MSFS + VR is also fantastic for IFR

[FlyIce 339]

I just started instrument rating training a month ago with my CFII instructor and have done six flights and about eight RNAV approaches so far. After getting how real instrument flight feels and is done, I started using MSFS + VR for practicing. I have to learn a little bit to get the weather preset right (like 300-500AGL clouds, low visibility, wind etc). I also have a GNS530W setup bought and my DIY USB box with six dual-knobs configured through MobiFlight. With this simple setup, I'm having fantastic experience practicing instrument flights in MSFS - it's almost every bit as real as my training with foggle on. 

The major and obvious drawback is that with G2 on I can't see anything outside so I have to rely on touch to find the right button/knob to push and twist. It turned out not too bad and muscle memory develops pretty quickly, with helps from some stick tapes I "strategically" put around some buttons and knobs so my finger knows where it is based on the texture it touches. In the end, I have no problem to repeatedly do the famous "Turn, Time, Twist... " with G2 on. 

Approach plates is still a bit pain as I have to remember them prior to flight. But in the worst cases I just pause the sim, take off G2 and take a look at the iPad then back with G2 on. It'll be great to have these approach plates shown in VR cockpit and I'm finding a way to do it but in no hurry. 

So far I have logged about 20 hours VR IFR time in sim. I practiced so many holding patterns under different wind conditions etc which could easily burn $1ks in real flights. Plus I can practice in terrible weather that I'll never do in real life. I can also tell that my instrument scan noticeably improved after these many hours in VR. Oh, going through the clouds and finally having a visual on runway in VR feels unbelievably real - that feeling is absolutely addictive. 

I'm genuinely happy that I'm finally getting all the money of my sim setup back and more, based on how it could save my real flight hours and help me to stay proficiency after getting the IR ticket. MSFS+VR was very helpful to my VFR training too, but far from being as helpful to IFR. By then I was green and hand flying VFR maneuvers requires a lot of body sensation and physical feedbacks from the airplane which are all missing in the sim. IFR relies on reading the instruments and it is amazing how instrument scan in VR feels 100% the same as in real flight, down to every minute details and movements of each needle, seriously (and thank to the sharpness of G2). BTW, I flew FAA certified Redbird FMX simulator (based on X-Plane with multiple monitors) in my previous flight school and it's no match to my VR setup. 

Edited November 20 by FlyIce

[turnandbank 233]

Great read. I find VR so much more immersive than 2D and just can't go back. If you have a Navigraph subscription and the Navigraph ingame panel you can easily view your charts and approach plates inside the VR headset as well. It works a treat.

[Erv Moore 21]

Excellent! Congratulations!! Being an old flight simmer, I am sold with VR. No more 2D flying for me. Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[FlyIce 339]

13 hours ago, turnandbank said:

If you have a Navigraph subscription and the Navigraph ingame panel you can easily view your charts and approach plates inside the VR headset as well. It works a treat.

I already have ForeFlight so I don't want to subscribe to another service. I tried Sky4Sim last night (bought long ago but never seriously used), and it works in VR for charts although a bit cumbersome to use. I'll see if I can get used to it. 

My hardware setup is good enough for VOR + GNS530/430 practice which matches well with my training airplane. For glass cockpit like G1000 + GTN + AP things are more difficult to fiddle around blindly in VR. Not sure how to solve that problem eventually. But at least I'm good for now for my IFR trainings. 

 

Edited November 21 by FlyIce

[thetford569 79]

19 hours ago, FlyIce said:

I already have ForeFlight so I don't want to subscribe to another service. I tried Sky4Sim last night (bought long ago but never seriously used), and it works in VR for charts although a bit cumbersome to use. I'll see if I can get used to it. 

My hardware setup is good enough for VOR + GNS530/430 practice which matches well with my training airplane. For glass cockpit like G1000 + GTN + AP things are more difficult to fiddle around blindly in VR. Not sure how to solve that problem eventually. But at least I'm good for now for my IFR trainings. 

 

If you don't want a Navigraph subscription then get Open Kneeboard for VR.  It's fantastic and you can set up different profiles per aircraft and it gives you a kneeboard in VR that you can write on as well if you get a compatible tablet (relatively cheap on Amazon).  If you want to get a tablet get the Wacom as I had some problems with the other one.  Anyway, even if you don't get a tablet you can still use it to display most any type of document meaning you could download your approach plates for the flight and have them in your VR headset easily.  I use it also for my checklists and any other documents that I want.  It's compatible with both MSFS and DCS World among others.  Can't recommend it enough.  Oh and it's free!

[joby33y 145]

Try this :  remove the rubber nosepiece on the G2…it is easily removed by gently pulling straight out.  Then move your Foreflight / iPad closer to your yoke.  You’ll find that you can ‘peek’ through the bottom of the headset & see your plates/map/etc without the hassle of actually removing the headset.   TIP:  you can easily re-affix the piece back to the G2 if you don’t care for the result.  
 

I have been doing this for years (starting with Oculus Rift) & I find it works as a good compromise between immersion & being able to see the iPad while practicing IFR procedures.  The benefit is that it forces you to become ‘expert’ with Foreflight (rather than fumbling around in menus), which is a critical skill if you’re using it in real IFR.  

Edited November 22 by joby33y
spelling

[FlyIce 339]

2 hours ago, thetford569 said:

If you don't want a Navigraph subscription then get Open Kneeboard for VR.

Thanks for the recommendation, will definitely give Open Kneeboard a try. It sounds terrific.

 

2 hours ago, joby33y said:

Try this :  remove the rubber nosepiece on the G2…it is easily removed by gently pulling straight out.  

Yes. I already removed the rubber nosepiece on my G2 since I want some air inside G2 when using it. Never thought I could peek at my iPad during the flight. Will definitely try this too. I'm using ForeFlight a lot in real VFR, but haven't used it in IFR training flights yet - my instructor likes to get me done with the old fashion GPS/VOR first. 

[roland_lfor 204]

You can also have a look to "Sim EFB". It's not popular, no advertising, but very powerful.

[FlyIce 339]

Just got settled down on Sky4Sim - so far it works ok for showing the charts in VR. Have googled Sim EFB and will find time to test it too.