception of the more complicated ones like the PMDG stuff. This one (the B377) I also wrote up a small checklist for as it is easy to miss or forget something that should be done.

 

Some nice liveries available for both planes. And both I have enjoyed many hours flying... each having it's own "personality".

Both you need to be careful not to overboost the engines - or risk associated problems.

 

The B377 (I have both Accusim & Capt of the Ship) w/ the Accusim only you are primarily managing the engines during climb, whereas with the B-17 it is mostly a matter of sync'ing MAP. B377 - takeoff & climbout is

 

One question that has came to my mind is this. Is it some kind of limitation that I don't have a throttle quadrant that can control each of the four engines individually. I have the CH Flight Sim yoke with one lever for throttle prop mixture