Just completed a trip from Dublin to Kerry airports (IEDW to IEKY) via Ahch-To (sorry, Skellig Michael!) to see if I could spot Luke Skywalker and Rey. Thought I saw them, but was disappointed to realise they were just 2 huts (not Hutts!) representing the stone buildings. Should've taken an X-Wing to catch them before they left!

Anyhoo, on the way back to Kerry, I was confronted by 30 knot sidewinds, resulting in me attempting my first sideways landing in a sim. Wow, that was a hairy experience and gave me even more respect for real world pilots who have to do that. I touched down the TBM at around 45 degrees to the runway centre line, and did a very good job, though I say it myself. The correction once I had the wheels down wasn't so great, not helped by having to use a PS4 controller - probably need the plane looked over after that! But I stayed on the runway and came to a safe halt.

All of which to say is that the realism of that scenario is one of the reasons I love MSFS and am prepared to put up with its shortcomings and wait for the problems to be fixed. Meantime, I'll just have as much fun as it can offer me.😀

 

Just wish I'd had the foresight to record the landing!!! Definitely in need of that replay option when it finally arrives.

Yeah a video or some screenshots of the epic weather next time...

The max demonstrated crosswind component for a TBM is 20 knots so well done.

Though your insurance company might have refused to pay up if you dinged it 😄

10 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

The max demonstrated crosswind component for a TBM is 20 knots so well done.

I'm glad I wasn't aware of that before I tried to land or I might have made a right mess of it!

 

10 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Though your insurance company might have refused to pay up if you dinged it 😄

Ah well, my girlfriend used to be an insurance evaluator, so I'm sure I could have worked out an agreement somehow!😁

Please don't land sideways - decrab!

2 hours ago, sd_flyer said:

Please don't land sideways - decrab!

Give me a break, I was just happy to keep my wheels on the black stuff!😜

 

Actually, I hadn't heard of decrabbing before you said it. I'm learning new skills which I was a) unaware of, b) unable to manage or c) didn't think were recreated in FSX, so every day is a learning day with MSFS.🙂

1 hour ago, 109Sqn said:

Give me a break, I was just happy to keep my wheels on the black stuff!😜

 

Actually, I hadn't heard of decrabbing before you said it. I'm learning new skills which I was a) unaware of, b) unable to manage or c) didn't think were recreated in FSX, so every day is a learning day with MSFS.🙂

That is great opportunity to learn and practice ! MSFS shines here!

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by sd_flyer

And just think, if I can do that with a gamepad (since my HOTAS crashes the sim), I can only improve when I finally get hold of a yoke!😁

32 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

And just think, if I can do that with a gamepad (since my HOTAS crashes the sim), I can only improve when I finally get hold of a yoke!😁

Actually pleasantly surprised of the handling with the xbox gamepad. I couldnt be bothered to get my joystick out of storage, so i tried the gamepad on day 1, and to be honest, i like it, Its chilled, the panning of the camera in VC is so handy and smooth compare to a hat switch, but the triggers for the rudders are terrible.

57 minutes ago, leprechaunlive said:

Actually pleasantly surprised of the handling with the xbox gamepad. I couldnt be bothered to get my joystick out of storage, so i tried the gamepad on day 1, and to be honest, i like it, Its chilled, the panning of the camera in VC is so handy and smooth compare to a hat switch, but the triggers for the rudders are terrible.

I echo all of that, only with a Sony DS4 gamepad. The rudder control, despite being with analogue triggers is just too 'digital' to allow for gentle adjustments - it's either full rudder or no rudder, which makes steering on the ground very jerky. I haven't looked into tweaking the sensitivity, to be fair. It's the main reason I mostly fly with Auto rudder selected, so that I don't have to fight the sideways pull of a propeller during take-off. I end up tapping the trigger to make (not-so)-micro adjustments as I head along the runway.

The only other issue is holding the joystick at a particular angle for a long period (without adjusting trim), as it can get a bit uncomfortable and needs a bit of dexterity to use a finger on the other hand to take over whilst I rest my thumb for a second. But overall, the implementation of gamepad use is very good. In the past, I would have scoffed at anyone who chooses to use the 'wrong' type of controller for a game -  I never understood anyone using just a keyboard for a flight sim or a joystick for a motor racing sim for anything other than financial reasons - but in this case a gamepad is a perfectly viable option, no doubt helped by the fact MSFS will end up on Xbox consoles eventually.

 

That said, I'm aching to get my yoke of choice!

Edited October 3, 20205 yr by 109Sqn

I should add, that even that landing didn't earn me the achievement(s) for landing in high winds!🙄 It's seemingly impossible to earn those ones at present.

24 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

I echo all of that, only with a Sony DS4 gamepad. The rudder control, despite being with analogue triggers is just too 'digital' to allow for gentle adjustments - it's either full rudder or no rudder, which makes steering on the ground very jerky. I haven't looked into tweaking the sensitivity, to be fair. It's the main reason I mostly fly with Auto rudder selected, so that I don't have to fight the sideways pull of a propeller during take-off. I end up tapping the trigger to make (not-so)-micro adjustments as I head along the runway.

The only other issue is holding the joystick at a particular angle for a long period (without adjusting trim), as it can get a bit uncomfortable and needs a bit of dexterity to use a finger on the other hand to take over whilst I rest my thumb for a second. But overall, the implementation of gamepad use is very good. In the past, I would have scoffed at anyone who chooses to use the 'wrong' type of controller for a game -  I never understood anyone using just a keyboard for a flight sim or a joystick for a motor racing sim for anything other than financial reasons - but in this case a gamepad is a perfectly viable option, no doubt helped by the fact MSFS will end up on Xbox consoles eventually.

 

That said, I'm aching to get my yoke of choice!

Same here, i used to want to burn alive those heretics using a keyboard or anything other than a HOTAS, when now i dont care at all, we have a magnificient piece of software, lets just enjoy it however we want. I even started to fly with the exterior camera sometimes, when i wanna see that kiss bush landing with my own eyes (bring back the word not allowed replay function!).