Back in P3D/FSX I like to do med-long haul flights in the PMDG 777, 747, QW787 and FSLabs A320. My flights would be anywhere from 3-7 hrs and would use time compression to make those long flights a bit quicker.

But in MSFS, I usually prefer doing 1 hour flights in the FBWA320NX. I find that if I fly anything longer that it's a bit too long. Not sure if that's because I'm quickly getting bored or running out of patience, or perhaps the plane doesn't have the same amount of details and features compared to the PMDG and FSLabs. Hard to tell. I would love to do longer flights, but for some odd reason I can't simply get into anything more than 1 hour.

What about the rest of you guys?

One hour hops. No matter which sim. But I recently also enjoy VFR + it is even more flexible. 🙂

Cruise is boring (at least to me). So I usually fly routes of 100 to 300 miles with the A320NX. 🙂 Today the weather is very interesting in the Seattle area so I decided too change the time of day a bit to daytime but fly with real weather from Seattle Takoma International to Victoria (BC). Climb to FL160 with a spectacular view, enter some data for the arrival and than quarrel with ATC because they want me to fly into a mountain at 4000 ft. 🙂

I once flew from Lisbon (Portugal) to Heathrow. But that was boring most of the time. I don't really understand what is the interesting part of a flight lasting longer than 1 hour for some simmers. Drinking tea while watching on the screen?

 

In this sim I prefer to fly VFR and slalom around any clouds present to stay VFR and that’s fun in itself.

I keep my flights within an hour or less, for variety and because there’s a life outside simming...😃

I am currently doing 2-3 hour flights in the DA62 in Air Hauler, but that is because the DA62 is not a particularly fast aeroplane. These are mostly from Madagascar to the African mainland. I had hoped to use the Carenado PA44 since it is a bit quicker, but currently you can't use that in Air Hauler with the CFG file being locked out, although this is supposedly gonna be patched to allow this.

But I am waiting for the Virtualcol Beech 99 to be released so I can speed this up a bit and double up on the cargo payloads. Similarly, when the Aerosoft CRJ gets released, those flight times will hopefully be reduced a bit.

19 minutes ago, Chock said:

when the Aerosoft CRJ gets released, those flight times will hopefully be reduced a bit.

Sure, you'll spend more time chasing bugs! 😄

Merry Christmas Alan!
🍻

I agree that the CRUISE phase is the most boring! Take off and landing are the best. Does anyone know if custom planes like FBWA320 will bug out if we use the built-in sim rate speed feature during the cruise phase?

I've been repeatedly doing LEBL-LFMN route and it's pretty boring, since most of the cruise phase is out at sea.

Most of my flying is done using OnAIr in the TBM (at least right now).  Most of my flights are around 2 hours.  During cruise, I just bring up YouTube and watch some videos.  😉

Edited December 25, 20205 yr by Little Jenny

Mostly 1-2 hr short hops in the A320, but i am also enjoying some longer spellas of VFR in GA aircraft

I’ve also shifted from doing long airliner flights to mainly doing flights in the one hour or so range.  The biggest thing for me is the lack of a pause at TOD function in MSFS.

In P3D I would do airliner flights of 4-5 hours or even longer routinely but I would take off, reach cruise and then go do something else while the plane flew along, knowing it would pause at the TOD and I could finish the flight at my convenience.  

Plus with the great scenery in MSFS and better atmosphere generally I find myself more interested in actually sticking around during cruise and watching the world go by.

A pause at TOD function/mod would certainly be appreciated though to open up  longer flight options.

Edited December 25, 20205 yr by regis9

I like 2-3 hr. flights in GA aircraft. Currently I'm on a Baron kick. Most all of my flights are from where my previous flight landed to a new destination.

16 minutes ago, Phantoms said:

I'm on a Baron kick.

Me too... I’ve been moving slowly to more complex aircraft and finally got to the Baron! You definitely feel that extra power and speed!

In the 320NX (FBW mod) I like either quick 30-60 minute flights in  ready to fly config. or 1 ½ to 2 hr sessions starting C/D. In both cases I usually make a few flight plan changes en route to make flight interesting.

In GA aircraft like the 3 Carenados I also do 1-2 hr sessions either IFR or VFR. I really like flying routes I flew often in my real planes. Mostly NE and Atlantic Canada, but also flights to the midwest and Caribbean. 

One favorite type of flying is VFR to follow a river, the MB339 is great for this as are the Cubs and the 182T, different speeds and maneuvering for sure. Small rivers like the Saco are great in slower planes. Try the Hudson in the 339.

Tough short hops in low IFR from KPVC to KHYA or KACK or similar is really very entertaining as well. Fly w/o use of auto pilot is a great way to have to really concentrate on these quick hops, using only VOR, ILS, NDB. No GPS makes this even more fun. I like the M20 for this. Add to this sudden loss of the engine, so you have to divert quickly to nearest airport, no GPS cheating, give yourself a 1000' ceiling or less for more challenge. Also try partial panel (no vacuum, or no electric instrumnets) IFR approaches. This will sharpen your skills and is very mentally challenging. 

It is all good fun. Sim on.

Edited December 25, 20205 yr by 177B

I fly real weather in FSE, so... when it happens it happens.
Never had zero visibility down to ground when landing though, I suspect the sim is placing a clear spot just at the right place to make our landing easier, can't confirm, might be an awful coincidence or some difference between meteoblue and metar from the airports.

 

31 minutes ago, EmaRacing said:

Never had zero visibility down to ground when landing though

I have a few times, not very often.