MarcoDA40
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2015
- Messages
- 143
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Display name:
Marco
I can't be the only one, can I??
Semi-Long read
I started using simulators ever since I was 12 years old, starting with FS98 and been using them every since. (FS98, FS2000, 2002, FS9 and now FSX) I have always had an interest in aviation ever since I can remember.. and I would spend hours and hours using simulators for fun and not in a very realistic manner, until FS9. I never really got any payware addons for FS9 because I was still in middle school and couldnt really pay for them but my parents did buy me a $25 joystick at walmart . It became a hobby.. so much so that I logged 200+ hours in FS9, and so far in FSX I've logged a little under 500 hours (this is real time).
I can say that this ABSOLUTELY helped me when I was finally able to afford my PPL, Soloed in 6 hours, got PPL in 42. Anyways.. I have put together an amazing simulator (per my standards) and it is honestly WAY better and more equipped than some simulators I've seen at some schools (besides red bird and full motion sims alike). I have spent a bit over $1000 with both software and hardware(not including pc).. here is a list of my equipment:
I hope to one day when I have a bigger place with a spare room to build a FULL simulator and usea projector or something, but for now I love what I have!
This is NOT my video but here is what my sim looks like (besides graphics, the simulation itself is second to none)
Im running all of this at 4.0ghz
This has a bit of video editing but its pretty much what I see when I play Sim!
Sorry for the long and maybe unrelated post
EDIT: There is an app/software that allows the Simulator to connect to foreflight so you can actually see the plane moving on your ipad\iphone foreflight app! Its $30 and that is my next purchase!
Semi-Long read
I started using simulators ever since I was 12 years old, starting with FS98 and been using them every since. (FS98, FS2000, 2002, FS9 and now FSX) I have always had an interest in aviation ever since I can remember.. and I would spend hours and hours using simulators for fun and not in a very realistic manner, until FS9. I never really got any payware addons for FS9 because I was still in middle school and couldnt really pay for them but my parents did buy me a $25 joystick at walmart . It became a hobby.. so much so that I logged 200+ hours in FS9, and so far in FSX I've logged a little under 500 hours (this is real time).
I can say that this ABSOLUTELY helped me when I was finally able to afford my PPL, Soloed in 6 hours, got PPL in 42. Anyways.. I have put together an amazing simulator (per my standards) and it is honestly WAY better and more equipped than some simulators I've seen at some schools (besides red bird and full motion sims alike). I have spent a bit over $1000 with both software and hardware(not including pc).. here is a list of my equipment:
- Flight Simulator X Steam Edition
Duh? - Active Sky Next -
THIS IS A MUST! As close to real-time weather as you can get! If you go on foreflight and look at a METAR, the simulator weather will be 100% accurate to real world. Besides just being accurate, the architecture behind the actual weather is mesmerizing.. - MegaScenery (not installed)
This is photoreal scenery, they are literally satellite pictures, and you can even find your house.. the super downside to this is that it is FLAT and there are no 3D features like autogen buildings/trees, etc. This is good for high altitude flying but the flat landscape is just not nice enough for me. ($50 wasted ) - REX Texture Direct
This replaces the Simulators default textures to very high quality(4k) textures. It also changes atmosphere textures to give it a much more realistic look, especially during sunset/sunrise. It is a complete texture overhaul. - REX Soft Clouds
This is to give more realistic volume to clouds, especially during TStorms. Clouds go from mehhh looking, to so realistic that if I took a screenshot of the clouds only and didnt say it was FSX, you would never know. - PRO ATC X (I dont use it EVERY flight)
This replaces the stock ATC to a much more realistic one. With this ATC you can actually fly SIDs and STARs and vectoring is way more realistic. You get put on holding patterns as well and such. You can update the Database every time a new AIRAC cycle comes out if you have a Navigraph subscription (I do) - Pilot Edge
I did the 2 week free trial and LOVED it! Sadly they are only in SOCAL and it got a bit boring after flying only there for 2 weeks. I hope they expand at lest a bit, maybe do a separate server for part of the east coast or something.. until then I dont use it unless I feel like I need work on my comms. - FTX Global
Graphic related, this addon was the most dramatic change in the whole simulator. The base pack is $75 which adds much more AUTOGEN buildings /trees and its is literally a simulator overhaul. They have FTX Vector which is just the holy grail. It adds much more realistic shorelines, glf courses, parkslakes, rivers, powerlines, trains, tunnels, freeways, docks, etc! There is some of that in the stock Simulator but no-where near as detailed. That will have to be my Xmas present... with a price tag of $150. - Alabeo DA40
I got this during my training since I was already training in a DA40. It is absolutely realistic! The only thing missing was the motion and the force feedback. I use my real world checklist when I fly it. - Carenado TBM 850 G1000
I got this to get from point A to point B faster and play around with the G1000 (fully modeled and simulated) The DA40 I trained with had a G1000 and I can say this is as real as it gets. Luckily Carenado has a whole fleet of G1000 birds. (Databse update with Navigraph as well) - PMDG 737NGX
This is without a doubt one of the most realistic airplanes you can fly in a simulator. PMDG is TOP OF THE LINE when it comes to addons. Everything you can think of is simulated. I cant really explain it... just look it up. Comes with a Price tag of $70 (FMC Databse update with Navigraph as well)
- PMDG 777
Read above. Price tag $90 - CH Products Yoke & Rudder Pedals
Not much to say, theydo the job but really wish it was force feedback. It also has a throttle quadrant with throttle/mixture/prop, flaps, electric trim, gear lever, autopilot disconnect and a few other things.
I hope to one day when I have a bigger place with a spare room to build a FULL simulator and usea projector or something, but for now I love what I have!
This is NOT my video but here is what my sim looks like (besides graphics, the simulation itself is second to none)
Im running all of this at 4.0ghz
This has a bit of video editing but its pretty much what I see when I play Sim!
Sorry for the long and maybe unrelated post
EDIT: There is an app/software that allows the Simulator to connect to foreflight so you can actually see the plane moving on your ipad\iphone foreflight app! Its $30 and that is my next purchase!
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