At SimReviewsHouse:  http://www.simreviewshouse.com/?post_type=reviews&p=1112

 

For serious IFR flight training nothing can compare to ELITE, in the PC. I have long been using this simulator, version 8.6 brought some new and welcome features

but I really look forward for V9, which will be available this year!

 

Recently a friend who is starting is IFR certification, and is now using an RC-1 ELITE simulator at his flying school has kindly sent me is exercises so that I can

use them with my ELITE PC 8.6 at home - whow!  It's been real fun, specially the debrief phase and looking at your errors...

 

ELITE models features which are unique among the many flight simulators I have used ( civil ). Just to mention one that makes IFR training more difficult / realistic

in ELITE than in any other simulator or sophisticated add-on have used so far, ADF needle deep effects, and also the typicla fluctuation of this type of instrument

are superbly replicated in ELITE.

 

Flight characteristics, as mentioned on the review linked above are also superb, for the scope of an IFR training / proficiency PC-based software.

That is the best review I have seen of ELITE thus far. I'm sure there was an AVSIM review some years ago, which focused too much on the outdated graphics without really understanding how to use the product, but I can't find that review now.

 

 

Flight characteristics, as mentioned on the review linked above are also superb, for the scope of an IFR training / proficiency PC-based software.

Actually and counter intuitively ELITE with Genview is good for practicing proper VFR techniques too!!

 

Surprisingly, considering how realistic it is, there seems to be very little interest amongst simmers for ELITE. I am thinking of doing to ELITE tutorials in the near future to see if I can enlighten some and demonstrate how ELITE encourages realistic decision making.

 

But it is no good for lazy afternoon bimbling

Thanks for the reply Vagabondo :-)

 

Yes, I remember that review, but I'm not sure if it was here at AVSIM or at FLIGHTSIM.COM (?)

 

I look forward for your tutorials!  I use ELITE excatly for that - practising IFR in GA aircraft. 

 

Version 9 is shaping  up very well, with new instrument panel graphics, and version 10 is also already being considered with new in the scenery and weather areas :-)

First time I heard about this software. I use Prepar3d for IFR practice up to now. But the review leave me with a mixed feeling. Better flight modeling, exact systems dynamics, icing and error analysis seems a plus but very limited hardware would probably reduces the immersion (i have 3 saitek panels). I noticed that the software simulates the trimble which is a big plus for me as its the unit that was fitted in my piper and its not very intuitive so practicing at home would definively be an advantage.

 

Would like to know more about what exactly make you prefer it to fsx or Prepar3d? Flight model? Systems accuracy? Do you use also fsx for ifr training?

Hi Pierre,

 

when I first got ELITE we were if fs98 times... It was, at that time, already a much better simulator in terms of providing an IFR training oriented platform, with the aircraft and systems being modeled very close to their real counterparts, but with flat scenery that looked even worst than what we had in fs2 or fs3...

 

I have upgraded to the successive versions, and now have the Genview scenery areas covering Europe and part of north Africa and Asia. Scenery-wise they are "from the last century", but they have some important features for VFR such as water courses, main motorways / highways, polygons for main urban areas. The mountains, valleys etc... are acceptably modeled, and occupy the precise positions, but you have rivers and roads climbing them, and sometimes some runways also have that problem, although ELITE has some slopped runways modeled.

 

Above all what I think, and tried to express in my review, is that the flight models of all aircraft in the ELITE fleet are very plausible and reproduce the main characteristics / performance of their real world counterparts. The FDM is free of effects that might distract  those that want to practice IFR, or any other maneuvers, not having a 6dof full motion platform, and that in practice can only be experienced when flying in a real aircraft. So, many FSX and Xplane users can easily find ELITE rather on-rails... That's not really a limitation, but rather an intended feature.

 

The graphics in teh panels are crisp, the instruments, with many variants are extremely realistic and operate exactly like their RW counerparts. A GNS 430 module can already be used as well, but requires an external hardware module, which is expensive... A specific throttle quadrant is also required for the B200, although you can use the keyboard to control the two engines symmetrically.

 

Version 9 is about to be revealed to the public and will include 3d instrument panels, with night lighting effects.  Version 10 is also already under consideration with visuals that could be provided by P3D. As a mater of fact, ELITE has already a few fixed and rotary wing FNPTs based on Prepar3d visuals.

Hi Kama,

 

My take on the word "immersion" is the desire to experience as closely as possible the sensations of flight, but I see that distinct from the sim experience forcing you to make realistic decisions and apply realistic techniques. This sim is not immersive in the FSX re-creation way at all. But it is immersive in the sense that you can give yourself some really challenging scenarios. ELITE is designed to challenge, practice, learn and repeat.

 

Bad bits first. Graphics, they are from the 90's But graphics are more or less irrelevant, especially for IFR practice, as most practice will involve IMC until minima and then maybe not.  he graphics are totally functional and practical. Screen resolution requires 1024, 768. Ground handling and landing lacks any physics sophistication, not seen as relevant phases of flight by the designers - I agree. The gauges are not really photo realistic but totally relevant. The navdata is always out of date, we're talking mainly runway numbers and navaid frequencies that change over time, not a deal breaker. But if you buy it for the Trimble then GPS navdata updates probably are essential and they ain't cheap! It is an expensive product, especially the premium edition which has all the aircraft including Elite Jet. I would recommend at least the King Air throttle as it works properly with everything. Other than that I use a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro or my hated Saitek Pro yoke when I'm in the mood for justifying its purchase with Saitek pedals. I used to have a PFC SAAB yoke, back in the days of gameport which suits ELITE perfectly, but I can't justify the cost when the Logitech/Saitek does the job. But, the hardware requirements are so low, that there is no need for expensive processors or graphics cards. You can buy a package for just the aircraft that are relevant for you (for example Core Singles) and use standard Saitek Pro Flight gear, etc. That would reduce the price significantly.

 

What ELITE is all about is proficiency. It isn't a comprehensive systems simulation, But the systems it does model and their respective failure modes are directly relevant to the actual operation of the aircraft in flight.

 

Flight modelling is actually very realistic, but not in the way most simmers would perceive realism. Twin engine failures are just bang on the numbers, the performance and the controlabliity, FSX/XP just are nowhere in this regard. Book performance for all aircraft.

 

Avionics are pretty much facsimiles of the real thing, very important for a procedural training. Also the interface is very ergonomic and instantly responsive getting, no horrible click spots, just click and drag for everything, so much easier.

 

Flight instrument simulations is exact, encouraging the correct scan. For example, partial panel unusual attitude recovery is as realistic as it is possible to get. Even RealityXP gauges don't act properly in this regard.

 

Weather settings are precise and programmable over time.

 

Malfunctions are realistic, insidious and programmable over time. The malfunctions system is designed to test the scan and accurate and timely execution of the procedures

 

The instructor station allows you to position the aircraft precisely at any point in space with speed and heading or a on a runway and reconfigure the aircraft before unfreezing the sim making repeats a breeze.

 

Structural icing is simulated under certain conditions or it can be forced on regardless of the conditions. There is no deicing simulated (other than pitot heat), but the build up of ice is silent and its effects subtle (to start with). Ice buildup can be cleared with a button push.

 

Genview is interesting, it is graphically sparse, but it is good enough, roads, rivers, towns, lakes, coastline and railways are all accurately depicted, but not graphically realistic, more like MSFS was 20 years ago. But the point is, because it is accurate it is usable. As I mentioned, I can fix a position with a VFR char by looking at the confluence and directions of roads, towns, lakes, rivers, etc. Unless you have photographic scenery for FSX this is not really practical, landclass is just not good enough for this (IMHO). Less is more!

 

Finally, ELITE Jet is an MD80 simulation. The code was allegedly lifted from a real MD80 simulator. It shows, it is clunky, but handling the thing is very realistic in terms of pitch sensitivity, performance and drag, meaning that just like a real medium jet, it needs a gentle touch and the right kind of scan with your brain well ahead of what is happening now. The techniques required for manual departures, arrivals and approaches translates well enough when it is time for me to visit the real sim every six months (I'm a 737 pilot). Nothing FSX couldn't do technically, but practically speaking it is just takes too difficult to set up scenarios in FSX and repeat exercises, I just loose patience with it.

 

I seem to have written quite a lot! I am nothing to do with ELITE or anybody who sells it, just passing on my contrary views. Hope it was useful.

Ok thanks Jcomm and Vagabondo for sharing your experience with this product. I will have a closer look.