hi allwhat do you do to increase the immersion factor in FS?is it perhaps more addons, better planes, bigger monitors, or perhaps faster computers, more hardware i,e TRACK IR?i really think to get better immersion i think the bigger the monitor the better the immersion will be like a 37" or 40" monitor.Discuss...

There are a lot of add-on tools and gadgets to increase the immersion factor. Of course, the ultimate would be a full-motion simulator or a home cockpit, but only a few have the funds and the time to realize this.What I can definitely recommend is TrackIR. It is really one of the best gadgets for FS. Other tools come in at a close second: Radar Contact, Flight Deck Companion, FS2Crew - and of course high-quality add-on planes.I don't think that a bigger monitor would increase the immersion level a whole lot, unless you switch to a big television set, projector or a multi-monitor setup.Happy flying,Pat

I think, in order of priority.this is JMO.Apart from software like scenary addons and aircraft addons, Hardware certainly helps.So here goes.1. Yoke.2. Rudder3. throttle 4. Trim wheel (non available that fits my budget) Anything less than 5" Diameter don't count5. Nav Radio (atleast one Nav 1 Radio from Go flight, if not a full radio suit)6. Large size monitor7. Freznel Lens (This is my recent find)8. Multi monitor/Networked PCs

ASVjimCYWG

How about a FA uniform for your girlfriend/wife? :-lol Miltos

120mph fan, relocated house to edge of 2,000ft cliff. Set fire to large bundles of paper money on a frequent basis. That should do it.;)Allcott

I use CH controls (Yoke, pedals, and throttle quadrant), ActiveSky V for weather, Radar Contact 4 for ATC. I fly mostly IFR flights in aircraft with good panels and decent flight models. I program most keyboard functions to buttons/levers on my controls.For night flights, I have a desklamp with a red bulb, positioned about 3 feet above my desk. I kill all other lights. At first, it's difficult to see everything, but as your night vision adjusts, it becomes fairly realistic to a night cockpit.Dale

I pull out all my real-world aviation stuff, except my headset, so I sit with my kneeboard, dork wheel (E-6B), paper charts, and several other gadgets.----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

CH USB yoke and pedalsTrackIR pro with vector expansionheadset with mike and voice command for radioGood sound system with sub woofer on chair back or seatRoom lighting adjusted to suit flightie all room lights out for night flightsUse of real knee board,charts, plates & mapsUse Real current weather with look at Internet radar for routeFight plan for every flightVirtual preflight walk around with all checks using real checklistsInternet visit to city you are flying to and a look at the real airports you'll be using. Lots of work... good rewards

This may not be exactly what your question meant, but to me the plane's vc or panel can be average, the flight dynamics can be a bit off, my monitor is only a 17inch CRT and I use an old CH Flightsick and Logitech pedals - but for me the factor most likely to make me believe in the whole flight sim experience is very good quality real-life sound. Then I am actually in the plane. Without great engine sound(just try flying your favorite plane and then press the Q key)IMHO it is just another game.

yea thats true, sound is an important factor.

Smell is also an important factor. I keep an old hotplate on the desk and put a couple drops of Jet-A on it just before starting engines. :-eekAlso, if you go buy a McDonald's breakfast meal, let it sit for a couple of hours and get stone cold and half-stale, it simulates an airline breakfast bag-nasty pretty well. If you have a hideously overweight female neighbor with a bad attitude, maybe you can get her to stick her head in the door and whine at you every couple of hours to provide flight attendant immersion...Bob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-V L-300Santiago de Chile

LOL i bet you do, we really do have here some flight sim nuts!

>> what do you do to increase the immersion factor in FS?I take a hit of acid and squint my eyes.That usually suspends my disbelief, for awhile at least.

Hi, here are some things that may help.I tried projectors and multiple monitors. I find that a large, at least 21 in., high resolution Monitor works the best for me. Projectors, and some large LCDs tend to have visible gaps between the active pixels which detracts from the sensation of reality. Going from a 17, or even a 19 in. monitors to a 21 or 23 does help, and it may take while to get used to the feel. I