Gear for the ultimate flight sim junkie!

Chock · 07-26-07, 06:25 PM

TrackIR is great for combat sims and VFR stuff, but on IFR airliners in FS it is more of a hindrance than a help.

Those instruments seem a bit pricey considering they look absolutely bugger all like the real thing. And at 100 dollars a pop, it's going to cost you 600 bucks just for a basic blind flying panel. You'd be far better off just mounting a cheap TFT monitor in your virtual aeroplane's dashboard and designing an instrument panel that displayed them all (which is dead easy to do), then plonking some cardboard over it with a few circular holes cut in it. You could knock that lot up for about 100 bucks easy, and it would probably look better too. You could even make the instruments adjustable if you used a touch-sensitive screen.

Chock

Reaves · 07-26-07, 06:30 PM

I remember when I first got FS9 I found sites where people made virtual cockpits. Awesome stuff for the immersion junkies. I was really impressed that MS made it possible to add extra gauges and use multiple monitors, they obviously listened to some of the more hardcore fanbase on that one.

Skybird · 07-26-07, 07:32 PM

I didn'T believe in virtual cockpits, until I saw that of the Piper Cheyenne (Digital Aviation)

I thought TrackIr was overrated, until I started to use it in FS9 half a year ago.

I now do all my flying in VC exclusively, and with TrackIR.

Where I do not miss it a bit is driving simulators, though. But it is welcomed in IL2 though.

Camaero · 07-26-07, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

I didn'T believe in virtual cockpits, until I saw that of the Piper Cheyenne (Digital Aviation)

I thought TrackIr was overrated, until I started to use it in FS9 half a year ago.

I now do all my flying in VC exclusively, and with TrackIR.

Where I do not miss it a bit is driving simulators, though. But it is welcomed in IL2 though.

Yeah, TrackIR never worked out well for me in driving simulators either. I guess I just lean with my head too much.

I can not fly without it in IL2 however. I could never keep track of enemy planes, keep track of friendly planes, and keep track of my own plane as well without it. I can hardly believe that there was a time in my IL2 career that I didn't use it! In FSX and FS9 it is pretty cool too, though not quite as important.

mbthegreat · 07-26-07, 09:28 PM

I have always foudn VFR flying in a game really difficult, you just don't have the same ability to view over the dash as it were, and I find myself just using instruments to get the data mattiditude

Skybird · 07-28-07, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbthegreat

I have always foudn VFR flying in a game really difficult, you just don't have the same ability to view over the dash as it were, and I find myself just using instruments to get the data mattiditude

What soft- and hardware-stuff are you using, then? I can estimate my altitude on approach without using instruments, and land with an eye on the speed-needle only.

mbthegreat · 07-29-07, 03:51 PM

FSX, my standard PC and a joystick, I fly IRL and find trying to navigate VFR on FS almost impossible

07-26-07, 06:25 PM	#1
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	TrackIR is great for combat sims and VFR stuff, but on IFR airliners in FS it is more of a hindrance than a help. Those instruments seem a bit pricey considering they look absolutely bugger all like the real thing. And at 100 dollars a pop, it's going to cost you 600 bucks just for a basic blind flying panel. You'd be far better off just mounting a cheap TFT monitor in your virtual aeroplane's dashboard and designing an instrument panel that displayed them all (which is dead easy to do), then plonking some cardboard over it with a few circular holes cut in it. You could knock that lot up for about 100 bucks easy, and it would probably look better too. You could even make the instruments adjustable if you used a touch-sensitive screen. Chock __________________

07-26-07, 06:30 PM	#2
Reaves The Old Man Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,509 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I remember when I first got FS9 I found sites where people made virtual cockpits. Awesome stuff for the immersion junkies. I was really impressed that MS made it possible to add extra gauges and use multiple monitors, they obviously listened to some of the more hardcore fanbase on that one. __________________

07-26-07, 07:32 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,712 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I didn'T believe in virtual cockpits, until I saw that of the Piper Cheyenne (Digital Aviation) I thought TrackIr was overrated, until I started to use it in FS9 half a year ago. I now do all my flying in VC exclusively, and with TrackIR. Where I do not miss it a bit is driving simulators, though. But it is welcomed in IL2 though. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

07-26-07, 09:28 PM	#5
mbthegreat Bosun Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 900 yards off your port side Posts: 61 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I have always foudn VFR flying in a game really difficult, you just don't have the same ability to view over the dash as it were, and I find myself just using instruments to get the data mattiditude

07-29-07, 03:51 PM	#7
mbthegreat Bosun Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 900 yards off your port side Posts: 61 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	FSX, my standard PC and a joystick, I fly IRL and find trying to navigate VFR on FS almost impossible