wazooda

Just an update for others looking to update their databases. I have the RXP 530 v2 software along with a RealSimGear GNS 530 unit. Using IFRGuy's method, I have updated to the 2014 cycle using a one-time purchase of the Jeppesen Western U.S. database. Cost me $129. Worked perfectly and shows the correct effective dates (Dec 31, 2020 - Jan 28th 2021). Thanks a million for this info!

Thanks Ken. In addition, for anyone interested, Damian over at HiFi answered my question in detail: http://www.hifisimtech.com/forums/showthread.php?6990-Student-Pilot-Question-Regarding-Winds-Aloft-amp-Flight-Planning-in-AS16&p=34845#post34845 Appreciate everyone's input. -Paul

I posted this over at the HiFi forums.... but since I have not received a response, I figured I'd do it here as well.... IRL I am a student pilot with about 30 hours in a C172. I am at the stage of my training where flight planning for cross-countries is central. Part of that, as I am sure everyone knows, is looking up the winds aloft data on ADDS and calculating my correct magnetic headings for my VFR flight. So... I have downloaded the trial version of AS16 to see how the winds aloft component works in conjunction with VFR flight planning and P3D. I've read the manual, but have a few questions I hope someone can answer. First, my home airport is KSNA (John Wanye in Southern Cal.), and I've been trained to use the Ontario winds aloft data from the ADDS site as that is the closest to KSNA (30 miles). Thus, when I fly a cross country from KSNA>KEMT>KREI>KSNA (all in the So Cal area around Ontario), I plan using the Ontario data. However, when I look up the data at each of those three airports withing AS16, NONE of them have the current ADDS data from Ontario... and... inexplicably to me at least... they all have unique data unto themselves which as far as I know doesn't reflect the real world situation here in So Cal; i.e. the closest real world data for each of those airports is Ontario. What am I missing here? Does AS16 get its data from ADDS or some other source that I might want to use in real life? Second, if I am creating a VFR flight plan between these airports, which winds aloft data is used on the route? I guess I was hoping, like my real world planning, the winds aloft in any given geographic area are modeled based upon some reasonable radius from the closest reporting station. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to practice planning and flying my flights using VFR in the sim. Thanks for any insight! -Paul

Thanks Steve! I'll go buy it right now. -Paul

I run 3D Surround in DX10 preview and it is stunning. Perfect to practice my sight pictures for landing (I'm a 17 hour student pilot). I want to buy Steve's DX10 Fixer, but I saw on the site that it is not compatible with multiple GPU systems. To run in Surround, I have two 980 GTX's.... but not sure if this disqualifies me from running the Fixer. Thoughts?

Right on the money! Thanks a million!

I am an 3D Vision user and am having an issue with disabling the PAPI and beacon lights when running in DX10. In a nutshell, the textures for these lights render in 2D and thus appear at screen depth when using 3D glasses. There is a known fix that I used for DX9 that renamed the halo.bmp (in the texture subfolder) and fx_2.bmp (in the effects/texture folder). This removes all runway and beacon lights; which is fine as I'm just flying in the daytime when using 3D. However, due to a myriad of DX9 problems, I want to run in DX10. However, when I switch to DX10 Preview, FSX seems to substitute some weird looking texture instead of just leaving it "blank" like DX9 mode does. I've attached a picture and you can see the odd red texture; it even looks like there is part of the FSX logo in the texture. Any ideas why this is happening? Thanks! Paul Link to picture of problem: https://s31.postimg.org/yre5wptq3/FSX_Lights.jpg

Awesome. Thanks!

I'm somewhat new to the whole scenery scene ( ) in FSX/Prepa3D and the Orbx line of products confuses me a bit. I have purchased the So Cal Terrain pack as that is where I live and am learning to fly. Would an addition purchase of Global Vector and/or OpenLC and/or Global Base effect the So Cal area, or are those things already included in the So Cal package (at least localized versions of vector and OpenLC). Any help appreciated. Thanks! Paul

I got my Brunner FFB Yoke and so far absolutely love it. I'm still in the tweaking phase, and would love to get some input from other users on how they are implementing trim functionality. I'm a student pilot IRL flying a Cessna 172S, so I use the A2A C172 addon in P3Dv3.3. So are most of you who have the Brunner using hardware or software trim? I like the way hardware trim "feels" when relieving yoke pressure, but obviously the in-game trim does not move because they are disconnected. Does this materially impact the flight model in your experience; i.e. since the trim in-game will always show centered, will this effect, say, my power-off stall dynamics/realism or is the impact of trim pretty minor when it comes to effect on aerodynamic performance? When experimenting with software trim, I notice that the in-game trim wheel movement is VERY slow when I use the rocker switch on the Brunner yoke. Is this changeable? Also, is it my imagination, or does software trimming actually have a hardware impact on the yoke albeit much more subtlety than the hardware trim option. Any input on this is greatly appreciated... as is a profile if anyone has one for the A2A C172. Thanks! Paul