Game Discussions Microsoft Flight Simulator

Para Handy

Para Handy
Old Duck said:
No need to be embarrassed - I thought the same thing when the US update released. That's my point, why is the main update always so big when the new scenery is apparently separate and optional?
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Yeah, the actual release notes for the 1-13-16-0 update part are not very extensive:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/...-now-available/365854#release-notes-1-13-16-0

There must have been some crossover since I found that Barra airfield was in the sim (it wasn't before) so maybe some world updates that were needed to accommodate the UK & Ireland scenery updates.

I am waiting for a delivery to arrive so will run the sim after that has completed and see what's what.
 

Old Duck

Old Duck
ObiW said:
Don't expect Steam to be better - the initial few hundred MB Steam update aside, you need to have MSFS launched in order to download all these huge updates. They can be paused but unlike running Steam updates while, say, playing Elite (which I have a Frontier Store copy of) is a no-go (I haven't tried if I'm honest, but judging from the fan activity as a result of MSFS updating I probably shouldn't run both simultaneously).

Still, it took me about 2 hours to download and install the 23GB last night which is fair, no hiccups either it's been pretty smooth sailing from the get go to be fair - no regrets of buying it via the MS store (quite the opposite in fact).
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I've had Steam MSFS since day one, so I'm painfully aware of how the updater works... :(

You also probably have good internet, which I do not, so 23 GB for me is a two DAY event rather than a two hour event. If it were a Steam update running in the background, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I basically have to put my life on hold in order to update MSFS - it ties up my CPU and my bandwidth (something else I like about Steam, the ability to cap its bandwidth usage).
 

Deleted member 182079

D
Old Duck said:
I've had Steam MSFS since day one, so I'm painfully aware of how the updater works... :(

You also probably have good internet, which I do not, so 23 GB for me is a two DAY event rather than a two hour event. If it were a Steam update running in the background, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I basically have to put my life on hold in order to update MSFS - it ties up my CPU and my bandwidth (something else I like about Steam, the ability to cap its bandwidth usage).
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Fair enough - I was initially undecided which version to go for but overall still think I decided wisely as the Steam copy isn't giving me any hassle so far (famous last words), it's just the stupid way you have to have the game launched to update it that annoys me a bit, as you say you can't really do anything else (at least in terms of gaming - I watched tutorials about GPS approaches instead :p).

So anyways, while I'm currently downloading the UK update I noticed there's an Ultralight available in the store - seriously tempted to make that my first payware add-on for FS2020 as those little buggers are excellent for sightseeing, and with the scenery being the way it is in this, I might just splurge the 16 Euros or so ... I used the Ultralight in FSX more often than I'd thought I would.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
Just repeated my little Barra to Benbecula flight (with a bit of sightseeing on the way) and it is hugely better than I first wrote. Barra and Benbecula airports are reasonably good representations - although the Balivanish windmill is still obstructing the approach / departure of 06 / 24 at Benbecula. The islands look not too bad although Castlebay on Barra is woeful but surprisingly Lochboisdale on South Uist is recognisable, as is Daliburgh. I think maybe the water levels are a bit off as the lochans on South Uist look too extensive and several of the causeways are under water but surprised to see the missile range and its radar site included (albeit without the radome).

All-in-all I am quite hopeful for the rest once I get time to spend in the sim but I thought I ought to post this since I made a muck up of that area last night.


Barra (EGPR):

(note that there is no "puddle" now ;) )
barra.jpg



Benbecula (EGPL):

ben.jpg



Is it just that the windmill models are too large because the Daliburgh ones are just as huge?
 
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Revenant69

Revenant69
After work today I took the time to actually unbox my new Virpil kit and at least get it set up on my desk to have a proper look at it. I got the alpha constellation grip and attached it to the WarBRD base and put the CM3 throttle next to it. First impressions: holy %$$&*)!!! Second impression: wow, what an amazing looking/feeling set of buttons...what am I going to do with all bazillion of them? And for that matter what is an "encoder dial" and how the hell am I going to use them???

Seriously, it's all amazing looking and feeling. My only frame of reference is the old Saitek stuff and a t16000 which I thought was crud the second I unboxed it so I'm no real experienced judge, but something tells me that it's a very nicely made hardware setup. I'll give a more detailed report once I've actually configured the software and flown a bit.
 

AvonNZ

AvonNZ
Juniper said:
If you want to use your voice to control your aircraft (useful in VR especially), it's worth mentioning that the HCS Aviator has now been released in alpha.

You need the latest VoiceAttack to use it.
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Thanks you very much Juniper for the suggestion. Here is my very basic video, wanting to do a 'big' plane check list next :)

This time using a HCS VoicePack for voice control within VR - flying the amphibious Icon A5 out of Queenstown New Zealand.
Check it out at -

Source: https://youtu.be/OcCTPPK_Gkw
 
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Para Handy

Para Handy
I don't now how I messed up about Castlebay on Barra - checked it out today and it looks recognisable OK.

Still bothered by the giant windmills on the Uists and Benbecula (Lochmaddy windmills are ridiculous) and there are still too many trees but not too bad.
 

Deleted member 182079

D
Oh man. So not only am I eyeing up the Aerolite 103 (perfect for checking out scenery low and slow), but there's the Waco YMF-5 which is an absolutely stunning looking tail dragger built in the 1980s.

That'd be 30+ Euros right there for the 2 planes... I'm a bit worried about entering this particular rabbit hole, then again compared to what you get in say Elite :unsure: still a good deal compared to DCS, but I haven't tried half the planes in my Deluxe version yet. Decisions.....
 

AvonNZ

AvonNZ
ObiW said:
Oh man. So not only am I eyeing up the Aerolite 103 (perfect for checking out scenery low and slow), but there's the Waco YMF-5 which is an absolutely stunning looking tail dragger built in the 1980s.

That'd be 30+ Euros right there for the 2 planes... I'm a bit worried about entering this particular rabbit hole, then again compared to what you get in say Elite :unsure: still a good deal compared to DCS, but I haven't tried half the planes in my Deluxe version yet. Decisions.....Same, but determined to check out all my planes in the delux version (I paid for it ;-)
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Deleted member 182079

D
Ah yeah, I'm also determined to check out all planes - in fact I briefly flew all prop/turboprop ones (and the Citation), but not to the extent that I'm familiar with all their functionality.

I should really check out the airliners, but I find their cockpits hugely intimidating - only last night figured out GPS approaches in the 172 (the basic one, not the G1000 version) flying from Kerry to Shannon, this is not something I tried before in FSX (assuming it was part of the simulation), but with FS2020 I find learning these things incredibly satisfying.

So from that point of view there's still a lot of mileage left before even considering add-on aircraft, but I'll probably get those two I mentioned as they seem like a good fit/addition to the existing range of aircraft that comes as part of the package.
 

AvonNZ

AvonNZ
ObiW said:
Ah yeah, I'm also determined to check out all planes - in fact I briefly flew all prop/turboprop ones (and the Citation), but not to the extent that I'm familiar with all their functionality.

I should really check out the airliners, but I find their cockpits hugely intimidating - only last night figured out GPS approaches in the 172 (the basic one, not the G1000 version) flying from Kerry to Shannon, this is not something I tried before in FSX (assuming it was part of the simulation), but with FS2020 I find learning these things incredibly satisfying.

So from that point of view there's still a lot of mileage left before even considering add-on aircraft, but I'll probably get those two I mentioned as they seem like a good fit/addition to the existing range of aircraft that comes as part of the package.
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I know what you mean about the cockpits of airliners :) I'm going to try the HCS VoicePack The Aviator to go thru a pre-flight checklist to take the edge off ;-)
 

Deleted member 182079

D
Hairychest said:
The best way to start understanding the airliners is to start cold and dark (I.e. Not at the end of the runway) and use the checklists. You can soon familiarise yourself with where things are and what they do...
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Yep, I do that with whatever plane I want to "learn", with the airliners it's just MOAR of everything:) plus I seem to struggle with throttle control when flying jets in general; props I just find easier to handle speed wise. But having learned more about GPS and Navigation functionality and concepts I think I'm ready to graduate to more complex aircraft.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
ObiW said:
....... I seem to struggle with throttle control when flying jets in general; props I just find easier to handle speed wise. .........
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Which is why they have auto throttles and why the throttle levers have TOGA buttons (Take Off and Go Around power). 🕹️:)


BTW - Am I the only one that really misses CTRL+Z and Q?
 

Deleted member 182079

D
Successfully completed a full ILS flight in the A320neo from Heathrow to Edinburgh - passengers didn't even have to reach for the hurling bags:p

And not only that, but the sim seemed to throw me a curve ball in the form of the autopilot crapping out; all worked fine until my descent, flying through clouds between 30,000-12,000ft messed up the airspeed indicator and the plane refused to decrease in altitude despite me following ATC instructions... I overshot Edinburgh of course as a result and had to declare a miss, but the sim allowed me (after a lot of fumbling around on my part!) to select another ILS approach and I made it safe and sound. Am impressed this worked fine as at that point I figured the flight was ruined.

This has got to be my most satisfying gaming experience in recent times, I'm well chuffed! And of course the visual experience was as second-to-none as you can expect from FS2020 (the weather was pretty rough especially once in Scottish airspace, unlike in LHR).

Still not sure whether the above was due to icing (didn't see anything forming though - and looked for any buttons to this regard but couldn't find any) or simply a bug as I've read the A320 has (had?) its fair share of autopilot related problems.

Big PHEW.
 
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