Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Choosing the Right Hardware
If you are new to “flightsimming,” as enthusiasts call it, do a little research before buying your first simulator. This can save you a lot of headaches. The first item to consider is what kind of PC you have. Unless you have a brand new high-end PC, you will find that the very newest products will struggle to run on your machine. This can be very frustrating if you are not prepared to go out and buy a new computer.
If you are computer savvy, you will find a wealth of technical information on Internet forums about what specs you need for which simulators. As a rule of thumb, if you have a computer that is more than a year old, then focus your attention on products that were published before you bought your computer. Older products are still available in many stores and on the Internet at greatly discounted prices. Later, you can always upgrade you hardware and or software. Indeed, if you get into this hobby, you will likely find yourself doing that on a regular basis.
In addition to your PC, you will also need a controller with which to fly your simulator. There are many choices out there, including full-size airliner style yokes, but most beginners usually end up starting with a basic joystick. They are cheap and easy to find at you local store. Look for one with a twist feature, which can be assigned to control the rudder. There should also be a knob or dial that can serve as a throttle. Go to a store that has the joysticks out of the box so you can try them out. Pay attention to how it fits you hand. You will notice that some are more suited to larger or smaller hands. If you are left-handed, you will need to look for one that is ambidextrous, or which can be configured for left hand use.
Choosing the Right Software
The next step is to choose a your simulator software. Flight simulators are generally divided in to military and civilian simulators. The civilian simulators usually tend to be more geared to learning, but the choice is yours.
Among the civilian simulators, you will find that most of the better ones are designed as expendable platforms, allowing you to add new aircraft types and improved scenery. The best known of these are Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Flightgear. Both of these are good programs, and each has its own advantages.
The Microsoft platform is by far the most popular, and has the largest Internet community, and the largest selection of available add-ons. New versions are published every 2 to 3 years, and older version are easy to find. This makes it a good choice for beginners.
On the other hand, Flightgear is an open source user-developed simulator that costs absolutely nothing as long as you have the bandwidth to download it. And don't make the mistake of thinking that it must be substandard just because it is free. It has been around for many years, and while not quite as pretty as the Microsoft platform, it is surprisingly sophisticated.
Getting the Most From Your Simulator Experience
Teaching the basics of flying an airplane is beyond the scope of this article, however most simulation programs include at least some form of tutorial. In particular, the Microsoft Flight Simulator includes a very sophisticated set of interactive training scenarios to get you started.
Jumping into the cockpit of a 747 or an F-18 will be difficult for the beginner. Begin with simple single engine propeller aircraft, such as a Cessna 172 and then work you way up to more advanced aircraft if that is where your interest lies.
Explore the world and learn about navigation. Many simulator platforms include scenery for the entire planet. Have fun exploring exotic locals and studying the basics of navigation can be a very rewarding experience.
Creating structure for you flights will make the experience more interesting and rewarding. Plan out a route from Point A to Point B, and see if you can meet a schedule. Use a checklist to prepare you aircraft for the flight. As you become more experienced, you may even wish to join a Virtual Airline. These organizations assign routes and schedules to their members.
Join the community of flightsimmers. There are thousands of us around the world, and we like to interact in a variety of ways. If you have a high speed Internet connection, you can also fly together with other pilots on the Internet. There are even online aerobatics teams who regularly perform together online. Finally, many countries have local flightsim organizations that sponsor annual or semi annual conventions, so that members can meet each other in person.
Go to you local airport and sign up for an introductory flying lesson. It is not unusual for flight simulators to go on to become real pilots. However, even if you do not, taking an intro lesson can give a much better perspective for what it is all about. Most flight school offer a discount rate for intro flights, without any commitment to take further lessons.