Since 80% of the time I fly ifr I am doing practice approaches-often at my home field, is there a way to do this with Rc? I tried making an ifr flight plan from my homefield to my homefield to see if once in the air I could request approaches-(e.g. kfnt to kfnt)-but this just seemed to send me in a continual vectored circle.Is there a way to do this-maybe make a flight plan to a fix or something and then once there request practice approaches?Thanks..http://members.telocity.com/~geof43/Geofdog2.gif

Geof,To do this, go ahead and put in a waypoint, then when you are handed to APC (if you have one), request the IAP. There is no "Requesting the Option" yet, but you can do ILS and VOR, etc, approaches. Before landing, declare a Missed Approach and then request "Try again" when asked your intyentions. You can do approaches all day. You can also get around the Tower (if you have one) telling you to switch to ground after landing by not slowing to under 50 knots for a jet, or 25 knots in a prop. Then you can take off and declare MA.

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Geof,Try doing a flight plan from Flint to say..Pontiac VOR and then back to Flint. KFNT..PSI..KFNTOnce airborne and then back inbound to Flint you should be able to request as many approaches as you like. You won't be "cleared for the option" but you can fly an ILS, go missed, hold as published or get vectors back around for a VOR, go missed, vector back for an NDB approach etc. You're only limited by your fuel capacity! :7Michael Collierhttp://jdtllc.com/images/RCbeta.jpg

Thanks-I'll try it now. Does the "flexible departure procedure" option being checked also help?http://members.telocity.com/~geof43/Geofdog2.gif

Not in this case. The Flex DP is for when you have multiple published departure procedures that perhaps use a common fix/navaid.By selecting flex DP you can fly any of the published departures you like as long as you cross the common fix at some point outbound.:-waveMichael Collierhttp://jdtllc.com/images/RCbeta.jpg

Geof,As Mike said, Flex DP doesn't necessarily pertain to practice approaches. There's an entire section in the manual dedicated to Flex DP. Read up on it when you get time. It's a nice feature!Now, you do not have to fly an entire flight to destination, or even to a nearby COD (Change of Destination) to have the practice approach options. You wish to burn fuel at your home airport, correct?I'll assume there's an approach controller at that field, but you can acheive the same without. Go through the routine to become airborne, then at 10m's from your departure field notice, the menu item "Return to XXX" (your departure airport) becomes available :).That done, you're in the meat of practice approaches. This may be the part of RCv3 I'm most proud of and enthused over! Chances are, Apch will tell you to "...expect Vs to...".Bunk! Well, allow the Vs if you wish but put in some REAL time from your plates by shooting full approaches without ATC assistance (the IAP option). Of course, after missed approach you have the IAP option again, practice holding pattern stuff (per your plate), allow ATC to issue delay vectors, or even throw in the towel and request standard vectors to final.During your routine play close attention. There will be precise spots (that only YOU can determine) where using Save/Load will..., well, it pays for the program! Return to an IAF in an instant. Get back into that holding pattern, without even having to takeoff.Have fun Geof! Refer to the manual often. My hope is everyone becomes experts in all aspects of RCv3. Our family is growing everyday. Questions will be asked, some you'll be able to answer. Everyone, everyone appreciates good support :-jumpy.

Thanks-that sounds great!http://members.telocity.com/~geof43/Geofdog2.gif