Sporty's Microsft simulator program

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DaytonaLynn

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One who misses Daytona!
Any one have any knowledge with it. I was considering purchase to help with IR training

Thanks
 
Are you talking about this? http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/11899

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If so, I'd vote to save the money for the time being and put that toward 2hrs of flying.

Simming has some value, but I'd discuss with your CFI before spending the money. I'd hate to see this money spent and the CFI doesn't support the idea...

Or worse, you discover your computer box isn't up to the task. MSFS is a major resource hog and does not run well unless you have a top end CPU, skads of RAM, and a top end GPU. If you don't have these, you're spending more money.

Because I'm still a VFR pilot, I'll defer to the senior instructors like Ron and others about this next bit, but I beleive desktop simming on your own isn't gonna teach you the correct "muscle memory" and "this is how it feels in your butt and your ears" that you need to do IFR well.

And time spent "playing" with this isn't loggable time. If you can get access to an approved sim (like the Elites or the Redbirds) that time can count toward your instruction and currencies. $250 might get you 3 or 4 hours logged on one of those.

Take it from someone who has a lifelong (bad) habit of overspending for hobbies. This currently is just a want, not an absolute need and must have to move forward. Your dollars are better spent on time with the CFI.
 
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I would avoid the Sporty's bundle as there is no value there. There is a huge genre of Flight Sim enthusiasts that have that equipment and better for cheaper.

Search for the following:

CH Products Eclipse Yoke
CH Products Pro Pedals
Make absolutely sure that you get Microsoft Flight Simulator X *WITH acceleration (The gold edition shown in your picture is perfect)

We sell, trade and upgrade our stuff usually on Ebay. There are several guys - like me - who rebuild the electronics, upgrade the actuator functions and resell them.

Good yoke here

Here is both for 80 bucks

Now, would I buy the simulator software on ebay... ehh maybe. If not, they are not manufactured anymore so you have to find resellers that still have it.
Radio shack has it for a good price online

Anyways, I hope that helps. You should be able to get all 3 of those items easily for $100.00, period.
 
I'll also add that I have CH Products yoke and rudder pedals. Both are decent equipment for general orientation and playing. But they're not the best when it comes to learning how to control the aircraft and the feedback of aerodynamic forces you feel in the controls. Especially when learning how to properly trim the aircraft.

I'll repeat what other folks have cautioned: be mindful that this product can introduce bad habits that will take hours and dollars in a real aircraft to undo and establish the correct habits.

In fact, I'll announce here that mine are for sale. $100 via PayPal including shipping.

I might have the software too. But I need to look.

I think I have also seen the software available at Best Buy recently. And want to say the price was between $45-$65 for a brand-new copy.
 
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AggieMike88 said:
I'll also add that I have CH Products yoke and rudder pedals. Both are decent equipment for general orientation and playing. But they're not the best when it comes to learning how to control the aircraft and the feedback of aerodynamic forces you feel in the controls. Especially when learning how to properly trim the aircraft.
Click to expand...

I think he said they are for IR Training.
 
I have the saitek yoke and throttle quadrant and XPlane 10. Worked great for IR training. I also recommend looking at Pilotedge.

I used the mixture lever on the throttle quadrant as rudder control and one of the switches to control the mixture (which really wasn't terribly necessary). Saved some bucks on the rudder pedals.
 
My flight sim setup ended up fitting in nicely to my entertainment center, since I'm a single guy I can take over the living room at will.

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I started with a joystick and my laptop and over the years slowly expanded. I strive to get as much realism out as possible and have used it a lot through out my instrument training and just for fun.

I'd recommend getting started with the Saitek bundle and a copy of FSX gold edition hooked up to a decent monitor and add from there as needed. Also I would invest in a realistic aftermarket FSX version of the plane your training in, 172, Arrow, whatever. Carenado has some really good ones.

If you train with a 430 or 530 I'd install one from reality xp

Change all the settings to most realistic in FSX and if you go with the Saitek bundle set the null zones to zero and sensitivity to most sensitive for the most realistic experience.
 
Damn son! You do have a problem! [tease] You're nearly as bad as the fellow who built the full 737 cockpit in his garage....

I can just hear you on VATSIM:

"NORCAL Approach, Arch hammer 123 with request..."

"Hammer 123, NORCAL Approach, say request"

"NORCAL, Hammer 123 would like to cancel our IFR Clearance at this time. The wife say's it's time to shut down and come to bed."
 
Lynn... I think we have found the real solution... don't buy anything... just plan a few trips to Shane's house and borrow his setup. :D :D
 
Nothing wrong with flight sims for IR training. Yeah, they don't really help all that much for primary instruction, but why should you spend your hard earned money practicing holds, approaches, dme arcs and all the other fun instrument procedures in the real thing when you can get the concepts down at home in front of your computer? You don't need fancy grpahics or flight controls, all you're really using it for is a navigation simulator. You can change the wind to your liking and see what a holding pattern looks like. See what the CDI does on a procedure turn. Find out why NDB approaches really suck. Since you're just focusing on procedures, use the autopilot if you want. IMO the PC sims just don't match up with physics when it comes to aircraft handling. But again, you're just practicing procedures and watching the needles move so that's no big deal for your purposes.
 
I have these rudder pedals for 5 years, i left playing ms flight sim since 3 years but i always enjoyed playing with these rudder pedals.
 
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