Genuine question -- and clearly everybody has their own preferences and interests -- but if you use extreme rates of time compression or simply leap from TOC to shortly before TOD -- what is the motivation for performing a 'long-haul' flight at all? Why not just do a shorter flight in its entirety?

 

 

the limiting factor for me is that i can't really do more than 2-3 hours except on rare occasions.

 

yet i enjoy flying a lot of different types, learning the systems, doing complex fuel planning, etc. my favorite planes are the 'study level' sims where i can really take them from cold and dark to the air with all the various button presses in between. but flying them out of their usual regime can really mean you miss some of what makes those types interesting.

 

taking off in the 377 and dealing with the fuel balance and stuff is much different with a full load of fuel than with short hop fuel, for example. same with the 777, i get a kick out of doing the ETOPS planning and north atlantic tracks and whatnot, but once i'm actually on them, i'm happy to time accel between the step climbs or such.

 

sometimes i enable failures on the plane or in fscaptain (ive had it throw a few medical emergencies for example) but it just depends on my mood. i do simming as relaxation and i already spend 7 or 8 hours working on a computer every day so i just don't really feel the need to pay a lot of attention on the cruise especially when i know the chances even in real life of trouble are pretty miniscule. i guess i find it challenging and satisfying enough to plan and execute the takeoff/climb/approach/landing phases. and i do generally stick to shorter routes i do the long hops far less frequently than 1-2 hour flights. i'm trying the q400 pro right now on a 2 hour leg and well here i am commenting on forums while the mountains pass by..

 

maybe that makes sense, maybe it doesn't, to each their own i say

 

cheers

-andy crosby

I would worry about the waste of electricity having a computer practically doing nothing for such a long time.

Since buying the PMDG 777 I have been loving the Auto Cruise function. There is something strangely satisfying about 'flying' an long haul in real time, but I find going to 2x or 4x works well - some flights can still take 3 hours but it feels like an achievement. If I don't have time for that I take the A320 on a short hop. 

I used to love long hauls. I've over 5000 hours on vatsim. That was on fsx when I never had any problems.

 

Then I stupidly went over to p3d v3 and now I spend my whole time waiting for ooms, ctds with the pmdg. And other issues such as the the aerosoft airbus with no touchdown sounds, starting with the aircraft at full speed cutting down trees on the ground, even though I've got cold and dark as the starting panel state. Normal wind shifts issues with activesky, speed brakes that don't work. Buildings incorrectly placed, and coastlines that are wrong.

 

Like I said over 5000 hours with fsx, no many problems, p3d v3 I rarely get off the ground... Apparently it's my fault and I need to reinstall again. What do I know. 5000 HOURS....halcyon days

Cant remember were i seen it,  but there was a chap telling a story about when he does long flights he gets his girlfriend involved by doing roll play,  he would be the pilot and she was the passenger, he would set the flight up and serve her food and drinks and so.  Through out the flight he would get her maybe a cover or pillow to rest. Also setting up an in flight movie lol   I thought that was brilliant. 

 

"Roll play". Hmmmmm.

"Roll play". Hmmmmm.

Mile High club?

 

I have already spent entirely too much time in the real thing to want to re-create the boredom of half a day or more at cruise.  A more apt simulation of the joys of long-duration cruise would be to drink three pots of strong coffee, take your wife's vacuum cleaner, turn it on and sit next to it in a marginally comfortable chair, only getting up for bathroom breaks, for 12 hours or so... 

 

Best.. quote... ever.

Has anyone considered ferry flights with smaller AC?

I used to love long hauls. I've over 5000 hours on vatsim. That was on fsx when I never had any problems.

 

Then I stupidly went over to p3d v3 and now I spend my whole time waiting for ooms, ctds with the pmdg. And other issues such as the the aerosoft airbus with no touchdown sounds, starting with the aircraft at full speed cutting down trees on the ground, even though I've got cold and dark as the starting panel state. Normal wind shifts issues with activesky, speed brakes that don't work. Buildings incorrectly placed, and coastlines that are wrong.

 

Like I said over 5000 hours with fsx, no many problems, p3d v3 I rarely get off the ground... Apparently it's my fault and I need to reinstall again. What do I know. 5000 HOURS....halcyon days

 

Strange...I thought the big selling point of P3D v3 was that it had virtually eliminated OOMs.

Strange...I thought the big selling point of P3D v3 was that it had virtually eliminated OOMs.

 

For me, it has.

 

Regards

Like I said over 5000 hours with fsx, no many problems, p3d v3 I rarely get off the ground... Apparently it's my fault and I need to reinstall again. What do I know. 5000 HOURS....halcyon days

 

Pete, regardless of who's fault it is,  why don't you reinstall your Sim again?   doesn't take long really, couple of hours and you'll be flying high again :smile: