airernie

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the defunct version of SPAD is still available. While it is limited in regards to SPAD.neXt, it does work and has a fairly small learning curve. 😊

To answer some of your questions; Yes, you can substitute AI models for the default aircraft used in the FSX/FSX:SE flight plans. I'm not sure about the WOAI aircraft, but I would guess the impact would still be less then the default aircraft. If in doubt take a look at the FLAi aircraft for online flying. Update liveries, more aircraft selection, etc. As for the GA aircraft you'll have few choices other than FS9 models because not much has been updated beyond what Todd Bolgrin has done. His stuff is available in the AVSIM library. You can use AI Flight Planner to open the default BGL and substitute the AI aircraft for the default aircraft. In truth I'm not how much VAS or performance gain you'll realize. Even with AI aircraft you'll likely suffer if you set the sliders too high. In any event you won't need to play with aircraft cfg files. I would recommend, as you mentioned putting the AI aircraft in their own folders, not that it's necessary, but makes for a cleaner process and segregates your flying and non-flying models. Ernie

There are cards on there that have higher power requirements than the power supply on the Dell Dimension 9200 I was using less than 10 years ago.😊

I'm a FSX user, but I would guess that set up is similar, so here goes; First, you can set up your hat switch in both, but you'll have issues. So, set it up in one or the other, preferably CP. So, remove all Axis/Pan setting for the hat switch in P3D before starting. To set up CP make sure that Windows sees your controller by opening the USB Game Controller app and verifying that it works. For CP, click on Preferences, then control Assignments. Under Controls. Click on -Blank- next to Tilt Up to assign your 0 degree hat switch button, Tilt Down to assign your 180 degree hat switch button, Pan Left for you 270 hat switch button and Pan Right for you 90 position.

The new VATSIM allows for voice Unicom, so no longer necessary to type unless the pilot wants to. As for no ATC, your situation is fairly normal. If you want full or mostly full coverage then you can limit yourself to events only or peak periods, but I think that most of us accept that we'll have spotty coverage and fly in hopes that a controller, preferably Center, will logon. You can also use VatSpy or other tools to see what controllers are online and plan your flight accordingly. Unfortunately there is no guarantee the controller will remain online and could disappear prior to or during the flight. Just the nature of a volunteer endeavor. Ernie BTW, I fly under those conditions because of the possibly of having to interact with other active aircraft at airports. The alternative is an ATC program and AI.

Is Global\all10 the directory that you are storing the files in (exp; a10g, a11g, b10g, etc..). Is it safe to assume that you unzipped the files into the Global\all10 directory?

Download and unzip the files specified in Tools->Options->Cache and Files into a folder, with a name of your choosing. Mine are in Documents\Globe Elevation Data, but yours could be anywhere. If you prefer to keep all of the LNM data together then I would suggest creating the folder in "%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\ABarthel". Whatever your chose; once copied, start LNM, click on Tools->Options->Cache and Files, select 'Use offline Globe Elevation Data' and specify the folder where you have stored the elevation data, Then Apply or OK.

You don't, unless you want to download the data periodically and overwrite the old files. It's provided by the NOAA, so any updates would come from them. However, it's not like elevation data will change much unless you have something like a Mount St. Helen's.

LNM doesn't have the capability of providing fuel estimates for all aircraft. You're going to have to fly a few flights in the aircraft with the Aircraft Performance feature active to determine what your aircraft's usage is. Here's the section in the manual that discusses the process. You might get lucky and someone else has done the work for you, What's available is located here. Ernie

Looking at SLC also, but according the the PacSim site it is the current airport version. Their site mentions it being a work in progress, but I would need some assurances that they will update the FSX version to the planned 2020 renovations. Far too many scenery developers has said no more FSX development or updates. Thanks..

I picked up on something from B747HEAVY on Twitch and started using Flightaware.com to determine the RW runways before I input my arrival into the FMC. If you open Flightaware, chose a specific airport, and if there is traffic, you can enlarge the window and see which runways the aircraft are using. Also, SimBrief does a pretty good job at predicting the arrival and flight path if you're using RW weather. Ernie

Does the Robin use the standard FSX/P3D flight plan format or does it have its own format? How do you load a flight plan into the Robin?

Thanks for the reply. The buttons report as 1 & 2. All of the buttons respond to their appropriate number in the Windows 10 USB game controllers app. As with you, I run everything except through FSUIPC. I'm wondering if perhaps the non-Cessna Pro Flight yoke has a different button arrangement and both yokes used the same control board. That might explain any missing numbers. I'm not going to spend too much time trying to figure it out. It all works, just got my curiosity aroused. 🙂

When I move the mode switch FSUIPC reports buttons 22-23-24. On the other hand, ChasePlane reports them as 23-24-25.

I own a Saitek Cessna Yoke. I'm not sure why, but the Windows 10 USB Game Controller app doesn't list toggles/buttons 9-10-11. There is also no corresponding 9-10-11 toggle/buttons on the yoke. Not much I can do about that, but I am wondering if the connectors still exist on the system board, but are unused. Perhaps someday I will open my yoke to check, but in the meantime I'm hoping that someone has already opened their yoke and might know the answer. Thanks..

Thanks Bill, Just looked at the app, it appears similar to Lord of the Landing, but with support for specific aircraft and customer service. 🙂 Price is decent, so I think I'll give it a try..

Basically everything The power is off, generators, FMC, etc. To get it back in operation I would have to restart the engines midair etc. Just had an idea, maybe I could get around some of that by changing the panel state. Not sure if I would still need to initialize the FMC, but it's worth a try.

I would like to do some practice approaches in a B737 using Lord of the Landing. I can save the flights, but the iFly 737 doesn't maintain it's configuration when you load a saved flight. I've thought of using the default FSX B737, but not FMC, etc. Can anyone suggest, if there is one, a B737-700 or 800 that will retain its configuration if you reload a saved flight? Thanks, Ernie

I have a Saitek Cessna Yoke and although I own an EDTracker I still find myself using the hat switch for cockpit scanning rendering it unavailable for ChasePlane. For CP I use a home built 12-button box. Because the button numbers conflict with the yoke, I reserve buttons 01 - 12 on the yoke for FSX and other app related commands such as VATSIM, FS2Crew, etc. That leaves me without dedicated access to external views, so I'm thinking of expanding the button box and using the named assignments option to allocate the additional conflicting numbers to the external view. Still a WIP, so I'm anxious to see what others are doing.

There should be a PDF inside the folder where you installed the app. Mine is in Radar Contactx. If you can't find it, I can dump a copy in my Dropbox and PM you the link. Ernie

Have you ran the Windows 'USB Games Controller' to validate it can see your buttons? If so, ChasePlane should see the yoke. Are you trying to assign the buttons to the Global options or individual aircraft cameras?

As long as you're seeing the VAS numbers then it's configured correctly. For illustration purposes it's quicker for me to pull up the fsuipc.ini entry than open FSX, open FSUIPC, etc. If you're settings are maxed out then seeing the low VAS numbers is to be expected. Especially if you're also running high AI traffic numbers. Even modern CPUs can choke.

I never asked, can I assume that you are getting your VAS numbers from FSUIPC using the following values in the fsuipc.ini file? [Monitor] Display=5 Monitor0=0,024C,4,0

FSX is highly CPU dependent, so my first guess wouldn't be the GPU, but honestly, anything is possible. I ran a 760Ti without issues and your 1060 is more than capable. The only alternative other than swapping out the card and seeing if the problem goes away is to install the latest drivers. You could also try re-seating it. What do your frame rates look like?

Personally, I would add .backup to fsx.cfg, dll.xml, exe.xml to protect the originals and force FSX to rebuild the files. If you are using nVidia Inspector back up the profile and delete it so, the GPU is running clean. Also, uncheck any add-on scenery including the Scenery\Addon Scenery entry. I would then download Process Editor to monitor FSX memory usage, since you will lose FSUIPC doing the previous. It's not a direct translation to VAS, but close enough for testing. The point is to take FSX back to as close to default install as you can. Not doing that hinders the troubleshooting process. Run FSX using the default Cessna 172 from Nuggs, which the first airport on the list and see what the Private Bytes for FSX reads in Process Explorer. The above should help in determining if it's a FSX or equipment problem.