Maybe it is just because my use of the sim/game probably very closely matches what the originators had in mind but…
In the game I fly mostly like I used to fly in real life: using the very nice Beech Bonanza that has GREATLY benefited from the community improvements by FrettFS et al to do reasonably low level VFR flights around the world. I also use LittleNavMap which is just about the perfect adjunct to the game and the way I use it.
A case in point: I have never been in Scotland so I thought I would like to see what it looks like. So I did
up a slightly meandering flight plan from Edinburgh to Kirkwall:
Did up the simple flight plan in LNM and exported.
Imported flight plan into MSFS and picked the departing runway (I was lazy: started on runway, not cold and dark as I have done enough of those already)
Took off, established proper climb and set AP on Nav and FLC to get to my preferred altitude (4,000 feet for terrain clearance as per LNM but low enough to see the area well. And yes, as a former VFR pilot I know that 4,000ft is NOT an appropriate altitude, so just call it a “special VFR” flight! )
Sat back and enjoyed the passing scenery, taking numerous screenshots in the process. I was largely a passenger while the AP did the work and I just managed fuel. It turned out that 4,000 feet was perfect: everything looked great from this altitude. Note that I have a Ryzen 7 3700X/RTX 2060 PC on a 32" 4K monitor with settings essentially on High end. Frame rates are OK-ish at consistently around 25FPS but for me this is fine as at my settings the graphics are quite lovely from my perspective. A clear case of to each his own…
I only took over from the AP on the last leg from Top of Descent, circuit (had to join on LH downwind on Rwy 27, which was perfect) and landing. The one assist I have on now is taxi assistance as I find ATC taxi instructions can be convoluted and not very clear. As it is Ground sent me on a bit of a scenic tour of the Kirkwall airport…
Parked where directed, shut down, looked at the logbook and went back to go look around the airport in drone mode.
In the process I got an idea what that part of Scotland looks like: very, very pretty! Some screenshots as example:
I truly understand that some have issues with the game and how they want to use it. I am one of the (probably quite a large) category of users that are extremely satisfied. This whole flight went without a single solitary hitch or glitch, which is basically the norm for me and how I use it.
Very nice shots!
Sometimes, reading these forums, it’s easy to conclude that I am the only one having
a thoroughly enjoyable, [mostly] glitch free time of it!
So thanks for sharing. It seems there’s two of us, at least!
OK, so that got a bit of a giggle from me! Well, I am an engineer (retired now, but still!) so I did a lot of technical writing in addition to engineering and MBA theses. Some habits die hard…
And I think the community Bonanza project together with the G1000 project is just amazing! What with adjusting the joystick sensitivity (an old MS FF 2) the Bonanza flies beautifully. Very much like I remember my old Beech Debonair, which (in case you noticed) was the source of the uncommon registration on “my” G36. Every landing seems to be just great.
For the most part my experience is quite enjoyable. I’ve got some problems (mostly weather and traffic related), but outside of the odd glitch here and there, it works great and I’m putting in several hours of flying almost every day.
It doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed that we got presented with one product and got the “bait and switch” for something that looks little like what we saw in promo material. Or that the planes and features are only half done. Or that the “Premium Deluxe” planes we paid a large chunk of money for aren’t even as full featured as the base edition, and nowhere near as complete. Or that poorly tested patches are rushed out the door full of sometimes game-breaking bugs to meet aritificial deadlines and then we have to wait till their next artificial date of 2 weeks later to MAYBE get a fix. Or…
Well, you get the idea…
I look forward to the day that we finally get the product that was advertised and we paid for. I’m very confident it will come. But today is not that day. Next month doesn’t look promising either.
You were ‘hiding’ all that, very well! It would seem I have opened the proverbial can of worms, there.
Or, perhaps ‘Pandora’s box’ would be a better simile.
@SlabsFly
Thanks for sharing. Nice to read a post without a single complaint. You are obviously enjoying the sim as much as the majority of us.
I wanted to do a fun tour of the whiskey distilleries in Scotland but unfortunately there was a distinct lack of nearby airstrips.
I think you can edit your post by deleting the brackets and the ‘probably’.
I know what you mean. Don’t read too much here.
And there are many more than just the three of us.
Hey! VeryOldPilot.
I have missed your contributions to these forums, these last few days!
I thought you had had enough or some such.
Forgive me, but I always get the impression that you are in fact two, not one!
Whatever, a welcome back to your …singularity.
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
Hoping you are well.
Regards.
Addendum:
Apologies SlabsFly. I have no wish to detract from your thread.
Love the details you’ve included in this post. It’s always really fun exploring new regions or airports. Now you’ve gotta just set up a flight in a random, new area without a flight plan and just fly - I find doing that is just a tad more fun than following a plan
I’m amazed every time I use MSFS. It is actually making me want to fly my airplane less. No long drives to the airport, no $5 avgas, no bone-jarring turbulence, no hours of flying just to get out of Arizona, no COVID restrictions, and I can ‘fly’ all over the world at any time. I have recreated past real flights in MSFS, and they’re amazingly realistic. I stopped simming flights before I do them for real, otherwise I feel like I have already been there, and that takes some of the magic away.
All on a hundred dollar program on an inexpensive home PC. And to think it is going to get even better!
Hitherto I had NO interest in PC simulators but now my normal life is in suspension while I learn about VFR IFR the original cause of looking at MSFS was due to my grandson asking me ‘how a plane flies?’ It is just a wonderful experience to fly anywhere in the world. It’s just a sublime experience using MSFS and seeing the absolute beauty of our planet.
I’m a great fan of Microsoft and the financial and technical resources (ie Azure)they are pouring into the project are staggering
Well, judging by Steamspy, and by the posts in this forum I bet you it is more than ‘Some’. But It’s great it is enough for you. I still feel mixed emotions reading completely black and white posts, people 100% hating the game and people 100% loving it. Anyways, it is good you are feeling extremely satisfied. This game has been built with VFR, low flying in mind. As quickly as you ask it a bit more, it breaks.
That said, there is a little addon for the game, that lets you see the LittleNavMap using the in-game map. I don’t know if it is still working, but it might be worth the try.
I think it’s a very enjoyable game/sim for anyone who gets into this genre. I think it is the best simulator to provide you an all-around plausible experience
)
