While in Florida I did two sailplane lessons in a Grob G103. The instructor was extremely impressed at my flying as much so that on the second flight I did the complete flight including the takeoff and landing. That is with one exception. In the tow I kept getting inside on the turns behind the tow plane and needed his help in correcting. I'm a just over 100 hour PPL but 25+ year simmer and have used the gliders in FSX/P3D and Aerofly FS where I got proficient with sailplanes but none of those platforms offer a towplane that turns. So I was extremely happy that on the rollout of sailplanes in MSFS so much attention to detail was part of the initial release. This includes having either a towplane or wench for launch. With MSFS sailplanes, the tow plane now turns and remains over the field.

I was part of the beta testing of MSFS prior to its original release and step away from simming during the North America summers. I must say, MSFS is really starting to grow into the sim that we all were sold it would be when it was introduced. As a simmer I dont restrict myself to just one sim (have P3Dv3, XP11&12, Aerofly FS all on my rig) but MSFS is looking to offer more and more of things I am looking for not found on the other sims.  

Edited December 15, 20223 yr by Ident

Gliders in MSFS aren't perfect,  but they're still a lot of fun.    I've been trying to learn more about the atmosphere in the sim,  and in real life.

Watched some YT videos on the subject,  and ordered a printed copy of this FAA manual. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/glider_handbook

If you're interested,   the Sim Soaring Club holds events every Saturday.   Each week they post a flight plan and weather preset.   They typically have 20-25 pilots show up.

IF everyone uses the same present and clicks fly at the same time,  they will have have the same exact weather including thermals and clouds.

SSC holds a briefing 15 minutes before the hour,  they click fly on the hour,  and then the Task Start time is one half hour later.

The start line has a 7000ft max altitude,   so everyone dives toward the starting line for max speed.

Capt.Jack posted LXN nav mods for all of the most popular MSFS gliders,   https://discord.com/channels/876123356385149009/1041275752278134824

Jack's LXN mod greatly expands the gliding computer functions,  and it also allows everyone to connect the LXN to multiplayer events like Sim Soaring Saturdays.

 

Sim Soaring Club,  https://discord.gg/WuxcGJp3

Quote

 

How to join:

1) Download the task (PLN file) & weather preset (WPR file) that has been shared in the 📅│ssc-saturday channel.

2) Copy the weather preset in the correct location, depending which version of MSFS you have

MS Store version: C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_[random-letters-&-numbers]\LocalState\Weather\Presets

Steam version: C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Weather\Presets

3) In MSFS click on your avatar and choose the West Europe Server

4) Make sure Traffic Nameplates are set ON in General Options > Traffic, so you can identify other glider pilots

5) Load the Flight plan & Weather Preset in MSFS

6) Select the given in game time and date specified in the group flight details

7) Choose "All Players" in the Multiplayer Options

😎 If you want to sync the weather with other pilots, be prepared to click "fly" at the agreed time

9) If you have the LXN nav mods installed, make sure to login to the event in your glide computer, once on the runway

 

You might find this post interesting,  "Vertical Wind Analysis SU11".

Got Gravel started hosting regular events upon the release of their Discus 2C,  https://discord.gg/m7yVeD4S

There is also "Albatross Racing",  https://discord.gg/GmkZn47E

Edited December 16, 20223 yr by Waldo Pepper

I forgot to mention that the author of the DG808s,  Touching Cloud,  is also the developer of Kinetic Assistant.

https://msfs.touching.cloud/mods/kinetic-assistant/

KA allows you to use just about any reasonable aircraft as a tow plane, and record custom tow plane tracks.

Recently I've been trying out the default MSFS glider tow plane capabilities instead,  and the Wilga too.    Discovered that the Wilga does a 180 degree turn on the ground if a ground crosswind over 2.54 knots is present.

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 20223 yr by Waldo Pepper

17 hours ago, Waldo Pepper said:

Gliders in MSFS aren't perfect,  but they're still a lot of fun.    I've been trying to learn more about the atmosphere in the sim,  and in real life.

Watched some YT videos on the subject,  and ordered a printed copy of this FAA manual. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/glider_handbook

If you're interested,   the Sim Soaring Club holds events every Saturday.   Each week they post a flight plan and weather preset.   They typically have 20-25 pilots show up.

IF everyone uses the same present and clicks fly at the same time,  they will have have the same exact weather including thermals and clouds.

SSC holds a briefing 15 minutes before the hour,  they click fly on the hour,  and then the Task Start time is one half hour later.

The start line has a 7000ft max altitude,   so everyone dives toward the starting line for max speed.

Capt.Jack posted LXN nav mods for all of the most popular MSFS gliders,   https://discord.com/channels/876123356385149009/1041275752278134824

Jack's LXN mod greatly expands the gliding computer functions,  and it also allows everyone to connect the LXN to multiplayer events like Sim Soaring Saturdays.

 

Sim Soaring Club,  https://discord.gg/WuxcGJp3

You might find this post interesting,  "Vertical Wind Analysis SU11".

Got Gravel started hosting regular events upon the release of their Discus 2C,  https://discord.gg/m7yVeD4S

There is also "Albatross Racing",  https://discord.gg/GmkZn47E

Im still learning MSFS and sailplanes and I greatly thank you for all this info. One question I havent really asked or looked to answer but is there a way to set the height of the tow plane?

1 hour ago, Ident said:

Im still learning MSFS and sailplanes and I greatly thank you for all this info. One question I havent really asked or looked to answer but is there a way to set the height of the tow plane?

None that I am aware of with the MSFS glider animations,  the tow plane just tops out at 6900 and then does a wing waggle.   With KA,  the sky is the limit.   You can record custom tow plane tracks with any reasonable aircraft,  by hitting record and flying your track in that particular aircraft.  Works very well.

The MSFS animations work fairly decent,  but it might drag you into a mountain sometimes. 

Just finished tagging along with the Got Friends Friday flight.   It was easy for the most part,  but there was one tricky section that I enjoyed.

In case anyone flies the DG808s,  the version of Jack's LXN mod on his github page also activates the new MSFS glider animations for the DG808S. https://github.com/JackBilbo/lxn-dg808s/releases/tag/v0.1.2.1

The tow release knob doesn't work with the 808 and msfs animations,  because the 808 was coded to work with KA's rope release.   You have to use the MSFS release keybind instead.

Edited December 16, 20223 yr by Waldo Pepper

Just finished the Montsaleon 300 with SSC.   All I can say is wow!   You guys have to try this at least once!

It was serene gliding among 25 other people.     

It was so incredibly fun,  like a game of chess.   Thousands of decisions,  constant risk and reward factor. 

In a way it reminds me of time spent on motorcycle road racing tracks and enduros. 

I highly recommend that you all check out this flight plan,  if you have some spare time.   Even if you don't do it in a glider,   the textures and mesh are simply outstanding in the area.   

Beautiful mountains and valley,  breathtaking glaciers. 

There is a ridge just before the starting line that gives tons of ridge lift.  The task start line was at 7000ft,  right near that ridge.   You have to fly under the start and finish lines.

The fastest time was time in the group was 1:28.   It took me an hour and 48 minutes.

I'm going to have  to fly this one multiple times.

I did it in the DG-808s,  and I have to say that Jack's LXN nav mod is awesome.   So much information at your fingertips.

 

 

 

 

Waldo, believe me each time I read your excellent posts about your experience with soaring in MFS I feel I eally have to give those competitions a try 🙂

Even if I can't like the feel of flight, compared o the real thing, before reading this message of yours I had loaded MFS, took the LS8 for a ride from Beja airbase, and flew around places known to me, from aloft and from bellow 🙂 and it is really really so close to real that I think I have to close my eyes to the soaring weather and aerodynamics inaccuracies....

Think I've found the technique for getting the glider off the ground before the tug......👍

 

2 hours ago, jcomm said:

Waldo, believe me each time I read your excellent posts about your experience with soaring in MFS I feel I eally have to give those competitions a try 🙂

Even if I can't like the feel of flight, compared o the real thing, before reading this message of yours I had loaded MFS, took the LS8 for a ride from Beja airbase, and flew around places known to me, from aloft and from bellow 🙂 and it is really really so close to real that I think I have to close my eyes to the soaring weather and aerodynamics inaccuracies....

FYI,  the AS33ME model has user adjustable adverse yaw. 

https://flightsim.to/file/15090/as-33-me

I still like the DG808 best,  because I don't know any better.

17 hours ago, Waldo Pepper said:

 

 

How do I make this happen? I cant find the file needed to put into the plane? Thank you for your help. 🙂This is the default sailplane I like to use but wanting to have this nav computer and not the one that comes with the plane. Cant find it on Discord nor the web.

 

Edited December 18, 20223 yr by Ident

22 hours ago, Ident said:

 

How do I make this happen? I cant find the file needed to put into the plane? Thank you for your help. 🙂This is the default sailplane I like to use but wanting to have this nav computer and not the one that comes with the plane. Cant find it on Discord nor the web.

 

Capt.Jack Bilbo created the LXN nav mods for the DG808s,  the AS33-ME,  and Discus 2c.   He also released a stand alone version for the rest of the gliders.

Jack's LXN mod greatly expands the gliding computer functions,  and it also allows everyone to connect the LXN to multiplayer events like Sim Soaring Saturdays. 

https://flightsim.to/file/30384/dg-flugzeugbau-dg-808s  =  https://flightsim.to/file/41698/dg808s-lxn-nav-replacement 

https://flightsim.to/file/25518/discus-2c-glider   =  https://flightsim.to/file/41623/discus-2c-lxn-nav-replacement 

https://flightsim.to/file/15090/as-33-me = https://discord.com/channels/876123356385149009/1041283938750054420

DG1001e = https://discord.com/channels/876123356385149009/1043217657824030741

The stand alone app for every other glider - https://discord.com/channels/876123356385149009/1048563506271752252

 

Get all the gliders,  they are cheap as chips!

https://flightsim.to/file/34815/schleicher-k7-glider

 

Edited December 19, 20223 yr by Waldo Pepper