Goodbye FSX/P3D/XP a new Flight Simulator is in the house

[Guest]

 

 

As a comparatively small community of simulator enthusiasts or addicts, we have been really lucky.

 

Just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading your post!  ^_^

[funkyhut1 7]

Thanks Jeroen.

[clayton4115 56]

how good is the atc? does it vector you into mountains?

[OmniAtlas 93]

how good is the atc? does it vector you into mountains?

I haven't experienced vector functions but if you have a filed flight plan you have to contact all the ATC stations appropriately. There is also ATIS which is modelled, and ACARS which allows you to establish a datalink and download information.

 

Thank you for the informative post Funkyhut.

 

Unfortunately the fidelity of PSX has made me uncomfortable using any other avionics suite. I personally wish there was airbus software available at this level. Hopefully Hardy can expand to other aircraft in the future (we will be waiting a long long time - this took 14 years to develop?).

 

At least the boeing and airbus share a Collins radar commonality

[jcomm 5,939]

Hi!

 

Great reading in this thread, and just saying I fully share Omin's view :-)

 

I actually re-installed X-Plane 10 because of PSX. I wanted to try how it works better than PS1 did with X-Plane and FSX. Having experimented with both platforms ( I no longer have P3d ), I decided that XP10 was the right choice for me, not only because of the very smooth way it runs and interacts with PSX in a single PC and monitor, but also because XP10 has sloped rws, just as they're modeled in PSX, and together the effect of approaching and even taxiing on such an airport is much more realistic in the PSX - XP10 combination then when using FSX or P3D.

 

PSX is simply astounding, that's all I can say. I don't believe HH will ever develop an Airbus sim or even a B748 or 777 or anything using Boeing's FBW, because HH has to do in the sim exactly what there is in the real thing, including the full electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc... systems, and I don't believe Airbus or Boeing would be willing to let him have access to the FBW algorithms used....

 

It's an expensive simulator, but I bought PS1 in 1995, and it lasted until I left flight simulation around 2006. When I returned by the hand of MS FLIGHT, I decided to wait for PSX... It was a long wait, but certainly worth every day I counted on seeing the announcement of PSX's release :-)

[GodAtum 69]

Some very thoughtful posts. I also have PSX and enjoying everything about it. i have moved over to Xplane for most of my flying now because the 747 model supports proper landing and taxi lights.

 

Regarding views in PSX, I have a number of different instrument displays setup which i change with my hat switch.

[jcomm 5,939]

Some very thoughtful posts. I also have PSX and enjoying everything about it. i have moved over to Xplane for most of my flying now because the 747 model supports proper landing and taxi lights.

 

Regarding views in PSX, I have a number of different instrument displays setup which i change with my hat switch.

 

GodAtum, can you share those Layouts please :-)

 

I have a 1920 x 1080 LCD , and am running XP10 and PSX using that single monitor. I start XP10 in windowed mode, and resize it so that one of the 9 views put's a single PSX window ( stretched ) bellow it, but I am sure there are much better alternatives :-)

[signmanbob 592]

Looks interesting, but definitely only for someone that is willing to dedicate screens to display 2d panels.  Doesn't look so good for people who require a virtual cockpit, which I'm guessing is most.

 

I agree completely.  I wouldn't hesitate to spend $400 on a really accurate simulation with great features, like this, but no VC cockpit and no interaction with TrackIR is unacceptable to my personal taste.

To me, part of the realism and experience of simulating real world flight is the situation awareness and environment of being in the flight deck and seeing out the windows at real looking scenery and airports.

There are a lot of simmers that are strictly focused on systems, and then there are those who look for the full experience of actually "being" in the cockpit, but at home.

[GodAtum 69]

GodAtum, can you share those Layouts please :-)

 

I have a 1920 x 1080 LCD , and am running XP10 and PSX using that single monitor. I start XP10 in windowed mode, and resize it so that one of the 9 views put's a single PSX window ( stretched ) bellow it, but I am sure there are much better alternatives :-)

 

 

try this, optimised for 1920x1200: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12765038/Chris.9pack

[jcomm 5,939]

Thx a lot Chris!  Will give it a try in 10 days ( only ... ). presently away from my sim PC :-(

I agree completely.  I wouldn't hesitate to spend $400 on a really accurate simulation with great features, like this, but no VC cockpit and no interaction with TrackIR is unacceptable to my personal taste.

To me, part of the realism and experience of simulating real world flight is the situation awareness and environment of being in the flight deck and seeing out the windows at real looking scenery and airports.

There are a lot of simmers that are strictly focused on systems, and then there are those who look for the full experience of actually "being" in the cockpit, but at home.

 

TIR 5, now that I own it after more than 25 yrs simming... But while it is mandatory for DCS World, IL2 BOS and Rise of Flight, I really find no need for it, or a 3d cockpit when it comes to a B747-400 CBT...

[KingGhidorah 209]

Jcomm, did you saw out a section of the desk to accommodate one or more monitors at kneetop level to display 2D instrument panel screens, while retaining eye-level screens to display outside visuals?   Again, I'm sure it's a great simulation, but I don't see how it works for even the most diehard 747 fan unless they are willing to quit the hobby of flight simulation, and join instead the hobby of home-cockpit building, which is related, but different. 

[signmanbob 592]

TIR 5, now that I own it after more than 25 yrs simming... But while it is mandatory for DCS World, IL2 BOS and Rise of Flight, I really find no need for it, or a 3d cockpit when it comes to a B747-400 CBT...

 

That's the funny thing about using TrackIR and VC.  Folks either love it, and can't sim without it, or hate it.  I love it, and can't sim without it.  I could never go back to simming in a 2D world. On the other hand, I can understand those who hate it, because it does take a lot of getting used to to manipulate knobs and switches in the VC environment.  If you're not used to it, they don't want to hold still.  :smile:

[OmniAtlas 93]

Hi!

 

I actually re-installed X-Plane 10 because of PSX. I wanted to try how it works better than PS1 did with X-Plane and FSX. Having experimented with both platforms ( I no longer have P3d ), I decided that XP10 was the right choice for me, not only because of the very smooth way it runs and interacts with PSX in a single PC and monitor, but also because XP10 has sloped rws, just as they're modeled in PSX, and together the effect of approaching and even taxiing on such an airport is much more realistic in the PSX - XP10 combination then when using FSX or P3D.

 

Hi Jcomm, thank you for sharing your experience with XP -- I will try and give it a go as a scenery generator for PSX -- P3D 2.3 still does have some limitations even though it is pretty (with all its addons). Any issues with XP, PSX and Vatsim/Ivao? 

 

Just tried out PSX on a crummy ancient dell machine at work -- works without any issues, I love how I can carry around a flight simulator on a USB stick (this does not violate the EULA AFAIK as you are licensed to use the software on up to 4 machines).

[JRBarrett 3,080]

Jcomm, did you saw out a section of the desk to accommodate one or more monitors at kneetop level to display 2D instrument panel screens, while retaining eye-level screens to display outside visuals? Again, I'm sure it's a great simulation, but I don't see how it works for even the most diehard 747 fan unless they are willing to quit the hobby of flight simulation, and join instead the hobby of home-cockpit building, which is related, but different.

I own PSX, FSX and XP-10, and it seems to me that many folks who have not seen PSX in action, greatly misunderstand the many and varied ways that the program can be used.

 

Yes, PSX is an ideal platform for hardware cockpit builders, in that multiple instances of the program can be run simultaneously on one (or many!) computers, driving one (or many!) monitors - with all instances running in perfect synchronization via PSX's built-in TCP/IP client server architecture.

 

Yes, one certainly could build a full-scale cockpit mockup with multiple monitors, each showing a different flight deck panel, with each physically positioned in the proper relationship to the others... But there is no reason why one HAS to do it that way.

 

I have owned every iteration of the MS Flight Sim franchise going back to FS5, and have owned almost every major complex airliner add-on. My current FSX hangar includes the PMDG 747V1, the entire NGX series, the MD-11 and, of course, the 777-200LR and 777-300ER. I also have the Leonardo MD83, the LevelD 767 and the Eaglesoft Citation X.

 

With the exception of the PMDG T7, all of the above titles have the option to display 2D panels in addition to a VC.

 

You said you don't see how PSX would "work" (for anyone but a hardcore home cockpit builder) which, again, I believe to be caused by a fundamental misunderstanding of how PSX can be used in a NON full-sized cockpit environment.

 

With one important exception, flying PSX with it's 2-D panels is no different than flying any of the above-listed FSX add-ons with their 2-D panels. Heck, it was the way that almost ALL of us flew in MSFS before the advent of visually-accurate and functional VC's - which really didn't become all that common before the advent of FSX.

 

Even today, there are still substantial numbers of MSFS simmers who prefer 2-D panels... Witness the hue and cry which arose when PMDG announced a couple of years ago that beginning with the T7, all of their future titles would be VC only.

 

Not everyone is enamoured of VCs. While I myself enjoy using the VC in the NGX, I actually gravitate toward using 2D in the MD-11, the Maddog, and the CITX.

 

While they may be "only" 2-D, the panel views in PSX are extremely clear and detailed. Night lighting is excellent. The EGPWS terrain display in particular, is visually stunning - truly a delight. (Though PSX does not render detailed outside scenery - it DOES contain a worldwide terrain database, which, I believe, is derived from an actual real-world EGPWS system).

 

The one important exception regarding PSX 2-D panels is that indeed, there is no detailed outside view through the cockpit windows, other than the runway environment - but linking PSX to either FSX or X-Plane is extremely easy for detailed external visuals.

 

As far as the PSX 2-D panels themselves are concerned, they are not "static" as are the 2-D panels in FSX or X-Plane. Each panel can be precisely customized by the user. Setting up PSX panel layouts is somewhat similar in concept to setting up custom panel views in software like EZDOK, where each custom view is assigned to a particular keyboard key.

 

In the case of PSX, you can assign 9 unique views to the 9 keys on the numeric keypad. Each of the 9 panel views can be setup to display up to three "subframes"... or just one large frame. Each panel section can be precisely configured as desired by panning left or right, up or down, or zooming in or out. (All this is done with the mouse). Once each view is set as desired, it can be saved to a specific key. Individual views can also be quickly selected by assigning them to the hat switch on a yoke or joystick.

 

In my own setup, I run PSX on a single computer with two 28-inch monitors. I run PSX on one monitor, and either FSX or XP-10 on the other.

 

In my PSX panel layout, I have a full-screen view of the captain's panel, a full-screen view of the copilot's panel, a full-screen view of the overhead panel, full-screen view of the throttle/flap/spoiler/fuel switches, full-screen of the radios, and zoomed views of the FMS CDUs and captain's main instruments.

 

I also have one custom three-frame view specifically tailored for engine start, showing (simultaneously) the start switches on the overhead panel, the fuel control switches below the throttle, and a zoomed view of the engine instruments on the center displays - everything needed for engine start in one place.

 

Finally I have a 2-frame view of the overhead and side-panel circuit breakers, because yes Virginia, every single one if them is fully functional - with all the actual consequences that would result in a real 747-400 if any specific breaker were to be pulled.

 

Again, selecting between these pre-defined views is as quick, easy and natural as using custom views defined in FSX with EZDOK or similar software. The only real difference is that you do not see the "motion blur" caused by "head movement" when transitioning from one view to another - it's an instantaneous switch.

 

Used in this manner, it is no more necessary to have multiple monitors to show individual panel views in PSX, than it would necessary be to have multiple monitors to show individual 2-D panel views in any FSX aircraft.

 

The title of this thread may give the wrong impression. I don't think PSX is really a "replacement" for FSX, P3D or X-Plane - particularly in light of the fact that it emulates only one specific aircraft (albeit with multiple variations within the series as regards engine models and specific options).

 

PSX DOES however have great potential to work hand-in-hand with all three major sim titles in a variety of ways - as well as being able to serve as the core foundation for a full-sized, hardware-based professional-quality simulator for those with the time, money and passion to go that route.

 

I do agree that PSX will appeal most strongly to those simmers who like to have accurate systems modeling, and to those who prefer long-haul flying to shorthaul -- but by NO means is it a sim only for the hardcore home cockpit builder. Anyone with just one computer with sufficient horsepower to run FSX or XP10 well, can certainly run PSX in conjunction with either of the other sims (for scenery). The only proviso is that it really does benefit from having at least two separate monitors.

[KingGhidorah 209]

Thanks for the detailed explanation.  I didn't know that you can set it up to display similar in the manner to FS9 or FSX 2D environment where the top half of your screen is out the window, and the bottom half is the primary flight instrument panel.  Like FSXtreme, I'm a TrackIR and VC addict now, so I don't think I could go back to that paradigm easily, but you're right, I was operating under a misunderstanding of how the product could be used in a typical desktop environment.