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Post by sgtmajor on Jun 21, 2024 10:00:20 GMT -5
Yes Sir Keith....I too hear you pal. I also had lost interest in Flightsimming....something I would have never thought of years ago but things did get stale for me also. I think I went a couple years without even opening up the flightsim program. I tried other "Hobbies" but just never could find my niche. I have friends into model railroading....fascinating...but I don't have the patience for it....others are way into golfing and/or repairing and working on vintage cars. Wonderful hobbies, all of them....just not in my wheelhouse. I even tried other computer programs; i.e., racing, shooting programs etc., but the only thing that even attempted to hold my interest was a Farming Simulation game....but never to the level of Flightsimming. It was kind of a fluke I got into the VR Goggle routine...but glad I did. If it had not been for the fact that I had an old pair I had received years ago through points from traveling for work....I probably would have never tried them out. Pretty expensive extravagance, at least for me.....especially coupled with a computer that can run the darn things...but that has now become my hobby and I truly do enjoy it. It has re-kindled my love of Flightsimming. Not sure how exciting it would be for someone like you who ACTUALLY flies...(smile) But for a want-a-be pilot such as myself, it's probably the closest I shall ever come to flying. Without looking at my old log book, I think I only had about 20 hours or so of instruction and probably only about 7 or 8 of those solo flying....but with VR, this is pretty much as I remember it being. Take care my friend....and it Truly is Wonderful to see so many of the Old Gang still hanging out here. TOH has always been such a nice sanctuary for me.....that has NEVER lost it's appeal.
Cheers,
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Post by bhk on Jun 21, 2024 16:25:27 GMT -5
It's funny how, as life rolls along, it's possible to be thoroughly immersed in a particular hobby and then to gradually lose interest and find enjoyment in something else. I haven't flight-simmed for several years....can't recall the last time I plugged in a joystick. Maybe FS2024 will draw me to it, maybe it won't. It doesn't really matter because since retirement in 2012 i can honestly say that I have never, ever been bored. Music entered my life when I was able to learn the piano/keyboard in 2015 - and I'm still learning, with a one-hour lesson every Tuesday morning. I spend a lot of time at the keyboard (Yamaha) and get great pleasure from it. Then there's the radio station, which takes up four hours each Monday and Friday plus time at home putting together program material, admin stuff, emails etc. Plus the normal things around the home that need doing on a daily or weekly basis. I don't watch much TV at all, totally uninterested in the rubbish that gets fed to us these days, so if I want to ocassionally relax in front of the screen it's usually watching a classic retro program or a movie. So will I end up going flight-simming again? I don't really know but it will be interesting to see how I feel come November. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by sgtmajor on Jun 21, 2024 20:09:57 GMT -5
It doesn't really matter because since retirement in 2012 i can honestly say that I have never, ever been bored..... I don't watch much TV at all, totally uninterested in the rubbish that gets fed to us these days, so if I want to ocassionally relax in front of the screen it's usually watching a classic retro program or a movie...... I couldn't have said it better, Bruce. I was a little concerned when I retired that I might get bored.....however, I feel like I'm busier now, more than ever. (smile) Like you.....our TV watching is pretty much old movies. I can't believe how many old movies I've never seen, although I must admit...some I would have just as soon never watched. But, if it doesn't capture our interest within the first 30 minutes or so, we move on to something else. (smile......or in my case....I just tend to shut my eyes and drift off for a bit.) As far as the November Flightsim.....I'm guessing I will most likely purchase. Heck.....I have all the other ones, so I might as well. (smile) Although from what I've seen of the teasers....the current version is pretty much the same, just without the special "Missions." I don't really do the missions anyway, but more of just putzing around sightseeing these days. So much to see and explore. Perhaps when more of the teasers come out I will decide. Cheers!
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Post by Keith on Jun 25, 2024 9:51:14 GMT -5
Yes Sir Keith....I too hear you pal. I also had lost interest in Flightsimming....something I would have never thought of years ago but things did get stale for me also. I think I went a couple years without even opening up the flightsim program. I tried other "Hobbies" but just never could find my niche. I have friends into model railroading....fascinating...but I don't have the patience for it....others are way into golfing and/or repairing and working on vintage cars. Wonderful hobbies, all of them....just not in my wheelhouse. I even tried other computer programs; i.e., racing, shooting programs etc., but the only thing that even attempted to hold my interest was a Farming Simulation game....but never to the level of Flightsimming. It was kind of a fluke I got into the VR Goggle routine...but glad I did. If it had not been for the fact that I had an old pair I had received years ago through points from traveling for work....I probably would have never tried them out. Pretty expensive extravagance, at least for me.....especially coupled with a computer that can run the darn things...but that has now become my hobby and I truly do enjoy it. It has re-kindled my love of Flightsimming. Not sure how exciting it would be for someone like you who ACTUALLY flies...(smile) But for a want-a-be pilot such as myself, it's probably the closest I shall ever come to flying. Without looking at my old log book, I think I only had about 20 hours or so of instruction and probably only about 7 or 8 of those solo flying....but with VR, this is pretty much as I remember it being. Take care my friend....and it Truly is Wonderful to see so many of the Old Gang still hanging out here. TOH has always been such a nice sanctuary for me.....that has NEVER lost it's appeal. Cheers, I am so glad it still appeals to you. I think FS2024 would do the same for me if I were not into more outdoor activities now. I haven't opened FS (it is on a totally different and dedicated PC) in at least 3 to 5 years now. ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) Sad actually. Honestly, flying real-world didn't diminish my love for flightsim, actually I really used FS as a tool to practice flights and approaches etc. I tried to make my FS as "realistic" as possible, not so much as in visually realistic but in accuracy etc. for the practice. It definitely helped me enormously in the real world. My main "fun" was in the freedom I had in FS over the real world. You can do things on the fly where in this post 9/11 world flying has become major deal as far as airspace etc. Plus about 10 years ago fuel price rose so high that (real) flying became a very expensive hobby. Over 5 years ago I stopped completely. I do occasionally take the yoke of a friends plane to keep in practice but my days of jumping in a plane and going where I want when I want is over. That's sad as well. These days my "hobby" is getting by in the crazy hate-filled world we all live in. Which is why I am moving to a rural area. Anyhow, nice to talk to you again and let me know how your FS2024 experience goes... I might just jump in myself once I settle in to my new rural life.
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Post by Keith on Jun 25, 2024 9:57:33 GMT -5
...I don't watch much TV at all, totally uninterested in the rubbish that gets fed to us these days, so if I want to ocassionally relax in front of the screen it's usually watching a classic retro program or a movie. Same here. Nothing but trash on the "boob-tube" these days. All junk. I started watching classic TV as well. It may be cheesy but at least it's not trash.
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Post by sgtmajor on Jun 26, 2024 18:09:42 GMT -5
..... These days my "hobby" is getting by in the crazy hate-filled world we all live in. Which is why I am moving to a rural area. I hear you loud and clear my friend!!! Wow....A rural area to live.....My, wouldn't I love that!!! Unfortunately, with my daughter in a home here in Southern Cal....I suppose we're stuck here forever, which is why I limit my interaction with people....I find I stay much happier. (smile) Yes....I've watched a few more "trailers" on MS 2024....it does look interesting, but not too different from the current version. I too just fly for fun....don't use radio's etc., try not to use GPS...in fact...may of the aircraft I fly don't have GPS. Being an old Avionics guy....I do prefer steam gauges and VOR's etc. I do try to use real charts as much as possible, and you can fly pretty much VFR in most cases. Now that Asobo uses Google Maps in many locations...(at least here in Southern Cal).....it's easy to fly using visual landmarks etc. I do tend to use real weather etc., and a few flights ago, I found myself above a early morning cloud layer as I was heading north from the San Diego, CA. area. When I did drop down through a hole...I knew I was East of LA quite a ways....but not exactly sure of my location. I spotted the Interstate HWy, which I assumed was I-10 and planned on following it east towards Palm Springs as my airport...Hemet (KHMT) was just over the mountain from PS. Almost immediately I recognized a shopping mall (Tyler Mall) in Riverside, CA. and knew exactly where I was....that wasn't I-10...it was State route 91. (Runs parallel of I-10...but south of I-10). It was a piece of cake to navigate home from there. I do wish all my friends here at TOH lived close enough where I could just say..."Come on over"....you GOT to try this VR stuff out. (smile) If you ever get a chance...it's a must. Flying in the 3D world is so...or at least MUCH more realistic. It really gives everything depth etc., and is amazing. Take care my friend...and keep us updated on your Rural living. My how I envy you!!! Give me a few acres and a tractor or two to putt around on, and I do think I could give up all this computer stuff. (smile) Cheers,
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Post by rollerball on Jul 19, 2024 10:33:52 GMT -5
ha ha, since my house build I've been trying to get rid of a lot of stuff that I don't need that just takes up valuable space. On the list are my Thrustmaster rudder pedals but I still haven't brought myself to sell them even though they're a bit dusty but almost unused as I'm intrigued by the puff on the new FS2024 update. I still haven't made my mind up whether I'll buy it or not so maybe I'll wait to hear what you guys think. Real flying took a back seat during my house build - I only did 3 hours last year - but I've been pushing to get my main aircraft, my Savannah, serviced and back in the air for this year. And what happens? I find a cooling system problem, get the wrong part and am still waiting for the correct part to be delivered even before I can do the engine service. And here we are over half way through the year (we had LOTS of bad weather during the first half). So at the moment, flying - real world or sim - isn't working out for me ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png)
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Post by sgtmajor on Jul 20, 2024 12:04:22 GMT -5
Oh Roger...don't get me started on trying to get rid of stuff. Geezzz....I was so surprised during our house renovation on how much "STUFF" I have accumulated over the years. I wouldn't feel so badly if it was decent stuff...but my goodness, I have kept some of the craziest..well...junk! I have watched more video's on FS2024 and I must admit...I'm getting more and more intrigued. However, I'm still like a kid in the candy store since I've started flying in VR. The immersion factor has me blown away these days and I'm quite pleased with developers. I just ran across this item this morning.....can't wait to give it a try. msfsaddons.com/2024/07/15/animated-trains-coming-soon-to-microsoft-flight-simulator/I think you're wise on hanging on to the Thrustmaster rudder pedals. I too had a set, however, had gotten rid of them....now I've been re-purchasing items I had gotten rid of. Although, I must admit, I'm now purchasing much better equipment. I think I've already mentioned I'm now using the Honeycomb Alpha yoke and Bravo throttle quadrant. I'm very pleased....however, I will need to get some rudder pedals. Need to do more research before then....will probably put that on my Christmas list for this year. Cheers,
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Post by rollerball on Jul 21, 2024 13:14:30 GMT -5
I have to say that the animated trains add-on looks really interesting. In fact the whole FS2024 thing does. I think I'll hang on to my pedals as although I have no interest now in either FSX or X-Plane and haven't fired either up for, well many months, I think I'll take a look at the November FS release and maybe give it a go if it's as 'real world' detailed as people seem to be suggesting it will be.
Cheers all!
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Post by sgtmajor on Jul 23, 2024 0:51:49 GMT -5
I must admit, having watched more video's on FS2024....my interest is peaked. There has been so many changes since FSX and as always, it's the modder's who make things better. I recently installed several free add-on's that has raised the level of realism even more in FS2020. One mod added powerlines and antenna's to the sim while the other added ocean shipping lanes. Earlier this year, I installed 3 regions called "We Love VFR...Region 1, 2 & 3." freeware addons. (some screenshots) flightsim.to/file/2605/we-love-vfr-region-1 With a few mods and with VR goggles, I can now fly VFR quite nicely around my local area which I'm familiar with. It's nice being able to look out the window and know exactly where you are at by sight alone...but it does help and makes the flights so much more enjoyable. Cheers,
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Post by rollerball on Jul 28, 2024 8:20:57 GMT -5
Steve, good grief! I've just checked out that link you gave above and the screen shots look incredible. Obviously they won't have been able to model all of the countries shown in detail but what they have done is fantastic. I'm just going to have a look to see what if anything has been done for France and it may (or may not!!) be what tips me one way or the other ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by rollerball on Jul 28, 2024 9:39:45 GMT -5
I've just spent an enjoyable hour or so paging through the free FS2020 sceneries that are available for France and I'm impressed. Lots of very good quality and the ones that I know and have flown into in real life are, with a couple of exceptions, very good and some exceptional. So that's a lot better than for FSX. It was the lack of quality scenery for France that was part of the reason why I lost interest, that and the non-realism of the ground scenery away from airfields. So my level of interest has been raised quite considerably! I don't want to have to invest a massive amount in a new computer to run the system so that's a concern for me, but I'm going to keep watching to see what we can expect come a few months time. Who knows... I might jump back in again ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by sgtmajor on Jul 28, 2024 12:35:28 GMT -5
Yes indeed, I hear what you are saying. I did just make a new post (with video) about a wonderful program called FSAddon Compare. You can now easily search for aircraft....sceneries by region, country etc., and it's taken a lot of headache away. You probably also are aware of Flightsim.to website where you can search there for specific regions etc. Most of the stuff on Flightsim.to is freeware, however, there are some payware items too. But these tend to be cheaper.. Checkout Vincent Bazillio's freeware airports. His page: flightsim.to/profile/vbazillio He has transformed Southern California airports with incrediable accuracy....and he also has completed some in France: Le Touquet LFAT (screenshots: flightsim.to/file/6642/le-touquet-cote-d-opale-lfat ) He is one guy that not only does great work...he is constantly updating and making them better and better. If he makes something, it's an automatic download and install for me....Wonderful stuff. Yes...this hobby has become a little costly at times. (smile) but I enjoy it SO much anymore. With the scenery the way it is, the quality and completeness of the aircraft as well as the 3D flying with goggles....I just can't imagine wanting much else. Cheers,
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Post by rollerball on Jul 29, 2024 13:17:00 GMT -5
You probably also are aware of Flightsim.to website where you can search there for specific regions etc. Most of the stuff on Flightsim.to is freeware, however, there are some payware items too. But these tend to be cheaper.. Checkout Vincent Bazillio's freeware airports. His page: flightsim.to/profile/vbazillio He has transformed Southern California airports with incrediable accuracy....and he also has completed some in France: Le Touquet LFAT (screenshots: flightsim.to/file/6642/le-touquet-cote-d-opale-lfat ) Cheers, Yep, the French sceneries I checked out were on flightsim.to. I found that Le Touquet scenery, have flown in there several times. Once I fell out with a grumpy ATC controller on my way back in my Savannah to the UK whose instructions just weren´t clear enough. I hope it´s not too much of a self indulgence on my part if I show a few images here from when I flew back to France from the UK in September 2019. Approaching Boulogne after crossing the Channel heading south to Le Touquet ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_05.jpg) Le Touquet terminal building ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_06.jpg) 3 shots heading south out of Le Touquet in the rain ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_10.jpg) ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_11.jpg) ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_13.jpg) 4 shots at Blois in central France ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_15.jpg) ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_16.jpg) ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_17.jpg) ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_19.jpg) Some way further on south from Blois ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_22.jpg) Back at my home airfield in the Dordogne in SW France later that evening ![](http://micro-trike.co.uk/images/03sep19_24.jpg) All the shots were taken on the same day showing how much the weather can change in a few hundred kilometres. The last flight I did from France to the UK was in my X-Air that I rescued from the UK. I´ve got a video on YouTube of the first leg over the Channel landing at Calais, followed by Abbeville, Dreux, Blois and Le Blanc before arriving home. I´ll put some links up if anyone´s interested.
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Post by sgtmajor on Jul 30, 2024 1:34:44 GMT -5
Roger - No self indulgence at all, my friend.....I think I can speak for everyone that we'd LOVE to see pictures and hear your adventures. In fact....I'll take a peek and see if I can figure out your route....I'd love to try to recreate the flight....maybe a Cessna 152 or a Pipercub or something similar to type. That would be great fun!!
Vincent has other French Airports he's recreated, as well as some fix's for French Airports to make more accurate. Three airports I've seen are LFPN Toussus-Le-Noble, LFGH Cosne-sur-loire & TFFS Les Saintes. Some of the fixes are removing trees and adding or fixing windsocks....adding or correcting taxi markings and adding some red and white markings on some taxi-ways? (sorry...I'm unfamiliar with French airport markings etc.)
Cheers,
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