Best IFR Software for practice ??

[Tuckster]

For practice etc.
Looks like On Top is a popular one as is Elite.
Approaches, holdings, enroute etc .... I'd like to have ATC input.

All suggestions welcome.

[aloft]

X-Plane.

[perpetual]

Originally Posted by aloft

X-Plane.

我非常同意/ ผมเห็นด้วยเลยครับ/ I totally freaking agree/나도동의하다요!

[WestIndian425]

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 or X.

[bdhill1979]

Microsoft and X plane are games.

IP trainer from ASA is an instrument procedures trainer.

Its simple, but runs you through all phases of instrument training with a voice/text prompt "instructor". I know it saved me at least ten hours in the plane figuring things out.

Edit: I just noticed you mentioned "On top". On top and IP trainer are the same thing, except on top does not have the training program side of it, just lets you simulate IFR, not teach you how to fly it.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by Tuckster

For practice etc.
Looks like On Top is a popular one as is Elite.
Approaches, holdings, enroute etc ....

Any of them work fine. I use OnTop, but I run it on a laptop that would choke on FlightSim. FS is the cheapest solution.

Originally Posted by Tuckster

I'd like to have ATC input.

You mean you want ATC opinion on the best flight simulator? Unless the ATCer is a pilot, he won't have a clue.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

Microsoft and X plane are games.

Then they are games that improve instrument scan dramatically and also give good opportunity to learn how to use VORs and NDBs and how to fly an ILS.

MS FlightSim saved me a lot of time and money.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Nick

Then they are games that improve instrument scan dramatically and also give good opportunity to learn how to use VORs and NDBs and how to fly an ILS.

MS FlightSim saved me a lot of time and money.

True dat.

[bdhill1979]

Originally Posted by Nick

Then they are games that improve instrument scan dramatically and also give good opportunity to learn how to use VORs and NDBs and how to fly an ILS.

MS FlightSim saved me a lot of time and money.

I don't disagree that those games can be useful, but IP trainer and On Top are simulators specifically geared to Instrument flight without all the attempted "realism" of the games. IP trainer and Op Top take a lot less computing power to run and don't suddenly freeze because microsoft is microsoft.

Personally I have a pretty powerful system, that greatly exceeds all the recommended system requirements:

Dual 2.8 Ghz processrs
3GB Ram
300 GB HD
Nvidia GeForce 7950 GT video card

MSFS X barely runs.
MSFS 2004 runs, but from time to time gets choppy.

IP trainer and On top won't do that.

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by Nick

Then they are games that improve instrument scan dramatically and also give good opportunity to learn how to use VORs and NDBs and how to fly an ILS.

MS FlightSim saved me a lot of time and money.

Yep, here too! I used MSFS 2002 to assist w/ my instrument training. Helped a great deal......cheap too!

[ChrisH]

X-Plane. I purchased it, around $50, and well worth it. You can practice your scan, approaches, holds, nav, etc, etc. Great tool that is well worth the investment, as it will save you money on the instrument rating.

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

I don't disagree that those games can be useful, but IP trainer and On Top are simulators specifically geared to Instrument flight without all the attempted "realism" of the games. IP trainer and Op Top take a lot less computing power to run and don't suddenly freeze because microsoft is microsoft.

Personally I have a pretty powerful system, that greatly exceeds all the recommended system requirements:

Dual 2.8 Ghz processrs
3GB Ram
300 GB HD
Nvidia GeForce 7950 GT video card

MSFS X barely runs.
MSFS 2004 runs, but from time to time gets choppy.

IP trainer and On top won't do that.

True - seriously, who can run MSFS X? I really think they're guilty of false advertising for showing you these awesome demos with superb graphics, and not telling you that you need a government super computer to get them. I just use 2004, it runs a bit better.

[Soul Brotha']

Your flight instructor doing groundwork or in the FTD. It will cost you money but he/she will give you the experience because they have been there.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by Murdoughnut

True - seriously, who can run MSFS X? I really think they're guilty of false advertising for showing you these awesome demos with superb graphics, and not telling you that you need a government super computer to get them. I just use 2004, it runs a bit better.

FSX is REALLY designed for a next-gen Core 2 system running Vista and DirectX10. That's where it shines.

However, for flexibility and flyability, as well as extensibility, X-plane FTW.

Bonus - it runs on a Mac. Really well, too.

[aloft]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

Microsoft and X plane are games.

IP trainer from ASA is an instrument procedures trainer.

X-Plane is NOT a game; there is an FAA-certified version of it that can be used as part of a flight training device. If it's a "game", then so is Elite.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by aloft

X-Plane is NOT a game; there is an FAA-certified version of it that can be used as part of a flight training device. If it's a "game", then so is Elite.

You are correct there. When I was instructing, the FTD's we used to train our students ran X-Plane.

[TAMPACFIMEI]

Originally Posted by aloft

X-Plane is NOT a game; there is an FAA-certified version of it that can be used as part of a flight training device. If it's a "game", then so is Elite.

There is indeed an FAA approved version of X-Plane form Laminar Research, Precision Flight Controls sells it but it's not cheap, I think it was around $750.00 just for the software.

http://www.flypfc.com/software/HTML%.../software.html (you do not get all the aircraft listed)

I have a BATD from PFC with X-Plane 8.40, there were quite a lot of issues with the software when I got it, I worked directly with Austin Meyer the owner and developer of X-Plane, he has addressed almost everything I reported so far.

I've been waiting for a almost a year now for PFC to release a version with the bug fixes (a newer copy was supposed to ship today).

I also have Elite 8.0 (been a customer for 15 years), to compare the two, Elite's panels are more like the real aircraft but X-Plane's flight characteristics and graphics blow Elite away, you're going to need a healthy computer to take advantage of the added realism though.

I used ASA's PCATD at a flight scool during my CFII training and absolutely hated it, I had only used Elite up to that point and Elite won hands down.

There is value in virtually every flight simulator if used properly.

Everyone quotes minimums for their software but you'll find you'll need more.

I run a computer with the following specs and run any sim quite well:

ASUS Striker Extreme motherboard (an overclocker's wet dream)
Intel Core 2 Duo 6700 processor
2 gb DDR2 800 Kingston HyperX ram
2 - EVGA 8800 GTS 640 mb video cards
2 - WD Raptor harddrives in a Raid 0 array
1000 watt PC Power and Cooling power supply

I use this computer for a lot of things, gaming is not one of them although it would probably run just about anything out there.

Just my .02

[sorrygottarunway]

I think I'm the only one that still uses FS98!

[DE727UPS]

"IP trainer from ASA is an instrument procedures trainer."

When I was doin' a lot of CFIIin' a while back. I bought IP trainer to evaluate for my students. It's great in concept but they had the limits set too high and if you busted a limit, it took too long to get past it.

I finally gave up on it, and I have signed off about 50 IFR ratings.