What does anyon think of microsoft flight sim 2004, does it help as a training device on ones spare time.

Based on FS98, I would say the only use is for instrument training. ie tracking and wind correction, etc. If you can load your a/c type, then it is also good as a procedural trainer using your own checklist.

As far as the handling, I don't beleive it does alot of good in practising flying skills.

I've had some experience teaching two guys that had thousands of hours on their simulator at home prior to commencing their training. The first couple of hours of training was focussed on getting their eyes out of the cockpit, but once that was accomplished, it really was a breeze for them. They've been the only people I've seen be ready for their flight test before reaching 45 hours in the modern day syllabus. Mind this may have been because they were particularly motivated individuals, obviously with that amount of time on home simulators. But when it came to the lesson, there was less time spent going over the details of what's to be done, and more time just polishing their skills.

Hey, that the French Air Force Academy, the pilots use posters to practice checklists and procedures...

Why not FS2004...I helped a few African Air Force Future pilots learn how to aim for a runway and flare with FS2002!!

Cheaper than a real sim!

well i was really impressed with the 2004 sim I flew visually in an area im familiar with and its was pretty dam close to the actual scenery. I would recomend it 100%

If you can do it on Flight Sim you can do it for real! I landed a 777 on CYKZ 21 once. It was tight but I did it.

ive learned so much on sims its insane. if u want to get your lisence, get flight sim first, find out the plane you will hbe flying in real life, download it and practice. it helps so much with just knowing the cockpit, and getting coordinated for stuff like lining up with the runway, and helps you get a feel for power settings and such. its very helpful!

LoadFactor2 wrote:If you can do it on Flight Sim you can do it for real! I landed a 777 on CYKZ 21 once. It was tight but I did it.

Good Job! Next time try to just land it on Taxiway Delta!

Flight sim is good for procedural work only. it's too sensitive for precision flying. I used it for some of my instrument students before we got a real sim.......Procedures are procedures...as long as they remembered it in the actual airplane i was happy. And it worked. Although if your real carefull, you can demonstrate the effects on power changes and decent angle and rate of decent and so on. You can see that stuff just fine. And it does get your scan going real well.

anyone got any good suggestions for download sites, I have tried FS Planet, but it is always busy. I did find that the zip files were easy to install, but I can't find many sites with downloads for FS 2004

I used these to back with FS98...They should have new stuff for 2004

Flight Sim (go to Main menu at the very bottom)
AvSim

Anyone here use X-Plane for training purposes?

You could go to http://www.simviation.com to for downloads. Very good site. And for x-plane, I bought it and tried it one time and never used it again, horrible game.

Highflyinpilot wrote:And for x-plane, I bought it and tried it one time and never used it again, horrible game.

Care to tell us what went so wrong for you to never use it again?

Yeah maybe you could help me, maybe im just missing something but it seems when i go to airports in my area ex: CYSB etc their are no textures or any scenery on the ground except for the runway, The rest just looks like a big black hole. Its not my videocard because when i go to KLAX or other major airports there is plenty of scenery. Another thing i did not like is that their is no ATC at the airports. Like i said im used to microsoft so maybe im just missing something and if you got any advice it would be apppreciated.

P.S these issues are with X-Plane version 7

X-plane is not the fancy toy that is FS...But is most realistic when it comes to simulation...The "simulation" code is very much similar to the coding used in today's modern simulators at CAE for instance.

It is realistic and calculates the behavior according to an environment affecting a specific shaped a/c. FS only uses a bunch of silly factors (speed, ratios etc...) that are combined and give you the ridicule results that are the a/c in the game.

But scenery, ATC & weather wise, it is far more advanced!

Is there anyway to even call up atc for instructions is that totally not an option? Also is there other AI aircraft flying as your flying around?

Forgot to insert the word "OR" in between the words "instructions" and "is"
in my previous post.

LOL, you can Edit your post you know!!

LOL Still getting used to this, as you could tell im a newbie to this, hahahahah

We use X-Plane, it is an incredible product and 99% accurate to real life.
I had a student follow his VNC map and VOR stations perfectly and X-Plane responded dead on. I am very happy with X-Plane and also they are FAA approved for flight training.

If you haven't used it, download it and try it. If you fly larger aircrafts then you'll be very happy with this product with great support for multi and turbines. The demo is fine for turbine aircrafts, because you don't need flight controls, you use all your NAVs and AutoPilot.

Happy simulating.

What kills me is people who play this game and think they can fly a real airplane with such ease. OK, this topic has been discussed over and over, with different answers and opinions. Here is the deal(In my opinion) . Flight Sim 2004. PC Desktop game, accurate to some degree, poor flying parameters, cool graphics. Would make a terrible VFR trainer, and an OK IFR trainer, for procedures only. So enjoy the game, but don't rely on this thing to make you a better, safer pilot, you need a real sim or actual airplane for that.

T01

try finding out the biggest a/c you can land on the golden gate bridge...
No prob w/ the 172... gets intersting w/ the b-350... the jets are nuts...
I've landed a 727 on it...

The other cool thing is running the hover dams cayon. or Downtown Chicago w/ 3/4sm vis and a 1000' ceiling beteewn the buildings.

Way too much time on my hands...

It does make an exclent IFR "AT HOME" trainer. It lets you revew the flight and make sense of procedure turns and hold. you can download lots of airplanes @ http://www.flightsim.com

I have a PA-44-180. the same airplane I fly @ work. HSI and everyting works