So, I'm a flight simulator nerd... wanna fight about it?

[krashkart]

Score me a case of that Spitfire ale Jim's so fond of?

[Sledgehammer427]

I used to fly from Rock Falls (KSQI airport just outside my hometown) to chicago, then from chicago straight east to new york

which is wonderful...but I was flying VFR because the Hughes H-1 I bought doesn't have GPS.

I also fly the SR-71 on occasion, I'm still learning how to fly the thing. Its mainly in fuel consumption, and trying not to overspeed on the way up.

[CCIP]

I think the only natural option after this here would be a daylight raid into Germany

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I think the only natural option after this here would be a daylight raid into Germany

maybe fire up microprose's B-17 II

[Anthony W.]

The FS mandates an "overspeed"

The SR-71 has no mach meter redline - and with only minor midifications (RCS) could in fact go to space and back (the X-15 had RCS, and accidentally left the atmosphere at one point)

I love FS. If you want to raid Germany, get IL-2 1946

I play MFS and IL-2

Can't speak highly enough.

My exploits range from C-130 carrier operations and extremely hazardous bush landings in bad weather, up to space launches.

Oh, for the space nuts, get Orbiter simulator. It's free. I flew the Apollo missions in real time with only the limited autopilot that was actually used in the mission - the rest was manual

Like I said - can't speak highly enough

And for fellow VFR pilots, get the whole Carenado series. You won't be disappointed

[krashkart]

I'm an X-Plane nut. My favorite planes to fly are the Bombardier 415, the BUFF, and the KingAir. The 415 is especially fun in bumpy weather.

Someone mentioned Orbiter. I've been in love with that sim since the '06 version. I'm really hoping for the ENERGY 2 project to come to fruition. I recommend Kulch's ENERGY Project, Space Tugs and Space Tankers for station building.

[GoldenRivet]

Haven't tried orbiter.

[joea]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Haven't tried orbiter.

I downloaded it a couple of years ago...started reading the manual then deleted it.

Looks amazing but it's freakin' HARDCORE. Super accurate physics and spaceflight is not like atmospheric flight at all. Might have to give it a try again sometime.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

(the X-15 had RCS, and accidentally left the atmosphere at one point)

No it did not, even the space shuttle doesn't technically "leave the atmosphere". The Thermosphere (where the space shuttle putters around) extends 690 km high, and the exosphere (the highest layer of the atmosphere) extends 10,000 km.

Whose the nerd now?

[Growler]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Whose

Who's.

<--nerd.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

...even the space shuttle ...

Well if we're being really picky about TLAM's grammar, it should be ...even a space shuttle... as there are/were (future-proofing) more than one.




Just awaiting Steve to come along now and rip me to shreds for something I've misplaced/misspelt!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Just awaiting Steve to come along now and rip me to shreds for something I've misplaced/misspelt!

Are you American or British? If British, you're fine. If American, it's misspelled.

[Anthony W.]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

No it did not, even the space shuttle doesn't technically "leave the atmosphere". The Thermosphere (where the space shuttle putters around) extends 690 km high, and the exosphere (the highest layer of the atmosphere) extends 10,000 km.

Whose the nerd now?

I was generalizing

And - gotta love Yeager. Anybody know a good NF-104 for flight ism?

Also - I've been looking for a good Space Ship One and Voyager. Ever since I met Burt Rutan (twice, actually), I've been obsessed

BTW - if you want a true late 40's multi engine experience, the A2A Boeing 377 with Accusim is the way to go. I got my oil pressure slightly wrong, and figured it was too negligible to worry about. So, I left it as it was for about 30 minutes and then one of the engines failed. Thank God I got her started again a few minutes later - I was fully loaded and needed the extra power to remain in the lower reaches of the jet stream.

Area 51's helicopters are great, too. You have to go by the book with their Huey and Bell 412 - no autostart

Nemeth Designs Russian helicopters are truly immersive in ways that were once hard to imagine.
They have tons of animations, fully clickable VC, and no autostart. You have to do everything, down to proper sequencing of the emergency systems tests. You even have to manually engage all the circuit breakers.

I'm an addict, haha

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Anthony W.

The SR-71 has no mach meter redline - and with only minor midifications (RCS) could in fact go to space and back

The SR-71's maximum altitude is limited by its turbine engines. It does hold the absolute altitude record for turbine-powered aircraft, but 85,069' doesn't qualify for the "50-mile" rule, so no, it couldn't go into "space".

(the X-15 had RCS, and accidentally left the atmosphere at one point)

Nothing accidental about it. TLAM's qualifiers aside, part of the X-15's program was high-altitude research. General Chuck Yeager, the personel director for the program, was the man responsible for making sure a select few X-15 pilots recieved astronaut's wings.

[papa_smurf]

Originally Posted by krashkart

Score me a case of that Spitfire ale Jim's so fond of?

Drop by my home town, we got a micro-brewery here that makes some nice ales/bitter