CHAT Any other flight sim users in the house?

[crossbowboy]

He said to the empty room...

I thought I'd throw the idea out to the community for a chat about this and that.

I'm a flight sim enthusiast, and I wonder who else here wastes money as efficiently.

There are other boards entirely dedicated to the subject, but they are full of amazingly whiny persons complaining about the results of everything they were told not to do in the release notes.


I'm an X-Plane fanboi (rabid zealot), but Microsoft sufferers are also welcome.

You'll have to talk about your rig too, but that goes without sayin'.



Buehler?

 

[mikeabn]

I loved some of the old PC air combat games and a submarine game, Silent Service II.

 

[Dennis Olson]

My favorite sim was “F117A Stealth Fighter” for PC. I put in a bunch of stick time on that. Went from 2nd lt. to brigadier general, and won a bunch of medals. I’d fly into the most difficult corridors at about 50’ and barely above stall speed, deliver my payload, and exit. About half the time I made it in and out without incident, but every once in a while I’d get my ass handed to me. Of those missions, I made it home about half the time. That was a very fun game.

 

[Red Baron]

IL-2 "1946"

 

[crossbowboy]

Hi Mike!

You should see what the game world has grown into since those days.

The graphics and gaming experience has grown as fast as any other tech thing, and VR takes it to a whole new level of experience.

I've looked into some of the submarine games currently available, some look very immersive.

I spend all of my play money on my pretend aeroplanes, however.

I bet you could find a decent sub game that would even run on your phone, if you want to get back into it.
YMMV, of course.

 

[crossbowboy]

What kind of controllers do y'all use on a regular basis?


I'll, uh, answer later...

 

[Dennis Olson]

A full size joystick with a throttle slider and multiple buttons. No pedals.

 

[crossbowboy]

Would you like a set of pedals to try out, Dennis?
I'd split shipping with you for a set that I've outgrown.
The left brake axis is a little wonky but usually recalibrates within limits...

 

[Dennis Olson]

No, that’s okay. I’d probably never get the hang of them. I appreciate the offer though.

 

[Dennis Olson]

A few months ago MS had a huge sale on Flight Sim. I never bought it because I felt the price was way too high, but the sale kind-of forced me to reconsider, and I bought it. Haven’t used it much. It’s VERY complex. The more complexity, the less fun.

 

[mikeabn]

Hi Mike!

You should see what the game world has grown into since those days.

The graphics and gaming experience has grown as fast as any other tech thing, and VR takes it to a whole new level of experience.

I've looked into some of the submarine games currently available, some look very immersive.

I spend all of my play money on my pretend aeroplanes, however.

I bet you could find a decent sub game that would even run on your phone, if you want to get back into it.
YMMV, of course.

Thank you. Id be looking for things to run on a laptop as all the gaming stations confuse me.

 

[crossbowboy]

Mebbe you'd prefer X-Plane. It's more open-source to an extent.
It dumps a log to the desktop per every run!

Bro, you're my fellow geek to your core.
If it isn't complex, it's boring.

 

[SurvivalRing]

The only game I’ve played regularly on the PC the last twenty years have been flight sims.

The last time was MS, but I cannot tell you exactly when, nor what version.

I’d like to get back to it, but funds don’t allow “playing games”.

I did have a very early version of X-plane many moons ago.

I also loved driving/racing sims as well. Ford Racing, Driver, etc.

 

[bw]

I used X-Plane a few years ago for a research project. Hooked up a harness so I could fly the plane using a script, with an autopilot in the script. Kinda fun, but then got on to other projects.

 

[crossbowboy]

@SurvivalRing

X-Plane always has a free demo available - if your PC can run it. Check specs.

It's a limited map, but you get all the bells and whistles. Includes a few airplanes of various sizes too.

After that, the whole software package is about the same as dinner for two at any slightly fancy restaurant...

ETA: The investment would give you indigestion for years, as opposed to a few hours.

Your fuel consumption per hour may vary.

 

[energy_wave]

I think I have Microsoft flight simulator ver. 1.0 on 3.5" floppy's laying around somewhere.

 

[crossbowboy]

I still apparently have a spare pedal set.
Might have a flight yoke with throttles too.

Same terms for any of my friends here, split shipping.

Did I mention that I'm a rabid zealot...?

 

[crossbowboy]

I think I have Microsoft flight simulator ver. 1.0 on 3.5" floppy's laying around somewhere.

OG, love it.

Do you still have anything that can load them?

 

[SW357]

I'm with RB on this one. Il-2 '46 nailed it for me. Set it for realistic, or invincible when you want to practice your gunnery or whatever.

Still seems to be lots of community.
Have you tried BAT or any of that stuff? I haven't. Vanilla is good enough for me.

Most I've done is add skins and missions. FMB is great too, once you figure it out.

Just using a 3d Extreme Pro, mouse and keyboard. My son got an IR tracker for me for Christmas, but I haven't used it yet.

 

[Jez]

My favorite sim was “F117A Stealth Fighter” for PC. I put in a bunch of stick time on that. Went from 2nd lt. to brigadier general, and won a bunch of medals. I’d fly into the most difficult corridors at about 50’ and barely above stall speed, deliver my payload, and exit. About half the time I made it in and out without incident, but every once in a while I’d get my ass handed to me. Of those missions, I made it home about half the time. That was a very fun game.

I loved that game when I played it on my Commodore 64 all those years ago. I started dipping my toe into DCS. I ended up buying a thrustmaster set with throttle and pedals as well as the joystick. I even upgraded my system so I could run it through my Oculus 3. I bought the F-16, F-18, Ah-64 Apache, and A-10. DCS is DEFINITELY a simulator more than a game.

So far I have walked through starting up, taxying, and take-off with the F-16. So many buttons and switches. I noticed the F-18 has more in depth tutorials so I'll start over with that. Oh, yeah, I did buy the Supercarrier pack for more detail with the aircraft carrier.

Be warned. It's REALLY expensive. It's best to wait for one of the routine sales so you can pick things up at about half off. Another thing. Don't buy through STEAM. When you buy direct you can get a 7 day free trial.

Digital Combat Simulator | DCS World | Combat Simulator

Combat Flight Simulator. Realistic simulation of military aircraft, tanks, ground vehicles, navy ships, world war two vehicles, trains and ships. Free download includes the Caucasus region and Black Sea that encompasses much of Georgia. It Including a Russian Sukhoi Su-25T ground attack aircraft...

www.digitalcombatsimulator.com

 

[crossbowboy]

I actually built my rig for the DCS A-10, and I still keep the software updated.

I quickly developed an appreciation for X-Plane after that.

It's so much more relaxing to putter around in a Piper than to learn startup on a Hornet or Viper or Warthog.

Let alone taking fire on a combat mission, lol.

Jez mentioned buttons and switches.

In DCS, you better know what ALL of them do. Every system of the 'high fidelity' planes is modeled in the "game."

Except IFF. That's classified and doesn't work like real life.


One thing to note, Eagle Dynamics (producer of DCS) is a Russian enterprise.

Funny that US front line aircraft are modeled to the Nth degree, but the Bear's front line Sukhois etc. are all 'low fidelity.'

In DCS, lo-fi systems are simplified to a common set of keyboard commands as opposed to having the ability to actually flip switches in the aircraft.

Things that make you go hmmm...

Happy Skies!

 

[crossbowboy]

Another note on DCS (for Mike):

The "game" is a free download. It includes at least one map and a couple of aircraft.

That's where they get you.
Once you see how it works, you want more maps and more airplanes.
Drool.

I invested during better financial times, so I have a few of those in my folder.

Their AH-64 is still on my list, I'm watching for it to be on sale.

Just another dinner for two, but how often would I fly it?
As stated in my OP, this hobby wastes money most efficiently. Lol.


I'd rather have 1st World problems than 3rd World problems...

 

[auxman]

Recommendations for a good PC (or Android) submarine game?

 

[Masterphreak]

I have plans to build a simulator in the future. Used to play around on MS Flight Sim years back. The realism with the new generation is so good. They even have ATC groups set up that add to the experience.

 

[SW357]

Recommendations for a good PC (or Android) submarine game?

Silent Hunter III. Solid game. I've not tried the others in the series, but word is III is the best of them. Again, older game but I love it. 1946 and SH III are really the only 2 sims I hit when I have some free time.

My son (tech wiz like most younguns) got them both to run on Win 11 (can be a challenge) and I'm a happy camper.

 

[wait-n-see]

Recommendations for a good PC (or Android) submarine game?

If you like a RPG elements in your submarine game, and your PC can handle the graphics for best immersion, then take a look at UBOAT.

UBOAT on Steam

UBOAT is a simulator of a submarine from WWII era. It is a survival sandbox with crew management mechanics while its primary theme is life of German sailors. The boat is their home, but it can become their grave at any time.

store.steampowered.com

 

[wait-n-see]

I have plans to build a simulator in the future. Used to play around on MS Flight Sim years back. The realism with the new generation is so good. They even have ATC groups set up that add to the experience.

Don't know if you've seen this channel yet, but Airforceproud95 has a lot of fun videos covering the pilot and ATC roles for MSFS.

Airforceproud95

Flight sim YouTuber. Weird Florida man. Commercial pilot spending too much time as virtual air traffic controller. Subscribe yo

www.youtube.com

 

[Dennis Olson]

 

[crossbowboy]

I know, right...?

 

[TheSearcher]

World of Warplanes these days, but I've enjoyed Microsoft Flight Sim in a couple of editions.

 

[Czechsix]

I enjoy more of the head to head PVP stuff than the full immersion systems. So it's War Thunder for me, currently playing top tier USA. F-15E, ADATS, M1 variants

 

[Dennis Olson]

If I had the money (and the space.) Looks like that chair is a room-filler.

 

[crossbowboy]

Yeah.

My setup takes up about a 5' x 8' patch of a spare bedroom.
It's been a long build.
That's why I said I'd mention my controllers later.

There are, er, a few of them...

I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to downsize it. Board rules and all.

 

[Weps]

I'd kill to have whole HOTAS suite to play DCS, but I'm poor and have to be very selective about where I seed my meager hobby funds.

I get my flying kicks in ArmA Reforager, nothing like skimming treetops in a Huey as green tracers zip by with some CCR blaring over the headset.

 

[alchemike]

If you like flight sims, this is a fun and challenging iOS game that I've been playing for years...

‎Air Wings®

‎• Online multiplayer paper airplane battles! • Game Controller support! • AppleTV compatible Air Wings is a flying battle game where you pilot a paper airplane and shoot your network opponents using crazy weaponry such as the spit wads, rubber bands, heat seeking pencils, firecracker bombs...

apps.apple.com

It's awesome...

 

[Dennis Olson]

Yeah.

My setup takes up about a 5' x 8' patch of a spare bedroom.
It's been a long build.
That's why I said I'd mention my controllers later.

There are, er, a few of them...

I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to downsize it. Board rules and all.

what device are the pictures on?

 

[Jez]

I actually built my rig for the DCS A-10, and I still keep the software updated.

I quickly developed an appreciation for X-Plane after that.

It's so much more relaxing to putter around in a Piper than to learn startup on a Hornet or Viper or Warthog.

Let alone taking fire on a combat mission, lol.

Jez mentioned buttons and switches.

In DCS, you better know what ALL of them do. Every system of the 'high fidelity' planes is modeled in the "game."

Except IFF. That's classified and doesn't work like real life.


One thing to note, Eagle Dynamics (producer of DCS) is a Russian enterprise.

Funny that US front line aircraft are modeled to the Nth degree, but the Bear's front line Sukhois etc. are all 'low fidelity.'

In DCS, lo-fi systems are simplified to a common set of keyboard commands as opposed to having the ability to actually flip switches in the aircraft.

Things that make you go hmmm...

Happy Skies!

It's even really scary that they're working on an F-35 module rather than the add-on that is available now. What's sad is I really wish another company would or could create a competitive version that would fix the errors I hear people complaining about.

Current I'm addicted to Warframe and Star Trek Online so it may be a while before I rotate back. Another aside I wish there were more options for good VR games. I've been so disappointed that my rig is currently collecting dust.

 

[Millwright]

Helped work on a Citation-V a few months ago

Simulated being an aircraft mechanic.

 

[GammaRat]

Years ago I was a very good pilot in "Confirmed Kill" aka "Aces High".. easily taking on multiple players.

My best mission was me in a Japanese zero taking on 17 assorted planes by myself. I was credited with killing 9 of them.

Never dive into someone who's intentionally flying 10 feet off the ground..

At least not without watching your altimeter.

Another time, I killed 5 pilots in P38 Lightnings in my outclassed Supermarine Spitfire. All by myself against other players.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Helped work on a Citation-V a few months ago

Simulated being an aircraft mechanic.

Dude, I wouldn’t leave that post up. Working on an aircraft without an A&P license is a serious crime.