[OT] For all you Flight Sim Gurus

[bentmick]

Can anyone point me to a website or link where I might read about "Flight Basics". I don't want to read an article that's too in depth, just basic stuff like controlling the craft, dynamics of landing and basic military combat manouvers.

I have played a couple of "Flight Sim Lites" before (Novalogic sims) and EAW, but they don't have very comprehensive manuals regarding info like :-

speed and height while preparing to land
best ways to control the aircraft while in flight, for eg. use of rudder or not

Those type of things.

I don't want to become an expert sim jockey in something like Falcon 4, but I want to understand the dynamics of flight a little more than I already do.

Are there any Flight sims that have a detailed manual I could read, as the games I have played so far do not.

[ChandlerL]

Bentmick:

For starters, and I know the following lecture isn't exactly a page-turner, start at the link below for the basic dynamics of flight:

http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/main/maeronautics.html

and

http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/aeronautics/tutorial/fourforces.html

It covers just about everything you should understand about how things work (/begin plug: NASA's great! Free stuff everywhere :D /end plug).

And this brings us to the next part. Are you interested in learning about General Aviation simming or Combat simming?

For General Aviation: Pick up Microsoft Flight Simulator. It has flight training lessons that, IMHO, are quite good. If you're really enjoying yourself we can get you started with VATSIM.

For Combat Aviation: Pick up a copy of Falcon 4 and get all the patches including the user made ones (http://f4ut.frugalsworld.com). If you can get an original Falcon 4 software box, you'll get a very thick manual that covers Basic Combat Maneuvers (BCM) quite well. If not, check this out:

http://users.adelphia.net/~bssfalcon/tactics/tacticsguide.html
It's ugly, but it's got what's important-- the information.

Advise me on where you want to take this topic-- I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. May be with a little cheerleading on my part, I can get you interested in the real thing. :)

[bentmick]

I'll start at the links you gave me and see how I go. I'm interested in flying any aircraft, but I'll give MS Flight Sim a miss. The training in it sounds great, but I'm not into Civilian Flight Sims.

As far as games go, I like Military Flight Sims, but Falcon 4 might be a bit too much for me.

I'll read the stuff on the sites anyway.

By the way, what do you Fly?

[Nightwatch]

I'd recommend Il2 Sturmovick. One of the best flight sims out there. It deals with World War 2 military aircraft. You have to seriously learn how to fly the flane, and unlike some others (By Micro$osf) the flight model is as acurate. You can actually feel the difference when you strap yourself into a different plane, even in the so called same type (Ie, fighter, heavy fighter etc) hell anything that has you reajusting the balance (trims) of your plane when you start using up ammo has to be good.. :)

[ChandlerL]

If you're looking for something that is less detailed, check out Lock-On: Modern Air Combat (www.ubisoft.com). The realism of that sim can be toned down to be almost arcade like.

I flew an F/A-18D "Hornet"

The below snapshot was taken at (Fightertown) Beaufort, SC when I was a 1st LT.
http://www.nypm.net/MyPextension.jpg

[bentmick]

Oh my.........
........
..................... Jaw Drops. Lucky you.

[arrrse]

You've lost that looooving feeling, wooaooo that looooving feeling.
You've lost that looooving feeeling, now its gone gone gone

[Nightwatch]

Can I just say that Top Gun was the best piece of gay porn I have ever seen in my entire life? :p :D

[bentmick]

What about the "Top Gun" of Helo's with Michael Pare'.....
Firebirds or something...........blech

[ChandlerL]

Originally posted by Nigh****ch
Can I just say that Top Gun was the best piece of gay porn I have ever seen in my entire life? :p :D

*chuckle* The movie, Top Gun, was about Navy pilots flying the F/A-14 Tomcat. Guess I dodged the bullet on that one. ;)

[Silent Warrior]

Well, Falcon 4's realism can also be toned down... Don't forget to download the 700-ish Mb of updates and campaigns for it, if you buy it. :confused: (SP4 just came out, 130 Mb.) Sure, it's not as flashy as Lock-On, but it's Falcon 4.0!

[WX_Peregrin]

Id like to second that reccomendation of IL-2 Sturmovik. I have both stand alone games (IL-2 and IL-2 Forgotten Battles), and it is extremely detailed on every level, not to mention fun as hell to play online, although I wish the community were a bit bigger for online play :). You really have to get a feel for the plane your flying, b/c online, in the heat of a dogfight, Ive seen some great pilots get caught spinning towards the ground with flak not far behind.

[AR81]

I think "Fighter Squadron" by Activision is quite great. It not only has a realistic flight model, but the AI is great and the user interfase is easy.

As the game went open source, many people have worked on the plane packs, so by now there are whole new terrains and whole new planes you can fly.

I downloaded the WWII set of patches and I had a completely new game. It seemed that they tweaked the sim to simulate the WWI AI. It is just great.

The only drawback is that it doesn't have too much of wingman commands, just attack, join formation and another one I don't remember now.

It also doesn't have a campaign, only a set of missions and a mission editor. Wingmen are dumb for bombing, let alone dive bombing.

However, despite of such minor aspects, it is great if you want a good dogfight.

I really don't like modern war sims too much, because it is lock, fire and forget, and avoiding a missile is in some cases a matter of luck, while WWII was a matter of real skill.

I have tried Microsoft Combat flight simulator but I find it a bit tasteless for replayability purposes.

[Outcast Alpha 2]

I feel I must disagree with the last post about how CFS1-3 were unrealistic. I am a member of a local squadron in my state, and we use these games over others, BECAUSE of the replayability factor!

But to get back to the ORIGINAL topic of the post, CFS3 has an online help manual which gets into detail about flight, and how to do some beginner moves, like the split-s, the immelmann, and how to turn sharply by using a combination of throttle and ailerons.

Once you feel comfortable enough with the ground school lessons (complete with videos), you can go into free flight mode and try flying one of the birds yourself!