WildBill813

Deleted.... Reposted from above.

Many aircraft have more than one pitot probe and some aircraft call for the pitot heat to be applied at all times from takeoff to landing, especially those that operate at high altitudes. Also, on the ground, it's common practice to cover the probes to prevent spiders & the like from nesting in them and clogging up your pitot system. Just make sure your probes are cool before putting the cover on or you could burn the cover, or worse yet, your hand. (Personal knowledge here. :Hypnotized: ) The complimentary part to the pitot system is the static system, which is what the altimeter operates off of. Together, they make up the pitot-static system. Static ports are usually mounted flush with the surface of the fuselage and look like a metallic disk with several holes in it. WildBill

Outstanding! Since I got my TrackIR, I've been flying exclusively in FSX, so I'm VERY excited to be able to get back into Flight. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long! WildBill

Look, I love the A6M "Zero". It was an amazing warbird as were so many of the WWII aircraft. I love the P-51D even more. But, without a cockpit, I'm just not inclined to fly them in Flight, FSX, or any other sim. If I want to fly an aircraft like I'd fly an RC airplane, I'll use RealFlight (an RC Simulator and probably the best of the bunch). Regardless of the fidelity of both the flight and external model, I just can't bring myself to purchase an "external only" aircraft.This poll asked me to rate the A6M regardless of whether I had purchased it or not ("1 is also for the ones who decided to not buy the plane), and I did so. Even explained my reasons. If you don't like them, that's OK with me. But being what they are, opinions can't by definition be wrong.Now, if they gave us a working VC in either or better yet, both, I'd buy them in a heartbeat!Just my $0.02 worth. Take it or leave it.WildBill

Another RC aircraft? Yeah, I siad it. Remote/Radio Controlled. If I can't get in and fly from the cockpit, I think it's nothing more than a glorified RC aircraft.Sorry Microsoft, Like the P-51, I'll be passing on this one. And from a retired Air Force aviation nut, that's just a crying shame.WildBillEdit: Wow, my post was downgraded for stating my opinion. Someone on here is kinda intolerant of opinions that conflict with their own.

Or written another way, "There's "No Airport Here Atoll.""

After using TrackIR 5 in FSX, I can't unterstate the truth in this comment. If Flight had TrackIR support, all maneuvers would be easier. A LOT easier.WildBill

I'm all in on the TrackIR.I got mine in last week. (TrackIR 5) It's simply amazing. I've used it in FSX, Wings of Prey, and a few other sims that support it and I find it hard to go back to Flight without TrackIR support. And I'm really bummed about it. Flight is otherwise so relaxing to get in and fly, that I'm really hoping that MSGS gets TrackIR support in real soon.Other than that, I'd like to see AI and ATC, a basic GPS in aircraft other than those like a Steerman, and real-world weather. WildBill

LOL. My TrackIR 5 arrived yesterday. I hooked it up and ran FSX and WOW! What a difference it makes.While I fully expected the results I got, to see it for myself was proof positive that TrackIR needs to be supported in every simulator, be it flight, driving, or whatever. (OK, FPS games might not be perfect, but it depends on how TrackIR is implemented.)OK. Back to exploring my new virtual world!WildBill

If I'm not mistaken, those are Beech 18's. That's what was used in "Lost", which is what those are supposed to be.WildBill813

That was the ABU (Airman Battle Uniform) that the USAF used when I retired. (I think I wore mine a total of 10 days.) It's already been phased out for multicams or something like that. (I'm not sure if the ABU is still the standard issue or not, but multicams is what airmen are issued when deployed.)

No problem. It's a shame Flight doesn't support brake axis assignment (yet?). Much easier to taxi with proper brake control. Regardless, I'll try to remember to post my impressions of the pedals and yoke after I have some time with them.

This reminds me of many flights in various military cargo aircraft. We'd even have a game or two of Texas Hold-Em going on the floor of a C-17 or C-5!

Hmm.. I just sold my old CH pedals on e-bay to upgrade to the Saitek Cessna pedals. Unfortunately, they won't be here till Tuesday! (I have the yoke on the way as well as a TrackIR even though it's not supported in Flight.)As soon as I get 'em, I'll check out the toe brakes, especially to see if MS finally allows an axis to be assigned for proper braking!WildBill

These posts create such wonderful opportunities for teaching. Unfortunately, most people play flight simulators instead of flying them. Even many people with thousands of dollars in hardware, expansion packs, and addons never actually learn to fly while using flight sims. Sure, they may be able to move the stick, adjust the throttle, and mash the buttons (especially the big-iron folks that fly 99% on AP), but even though flight sims are games, they can still be used as training aids.But in real life, flight training starts on the ground, and in a book. And that's where I recommend even simmers begin. Just as the OP asked about the flaps in an RV not reducing airspeed, while it's by no means a "dumb question", it simply demonstrates a lack of fundamental understanding of the purpose of flaps. There are numerous resources out there, and some even focus on the PC flight sim, where new players can get valuable information. From the fundamentals of flight, aircraft systems and performance, and basic navigation, to radio navigation, the flight environment (the airspace) and aviation meteorology. Many books and some software can be found for under $20 but most are a bit more. And check Ebay. I was able to locate several used private pilot manuals for a fraction of the cost. (And let's face it, the physics of flight haven't changed any since 1903, only the way we employ them.)For what it's worth, I still have my 20 year old Jeppesen Sanderson "Private Pilot Manual" and I refer to it enough that it doesn't collect dust. As a matter of fact, even my 8- and 12-year-olds have been seen thumbing through it's pages, not that they fully understand their contents, but at least they demonstrate an interest beyond the visuals on the screen. :Party:Even if a simmer never intends to fly in real life, but even more so if they do, it's important that we not give out bad or partial information. Ozzie has corrected me a time or two for saying things that could create bad habits in the sim that then transfer to a real aircraft. And I take his criticism seriously but not personally. As for the OP's question, the purpose of flaps is two-fold. 1. They increase lift created by the wing and reduce the stall speed of an aircraft. (Any increase in lift also creates an increase in drag which is why aircraft will slow down when flaps are applied unless throttle is increased to compensate.)2. They change the angle of incidence of the wing, the angle between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the wing's chord line, by lowering the trailing edge of the wing. This increases the angle of attack with a relatively level attitude and has the added benefit of increased visibility over the nose during approach.Note that neither of these functions is to directly reduce airspeed, but only to allow for controlled flight at an airspeed lower than what is possible without flaps.Good luck, and good flying!WildBill

No, you are both right. I know skids are essentially the opposite of a slip in terms of uncoordinated turns, and I should not have said skids are a good way to manage airspeed and altitude. I guess I tend to lump them together since they are related, but not equal and in fact opposites.My bad and thanks for pointing out my error.Edit:As for terminology, in aeronautical engineering a skid is a type of slip. The terms "forward slip" or "side slip" are never used. The slip angle is represented by the symbol β (Greek letter beta). But as pilots, we are taught that a slip is when the rate of turn is too slow for the angle of bank (ball moves to the inside of the turn) and a skid is when the rate of turn is too fast for the angle of bank (ball moves to the outside of the turn). Since we act as pilots in the flight sim environment, I'll stick with the common pilots terminology which differentiates between a slip and a skid.

And? You've never done a forward slip on approach, even in training?Quoting from my Jeppesen Sanderson "Private Pilot Maneuvers", "The slip is a flight attitude used to increase the angle of descent without causing an increase in airspeed." Furthermore, "the forward slip can be valuable when you are landing in fields with obstructions." This is to what I was referring. Why you would consider that worth wagging a finger at is beyond me.

Any change anyone can post pics of the mods that you performed. Or links to others with pics and directions.I'm getting ready to pick up the Cessna yoke and want to be prepared to mod it if necessary.

Slips and skids are your friends when managing altitude and airspeed. They will quickly get rid of both when properly employed. As for flaps on the A5, it's so docile at approach speeds that I don't ever find myself wanting flaps. The only time I've wanted flaps was on takeoff and then just to increase the angle of incidence to get off the water easier. But I've learned that if you push the stick forward, you'll get up on the step of the hull and get enough airspeed that takeoffs aren't too big a pain.WildBill

Google Maarten Boelens Flight Sim Pseudo Full Screen.It's a little app that lets you maximize Flight with a window-F11 key combination.

No power results in a stall, regardless of rudder input.Max power and high AOA results in a spin. Oh, and spins are to the left if your prop turns clockwise, and right if turning counterclockwise. I can remember practicing stalls and spins (or recover from them) in flight school and power is the key.(Also remember to turn off the stabilization and prop effects or you won't be able to induce a spin.)WildBill

I'll be looking forward to the Android version with bated breath.

The trick to stopping the A5 once on the water is.... lower the gear! It'll stop in a heartbeat with the gear hanging out. You can raise them again as soon as you've slowed enough. Just don't put the gear down BEFORE landing!

I have noticed that some navaid frequencies aren't the same in-game as they are in on-line sources, so check the MS Flight map to make sure your frequencies are correct before you jump into a job or you might just find yourself tuning a navaid on the wrong frequency! (KOA is one.)WildBill

Being a vet myself (21 years in the Air Force), I actually don't mind Ford Island being used by the sim community. It and the still operational Hickam, (now combined with Pearl Harbor into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) were key strategic airfields in the attack on Dec 7, and in the war effort throughout the Pacific Campaign. Even Dillingham, which is now used mostly for glider and skydiving flight, was involved in the defense although it was called Mokule'ia Airfield until 1948.