I haven't flown in a few months and returned recently. I seem to remember that planes flew very differently than the current state of the game. It was much harder to land and control planes. Sure there have been many patches.

I am no pilot myself. My question is this: which is more realistic, the current state of the sim, or the way it was when released if you remember?

The answer will be of little value if you do not have properly configured, high quality controllers.  The answer will mean nothing to you if the person providing the answer has poorly configured,  poor quality controllers.  Answers to that question, in general, are highly subjective - even from real world pilots.

1 hour ago, ErichB said:

The answer will be of little value if you do not have properly configured, high quality controllers.  The answer will mean nothing to you if the person providing the answer has poorly configured,  poor quality controllers.  Answers to that question, in general, are highly subjective - even from real world pilots.

Fair enough. I have Saitek yoke and throttle. I'm sure there are better yokes out there. I'm not sure how mine fairs on the quality scale.

And I'm not sure how to properly configure it. I pretty much run it at default settings. Should I change anything? Any links to resources that would help me with this?

If any pilot with similar yoke, or any other information really that increase flight dynamics realism, has any insight, I'd really appreciate your input.

250 hours IRL...

I haven't noticed any difference at all in any aircraft...  A320 seems particularly floaty still.  All aicraft seem a bit on rails, but not as bad as in FSX/P3D..  Thermals and updrafts on mountains are a little too extreme, and they aren't as consistent in real life as they are in MSFS. 

15 minutes ago, Langeveldt said:

250 hours IRL...

I haven't noticed any difference at all in any aircraft...  A320 seems particularly floaty still.  All aicraft seem a bit on rails, but not as bad as in FSX/P3D..  Thermals and updrafts on mountains are a little too extreme, and they aren't as consistent in real life as they are in MSFS. 

Interesting. When you say "floaty" and "on rails", does that mean that it's easier to fly on the sim than real life??

If your answer is yes.... to your knowledge, is there a sim on the market that does a better job at realism regarding this issue?

It's easier to fly in real life than the sim imo (speaking of light single GA)

41 minutes ago, ar_0 said:

Interesting. When you say "floaty" and "on rails", does that mean that it's easier to fly on the sim than real life??

If your answer is yes.... to your knowledge, is there a sim on the market that does a better job at realism regarding this issue?

None of them are actually like real life.  Though they can be OK training tools if you have some real life hours up or, if not, your sim time is supervised by your real life instructor who watches for bad habits.

Also "floaty" and "on rails" does not necessarily mean easier to fly - as Ryan says real planes are easier to fly than their sim cousins (you have peripheral vision, 3D vision and physical sensation for feedback and your controls have more movement, give more feedback, and are generally more precise) - it is just  "floaty" and "on rails" is not realistic.

Edited July 5, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

I suggest you get the answers by yourself  expeciencing hands-on a simulator with realism and functionality way above the known ones running in PC's. ( FSX - P3D Xplane, DCS, etc), even MSFS if thats what you want to hear... 

And it doesn't cost too much... ts about 100 UK pounds...

Then maybe you come back later and tell us your impressions !

https://www.aviation-experience.com/about-us/

https://www.aviation-experience.com/flight-simulators/

And as you see is operated by one of the top 3 airlines in the world

Regards

AHS712DAlvaro Escorcia OMAA

AirHispania Virtual Alrlines

Edited July 5, 20214 yr by wlix261

IMO not even real world pilots can give you a complete answer to that. They can only tell you about the aircraft they have flown (recently) for real themselves.

A while ago I came across a discussion on the internet (perhaps even these fora) where someone was complaining that the Cessna (152/172)? was too easy to fly, "as on rails". There was a reply from a (supposedly) real world pilot who told him that that is exactly how he would describe how the real aircraft flies.

 

MSFS 2020  is the closest thing to flying in real life, that I have ever had on a PC and I have tried all the sims except DCS. I have about 600 hours in real life flying . 

27 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

It's easier to fly in real life than the sim imo (speaking of light single GA)

100% agree with that.

Especially when there is some sort x wind factor. I cant keep my nose straight down the rwy in a 10kt x wind even with pretty high end hardware, its very very annoying. 

2 hours ago, ar_0 said:

When you say "floaty" and "on rails",

The 'on rails' thing is a bit of a sim'ism perception that the aircraft is not reacting dynamically enough with the relative airflow and wind.  With FSX and P3D that was certainly the case.  It is not the case with MSFS.  The aircraft behaves far more dynamically relative to its environment.  The problem with sims, especially PC based variations,  is that (as Glen and Ryan have alluded to) you have no peripheral vision, no sensory perception, other than visual - in most cases people tend to look at instrumentation anyway as a matter of habit.   Add to the mix that many people have relatively small monitors,  so there is no way that you can accurately make a determination that the aircraft is dynamically unsound - BUT that is how it could be perceived.     Many people contributing to this thread have been around for many years with various iterations of flightsims and real world flying, me being one of them.  'Flying on rails' is not how I would describe MSFS.  It is a world of difference to FSX and P3D.  To be honest, in very calm RL environments,  it 'could' also feel like the aircraft is on rails - if you wanted to perceive it that way

Do not take opinions expressed here as fact.  People comment on their own perceptions based on their own inadequate or optimal setups - and that piece of string is VERY long.   

Flightsim setups are far from ideal in most cases.  Too little resistance, flimsy and extremely light to the touch.   That translates into a very poor flightsim experience - which is why in RL, aircraft are actually easier to control than in sim environments.

If you want a more authentic flightsim experience, you are not going to achieve it with any combination of Saitek controllers. They are truly garbage, low end units and regardless of what anyone tells you, you will never really find a 'realistic' setting.  But we all started with Saitek.  I did as well.  YOu will be amazed at how realistic the sim feels when you move from a £60 to a £1000 yoke.   It really feels like a new sim entirely.

Do not underestimate the value of investing in high quality controllers.

I have witnessed many people over the years invest in buttons and switches and chairs and all the fluff around their flightsim setup - they literally will spend £100's, if not £1000's on everything else, but they are flying on 30 inch 1080p monitors and with Saitek controllers.    That is the worst flightsim investment combination you could possibly have.  It's usually those people who  come to these forums complaining about 'poor flight dynamics' and unrealistic flightsims because their total financial investment,  has not delivered.

 

Edited July 5, 20214 yr by ErichB

27 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

MSFS 2020  is the closest thing to flying in real life, that I have ever had on a PC and I have tried all the sims except DCS. I have about 600 hours in real life flying . 

I've been told that many flight instructors notice quickly which of their new students have been flight simming: Those who have not mainly look out of the windscreen while those who have been simming seem to have their eyes glued to the instruments.

MSFS is the first flight simulator have flown that actually entices me to look out of the windscreen at least as much as at the instruments.

Edited July 5, 20214 yr by orchestra_nl

I have about 2000 hrs in GA planes.

I have been simming off and on for 30 years or more.

Modern sims are pretty good. Before FS2020, I liked Xplane best.

None of the sims are like flying in real life as stated above several times. That said FS2020 is the best consumer sim so far IMHO. I use 4 screens for in my sim, 3 for outside views one for instruments, this gives me the right feel with peripheral vision input. I like practicing IFR procedures and for that most sims are quite good.

But as far as feeling like flying what sets 2020 apart is the atmosphere and graphics. You van actually navigate VFR with a sectional and it looks right. None of the other sims do that once again in my opinion.

As far as yoke and throttles etc. I had the Saitek yoke, still sitting in a corner actually. I replaced the board in it with a LeoBodnar board to get rid of the really irritating dead spot, after that it was OK. Now I use the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo. They are great in comparison to Saitek controllers.

My setup especially in a dark room can actually give you vertigo, so that is pretty realistic, but the "body sensations" and proper feedback from yoke and pedals is missing, this makes it both harder and easier to fly in the sim.

I have also set up and helped train pilots on FAA approved sims based on P3D and I must say my 2020 setup and even my Xplane setup is better and more realistic the commercial much more expensive FAA approved ones I have used. This is not the 3d motion multi million $$$$ sims but the $20K I am talking about, they are better. But a real plane is the best...

I cannot thank all of you enough. You have given me the information I was looking for. It was so detailed and informative. I really appreciate each and every answer.

Thank you.