Flight Simulators

FloridaPilot · April 12th, 2002, 16:30

Is there a flight simulator you can use on your home computer and log as sim time? I know MS2002 does not qualify, but if I am going to buy a program, I would like to be able to log the time. Thanks for any info.

**DONOTDELETE** · April 13th, 2002, 01:27

Yes, but they are quite expensive!

Citation X · April 13th, 2002, 10:46

If you want to log the time, you will have to get your simulator approved by the FAA, given a designation, and have a qualified instructor with you during the training. If you just want a nice sim to practice with, when used with a yoke FS2002 is one of the most realistic sims out there and helps A LOT with instrument training!!

MartinFierro · April 13th, 2002, 21:35

Keep in mind that if you do get a program that is approved by the FAA for your computer, it is not a "simulator." It is a PCATD (PC aircraft training device), and must be logged as such. I think a certain amount of hours may be used for the instrument rating.

emelin · April 14th, 2002, 02:31

In order to log time on a PCATD, you must have FAA approved hardware, sofware, and a CFII at your side. Even then you can only log 10 hrs. of instrumnet simulator time. A PCATD is an excellent training device and is a good idea if you will use it as such. But don't spend the money just to give yourself those 10 hrs. 10 simulator hours isn't going to do much for you. Besides an FAA approved PCATD costs about $3,000 when you add in the hardware and software you need. You can get quite a bit more than 10 hours actual time for that. I'm not saying don't get one, they save most people money in the long run because you can practice on the ground as opposed to in the aircraft for xhundred dollars an hour. But don't get one just so that you can log time.

FloridaPilot · April 14th, 2002, 19:28

Thanks everyone. . . I appreciate your advice. I think I will try to get my computer upgraded to run FS2002. Everyone seems to think that is the route to go.
Thanks again!

Timbuff10 · April 15th, 2002, 22:57

what kind of yoke or joystick is the best to get that goes along with FS2002? Oh yeah and how much does it cost?

Inside the box of FS2002 there was a coupon for a nice looking joystick... is that thing a good one to use with the game?

reaperman · April 16th, 2002, 06:13

You'll need to get a copy of the April 2002 issue of AOPA Flight Training magazine. There is an indepth article on pc simulators, and lists the all the appropriate products with details of cost, required hardware, available options, and links to the manufacturers' web sites.

emelin · April 16th, 2002, 14:17

The best yokes are those that are approved by the FAA. There are some made by Cirrus and some by Elite. They are expensive, about $500. CH Products makes a good yoke for flight simming (gaming) and works well for FS2002 stuff, even to be used for instrument traing, although not approved by the FAA. I believe its simply called Flight Sim Yoke. Its what I use and is quite popular. It is about $100 and is avilable in USB or standard game port. CH Products also makes rudder pedals, also for about $100 that also work well with FS2002. Microsoft makes a joystick with force feedback, the Sidewinder. That is probably what the coupons that came with FS2002 are advertising. Personally I prefer the feel of a yoke as opposed to a stick, and I'm not sure how realistic the force feedback feels but it is probably worth checking out if you are interrested.

**DONOTDELETE** · April 18th, 2002, 11:40

Actually...I beg to differ. FS2002 doesn't even compare to Airline Simulator 2 (www.nomissoft.com), unless of course you are into the scenery. AS2 offers an incomparable flight model, but the scenery is definitely lacking.

perpetual · April 20th, 2002, 14:04

I think that X-plane has just recently been certified for some of its features for logging flight (sim) time.

check out www.x-plane.com

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

junior · August 7th, 2002, 15:38

X-plane is AWESOME.. Download a demo from x-plane.com.
FLY THE CARTER COPTER

April 12th, 2002, 16:30	#1
FloridaPilot Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 61	Flight Simulators Is there a flight simulator you can use on your home computer and log as sim time? I know MS2002 does not qualify, but if I am going to buy a program, I would like to be able to log the time. Thanks for any info.

April 13th, 2002, 01:27	#2
DONOTDELETE Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 883	Re: Flight Simulators Yes, but they are quite expensive!

April 13th, 2002, 10:46	#3
Citation X Newbie Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: PHX Posts: 16	Re: Flight Simulators If you want to log the time, you will have to get your simulator approved by the FAA, given a designation, and have a qualified instructor with you during the training. If you just want a nice sim to practice with, when used with a yoke FS2002 is one of the most realistic sims out there and helps A LOT with instrument training!!

April 13th, 2002, 21:35	#4
MartinFierro Newbie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA/Cordoba, Argentina Posts: 29	Re: Flight Simulators Keep in mind that if you do get a program that is approved by the FAA for your computer, it is not a "simulator." It is a PCATD (PC aircraft training device), and must be logged as such. I think a certain amount of hours may be used for the instrument rating.

April 14th, 2002, 02:31	#5
emelin Newbie Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 26	Re: Flight Simulators In order to log time on a PCATD, you must have FAA approved hardware, sofware, and a CFII at your side. Even then you can only log 10 hrs. of instrumnet simulator time. A PCATD is an excellent training device and is a good idea if you will use it as such. But don't spend the money just to give yourself those 10 hrs. 10 simulator hours isn't going to do much for you. Besides an FAA approved PCATD costs about $3,000 when you add in the hardware and software you need. You can get quite a bit more than 10 hours actual time for that. I'm not saying don't get one, they save most people money in the long run because you can practice on the ground as opposed to in the aircraft for xhundred dollars an hour. But don't get one just so that you can log time.

April 14th, 2002, 19:28	#6
FloridaPilot Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vero Beach, FL Posts: 61	Re: Flight Simulators Thanks everyone. . . I appreciate your advice. I think I will try to get my computer upgraded to run FS2002. Everyone seems to think that is the route to go. Thanks again!

April 15th, 2002, 22:57	#7
Timbuff10 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Coloradan in Orange County, CA Posts: 3,234	Re: Flight Simulators what kind of yoke or joystick is the best to get that goes along with FS2002? Oh yeah and how much does it cost? Inside the box of FS2002 there was a coupon for a nice looking joystick... is that thing a good one to use with the game?

April 16th, 2002, 06:13	#8
reaperman Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 45	Re: Flight Simulators You'll need to get a copy of the April 2002 issue of AOPA Flight Training magazine. There is an indepth article on pc simulators, and lists the all the appropriate products with details of cost, required hardware, available options, and links to the manufacturers' web sites.

April 16th, 2002, 14:17	#9
emelin Newbie Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 26	Re: Flight Simulators The best yokes are those that are approved by the FAA. There are some made by Cirrus and some by Elite. They are expensive, about $500. CH Products makes a good yoke for flight simming (gaming) and works well for FS2002 stuff, even to be used for instrument traing, although not approved by the FAA. I believe its simply called Flight Sim Yoke. Its what I use and is quite popular. It is about $100 and is avilable in USB or standard game port. CH Products also makes rudder pedals, also for about $100 that also work well with FS2002. Microsoft makes a joystick with force feedback, the Sidewinder. That is probably what the coupons that came with FS2002 are advertising. Personally I prefer the feel of a yoke as opposed to a stick, and I'm not sure how realistic the force feedback feels but it is probably worth checking out if you are interrested.

April 18th, 2002, 11:40	#10
DONOTDELETE Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 883	Re: Flight Simulators Actually...I beg to differ. FS2002 doesn't even compare to Airline Simulator 2 (www.nomissoft.com), unless of course you are into the scenery. AS2 offers an incomparable flight model, but the scenery is definitely lacking.

April 20th, 2002, 14:04	#11
perpetual Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: RKNN Posts: 185	Re: Flight Simulators I think that X-plane has just recently been certified for some of its features for logging flight (sim) time. check out www.x-plane.com [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

August 7th, 2002, 15:38	#12
junior Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: CO Posts: 427	Re: Flight Simulators X-plane is AWESOME.. Download a demo from x-plane.com. FLY THE CARTER COPTER

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