To: devnull@hitech.k9.com (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) From: devnull@hitech.k9.com (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Reply-To: devnull@hitech.k9.com (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Sender: devnull@hitech.k9.com (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Return-Path: devnull@hitech.k9.com (Hitech Simulation Mailing list) Errors-To: postmaster@hitech.k9.com Precedence: bulk Bcc: hitech-sim-out Subject: Hitech Simulation Digest V3 : I20 Hitech Simulation Digest Volume 3 : Issue 20 Thu Aug 17 06:49:46 PDT 1995 Compilation copyright (C) 1995 Jeff Beadles Send submissions to "hitech-sim@hitech.k9.com" Send add/drop requests to "majordomo@hitech.k9.com" Archives are available via ftp from cactus.org Today's Topics: Re: Flight Unlimited Instruments Andrew Stevens Subject: Re: Flight Unlimited Instruments >Despite a warning from a pilot-friend that I would soon >tire of it, I purchased "Flight Unlimited". Well, I'm not >bored yet! Last night, I had my speakers turned up loud >and am partially deaf from the roar of the Pitts Special, >but what a thrill making some good landings when you can't >see the runway! Having taking up flying sail-planes I can see what your friend is getting at. Sims are, well, a bit `flat' compared with the real thing. The real sky and earth is soooo much bigger, more beautiful, more varied, and well.... real! The force feedback to your behind in a real 'plane is pretty cool too.... >But I am wondering what happened to the instruments. No compass? >No artificial horizon? Do real planes really lack these things? >I have to admit that I am really looking at the landscape for >the first time in a sim (other than trying to find tank columns >in Falcon 3, but a compass would sure be nice to get a back >course and an artificial horizon would be handy occasionally, too. The lack of a compass is a bit weird (they're cheap) but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a real Pitts lacking an artificial horizon. Why? It is a dedicated aerobatic machine (and not exactly ultra-comfy) so you're hardly going use it for many cross-country flights. In which case instrument flight capability (for weather where you can't see the *real* horizon) is pretty irrelevant. Most private pilots don't have an instrument rating anyhow. Furthermore real-world artificial horizons will `tumble' if you take them beyond their G and pitch limits. The cost of the fighter-plane quality horizon capable of keeping up with the Pitts in a pinch would be prohibitive. Bear in mind also that in a real 'plane under normal visual flight conditions you simply wouldn't use the aritificial horizon. It's just as easy to look around and use the real one - it is much more reliable too! >After going to all the trouble to make those nice graphics and >sounds, an optional compass (and maybe a map) doesn't seem like >too much to ask for. One day there'll be a sim whose presentation is good enough so that you can use a *real* map to navigate. Something for winter weather... one day... I'd love to hear what folk think about the sailplane simulation in FU (Grob Twin-III I believe). How does it handle? Does it simulate the marked secondary control effects you find in real gliders? What about the effect of the airbrakes (the wing-mounted air-brakes in gliders primarily effect glide slope and have only a marginal impact on drag/attitude). Presumably thermals and/or wave lift are modelled to some extent so you can climb. Do they simulate a variometer? Andrew PGP KEY: email, or finger as@comlab.ox.ac.uk ------------------------------- [[ End of digest Volume 3 : Issue 20 ]]