I am doing my IFR training for real..and thought of something for folks who might me interested in learning Instrument flying (IFR) procedures on the cheap for flight sim. I am sure.. getting a book would do the trick as well. I initially bought the ASA IP Trainer 7.0 software (but not the whole PCATD thingi Cirrus yoke, Pedals, throttle and AV-1 Avionics). http://www.marvgolden.com/software/asa-ip-trainer.htmI got frustrated with it..cause I never could pass the training in it... Its very very hard. Particularly when it came to using the Radios without an Avionics hardware.. By the time, I could change the frequency.. it would ding me for not changing the frequency sooner. thats when I realized, this software was builty maingly with the hardware that came with it...and not very suitable to use without the hardware (Cirrus yoke, Pedals, throttle and AV-1 Avionics) which costs $2700. So I basically gave up.Recently.. I was having a hard time with Holding Patterns with my IFR instructor and real training..so I revisted this ASA IP Trainer thingi.. and took a new approach. Instead of following everything that s/w provides... I focused only on the instruction part.. nevermind the testing etc... and found that alone was awesome.. It has 4 training mode. 1. EXPLAIN, 2. PRACTICE, 3. PROMPT and 4. TEST.TEST is the hardest. EXPLAIN mode is obviously the easiest since you don't have to do anything.. you just watch (Which is what I am currently using it for). the others fall inbetween in terms of difficulty.Even if you are using the EXPLAIN mode exclusivily and don't use anything else.. its still very very good. Its like watching an instructor doing each and every manuevers and explaining as he is doing it and you sitting besides him and watching and learning.You also have an extra button there "EVALUATE". this takes you to a map screen where you get a top down view of the manuever. It works for all the four traning modes. I thinking you can have it opened simeltaneously on the second monitor. Not sure.. I need to check this. The sofware alone costs around $125-150 bucks and it comes with a 600 page book on complete instrument training as well. Is it worth it for a flight simmer? Only you can decide.. depending on how serious you are about learnin to fly Instrument procedures. But thought it was an option. If that price is too high.. you may look for it on e-bay.. you may get it for cheap there too.BTW.. The ASA IP TRainer 7.0 should not be confused with their other programs like ON TOP Profeciency software 8.0. Even ELITE software does not teach instrument. To my knowledge only the ASA IP Trainer actually has a virtual instructor sitting there teaching you.I know they have a demo version that you could get hold of on their web site I believe. and try it out yourself.. It has two procedure..the ILS and one more in the demo.

I took a look at it and bought it tonight-thanks for the link.Even though I have had my ifr rating for 14 years it looks like a good way to keep the cobwebs off. I like the toughness of it-of course it is a lot harder to fly on the computer...http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

<>Manny, I strongly suggest that you contact ASA to inquire whether any of the hardware vendors support their software.GoFlight, for example, makes an entire cockpitful of avionics devices but, brilliantly, they produce certain SINGLE MODULES that, with the push of a button, can be made to operate nearly any avionics device from VORs to ILS to A/P functions to ADF etc. etc.Unfortunately, I am fairly sure that GoFlight only supports MSFS but ASA will know if there are alternatives for you.I have an 8 module GoFlight stack that has a dedicated, full functionA/P, dual flip/flop nav/coms in addition to an assortment of 44 buttons and toggle switches that control most everything I want to control. I wouldn't sim without it.Maybe you can find hardware compatible with ASA.Regards,Jim

Jim,I wish they did. I did ask around.. Nope. To my knowledge..the IP Trainier (like all ASA's other products) works only with their AV-1 Avionics). They kind of wink/winked at me about the PFC Avionics. But they specifically told me...it will not work with anything else.. including Go flight. I have the Flight Link TR-1 Avionics but that too would not work with this.ASA has something unique and a great product in their hand. but they seem to have made this so properitary, (not an open technology). thats sad indeed. I bet if only they had a reasonable open APIs for hardwares like Go Flight.. they could sell very well. The only reason they may justify it is... This is an FAA Approved PCATD under specific condition Where certain amount a time with your CFII is loggable in your flight logs and counts towards your flight currency. One of those specific condition is, this s/w to work with those specific hardware (Cirrus, Yoke, Pedals, PFC Throttle and their propritary AV-1 avionics which the FAA has approved for flight schools).But still, IMO, this is a loaded software.. its loaded to the hilt with training and knowledge. Inspite of its quirks.. for the cost of a single flight lesson, I get a great IFR Instructor who teaches me the proper procedures, Radio calls, step by step nav/radio tuning, whenever I want. Flying IFR is about procedures anyway for the most part.

Geofa,When you caliberate your Yoke or Joystick, Make sure you assign your throttle first. Read their caliberating notes.If you have trouble..just call their help desk.