I too have ben simming for 15 years and have also not learned to use an FMC.  I bet their are thousands around like us too.

 

That's because I'm focussed on low and slow - Microlights, Cessnas and Gliders, mainly, though I also occasionally fly jets and twin props.

 

I also focus on trying to get things as real as I can with addon airports and photoscenery in the areas I fly, etc.

 

I really keep meaning to get around to learning how to use an FMC, but never do.  I've got the freemium 757 which has one, though I'm not sure it's all that realistic.

 

For a simmer though, I'm not sure how much point there is in setting up a flight on the FMC and then giving yourself little to do for the next 3 or 4 hours of flight.

 

IAN

 

I agree, however that is where (for my enjoyment anyway) is loading the Victor Airways, and the J-Routes and watching the FMC hit the waypoints.  Now what one CAN do with the FMC and this goes to my level of automation remark earlier, is to not use level 4 as it were but maybe level 3.  where you are using the autopilot and the FMC but the Pilot uses the HDG BUG instead of the VNAV function to steer the aircraft along the courses of any given flight.  That can be interesting and gives a good feel for the effects of crosswind at cruise etc.  Once can always go back to level 4, or even hand fly for a while.  When you get to that level it is nice to know you can fly both with total automation, or with stick and rudder at any phase of a flight.

Maybe you meant LNAV (lateral navigation) as VerticalNAV has nothing to do with the heading bug.

I love the FMC, but sometimes, it's just better to use good ol' heading select and V/S, or better yet, just hand fly it. 

Ok, here's mine: I use time compression  :ph34r: 

Think I'm going to buy the 737 NGX......and finally "bite the bullet".

 

Stan

Ok, here's mine: I use time compression  :ph34r: 

 

Well, you are not alone.

 

Cheers,

Think I'm going to buy the 737 NGX......and finally "bite the bullet".

 

Stan

It's a sound choice. Definitely one of the better options out there for tutorials, support, and overall high quality aircraft. Do tutorial 1 it will really help.

I am so embarrassed, and ashamed.  To this day....and I've been flight simming for 15 or more years....I HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO USE AN FMC!  Why?  I don't know.  I'm lazy when it comes to this.  I'm sure I could learn it and enjoy some of the fantastic aircraft that's available; however, I fly GA and passenger aircraft where I could use the default GPS. 

 

I promise (again) that I will take some time this Summer to take a tutorial and try to learn the Sids and the Stars and the wonderful things this autopilot can do. 

 

I feel compelled though, to confess.  What in the h_ _ _  is wrong with me?

 

Stan

 

ps.  Whew!  Now I feel better.

 

I can fly the FMC and enjoy doing so and indeed enjoyed the challenge of learning to use it, but in reality it is more akin to a computer programming exercise than actual flying. For this reason I tend to spend possibly 25% of my time flying using the FMC and the rest either flying seat of the pants VFR or if I am flying the big jets, then I tend to go for the older generation and fly using VOR/DME/ILS and even occasionally using the ADF (remember that?!). I guess I am giving away the age in which I trained to fly in the real world but I like to use FSX in the main to simulate flying rather than programming!

 

Bill

groentesoep, the 400 does  not autoland. One has to turn off the autopilot just before landing and land by hand (and it is one of the hardest planes to land properly due to the small wings). However the FMC is  simple, and if you use Ideal Flight to prepare your flight, it will prepare  the flight plan and it can be copied into the FMC directly using the "copy" function.

 

Henri

That's pretty good advice!

 

Stan

I'm in the same boat - about 15 years at the controls and I only buy aircraft where I can use the default GPS (or similar GPS's like what's offered with Carenado products). I like the airbus X as well but I haven't even upgraded it yet. For me, the QW products are a happy medium. My biggest problem is I can't fly as often as I would like to and anything more complex than a QW product requires me to bust out a manual. When I do have time to fly, I need to get in the air as quick as possible and I need to be able to walk away from the controls in cruise. Of course, I do need to use the FMC with the QW757 for some things, but I like the ability to use the GPS for approaches and visual cues.

 

It is not the optimum approach but it is better than nothing.

That's really interesting Duckbilled. Never thought of it like that because I'm totally opposite. I rarely buy planes that don't at least have RXP integration or navigraph support. The Phenom was an exemption.

Maybe you meant LNAV (lateral navigation) as VerticalNAV has nothing to do with the heading bug.

 

HAHA  Thanks for the correction!  My kid was waiting for me in the car!  (Awe c'mon dad!)  

groentesoep, the 400 does  not autoland. One has to turn off the autopilot just before landing and land by hand (and it is one of the hardest planes to land properly due to the small wings). However the FMC is  simple, and if you use Ideal Flight to prepare your flight, it will prepare  the flight plan and it can be copied into the FMC directly using the "copy" function.

 

Henri

 

 

Well, that's exactly what I said. The Q400 is not as complex in that area as the NGX or 777 is and does not allow you to turn on the autopilot and autothrottle and sit back and "enjoy" the ride.

 

Because of that I believe it is a good option for the "in-betweeners".

Stan, I wasn't going to get the NGX. None of this FMC bus driving crap for me. Now my aircraft used by hours are, um... J41, 738, MD-11, 737 and Avro RJ. If you want to fiddle with an FMC and still have to fly, I would recommend the J41, QW 146/RJ (which has FMC options) or the DH8D. But the NGX is really good (I'm not into excessive superlatives), especially with the help of the tutorials.

 

My confession... I have too many planes to get anything more than competent in any of them, and still eye up more.