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Bruce (a.k.a. brian747)

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Posts posted by Bruce (a.k.a. brian747)

  1. Down Under Tour 2015

    in Flight Sim Adventures

    Posted

    Ah, I understand completely, my friend. So many aircraft, so little time....    :)

     

    But you manage to get more vlying in a day than I normally manage in a week.  <sigh>  Obviously, I need to try harder. Although for me, it's more a case of "One magnificent aircraft, but so many airports".      ;)

     

    So I salute your dedication. (What a great obsession hobby this is)!     ^_^

     

    All the best,

     

    B.

     

  4. The Jokes topic (Do not enter if easily offended)

    in Members General & Announcements

    Posted

    One of the best (but least well known) sites which lists the "divided by a common language" examples is this one —

     

    http://www.effingpot.com/

     

    If you visit and start to look around, be prepared to spend a while there!    ;)

     

    He divides the problem words into eight categories:

    • Home
    • Slang
    • People
    • Motoring
    • Clothing
    • Around the house
    • Food & drink
    • Odds & sods
     
    (You'll also find the explanation of how he acquired the 'Effingpot' nickname).
     
    Have fun!     ^_^

     

    Cheers,

     

    B.

     

  5. Air Hauler circuit around San Rafael-Calistoga-San Rafael

    in Videos

    Posted

    You certainly live in an area with multiple changes of terrain, Matt! A very interesting vid — thank you.     :)

     

    (But do be careful if you use any copyrighted music in your YouTube vids. I got a so-called "copyright strike" for using music that I had downloaded from the net which had been specifically labelled as copyright free).      :censored:

     

    Looking forward to seeing your next one!

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

  7. Misty mornings

    in Screenshots

    Posted

    Nice shots, Wayne!    ^_^

     

    @Matt

     

    In RW heli flying in Norway, fog is no fun, either. The SOP is to try and fly along fjords if possible, on the assumption that the water below you is, at least, flat (unlike the rest of the place). However, this is countered somewhat by the Norwegians' fun habit of stringing power lines across fjords....     :whis:

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

  9. The Jokes topic (Do not enter if easily offended)

    in Members General & Announcements

    Posted

    Hi Martin!

    I don't know how long ago you left, but given the large number of American recycled TV shows we get Over Here these days, I think you can safely assume that most UK residents are well aware of the US connotations of words such as fags, rubbers, and so on. :cool:

    So if a UK-based person uses such terms on this forum, please be understanding and translate accordingly! :)

    Cheers,

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

  11. Pfpx

    in Flight Planning

    Posted

    Hi Carl!

     

    Already answered in my reply to your PM.     ^_^

     

    But, as I suggested above, do update PFPX at the same time, along with any other stuff you have, so that they're all in line.

     

    B.

     

  12. Pfpx

    in Flight Planning

    Posted

    Hi Carl!

     

    I'm afraid what you're seeing is a result of the fact that FSX is pretty old, and because the magnetic variation of EGJJ and everywhere else changes over time (OK, some places more dramatically than others) runway numbers can and do change to reflect the current magnetic orientation.

     

    Worse still, in a simulation environment there are various sources for the runway information you are seeing. It might come from the original FSX information (but hopefully not). If you subscribe to Navigraph or other updated information then it will hopefully come from there. If, like me, you use a different simulation (PSX, in my case) then that has its own database, too.

     

    As you know, PFPX is a flight planner and en route performance calculator, whereas TopCat is a takeoff (and landing) performance calculator. Their functions don't overlap, and they do very different jobs, which is why you need them both. But they don't share the same database of runway information either, which is why you may sometimes see a difference between them, so the answer in theory is to keep up with the latest version of both, and especially with their corresponding data.

     

    But then — both PFPX and TopCat have data which is updateable through Navigraph, so (in theory, again — I'm doing too much theorising this afternoon) they should stay in line.

     

    Hmm. OK, let's forget the theory and get practical.

     

    As an experiment, I just used PFPX (v1.23) to plan a flight to Jersey. Sure enough, the runways PFPX offered me were 08 and 26 — although this may be because my last update of the Navigraph information took place six months ago. I seldom use Navigraph these days because my navdata comes from PSX, which has its own database (so Navigraph stuff is seldom needed, and hence I rarely update it). But anything to help a fellow simmer, so I have just updated my PFPX data to AIRAC 1510 and tried again. (I didn't update the TopCat data, not yet anyway, just to see what would happen). The first thing that did happen, of course, was that PFPX wanted to check through all its routes to ensure that they conformed with the latest data  <yawn>. OK, I'll wait....

     

    OK, it's finally finished and 144 routes got deleted. Now to try to plan the flight to Jersey again.

     

    Well, PFPX is still showing rwys 08 and 26, using the most up to date data available. Hmm. TopCat isn't involved as yet, so let's try it. Sure enough, TopCat is offering me 08 and 26, too. Hmm again (increasingly doubtful hmm, this time).

     

    OK, just to be sure, let's update the TopCat data to AIRAC 1510 and try one last time. Well, whaddya know, TopCat too is still only offering me 08 and 26. So why did you feel that 09 and 27 were correct, again...?

     

    > "...when Google I have found out that top cat was right bought pfpx was wrong..."

     

    Ah. Exactly what did you Google, I wonder (and how old was it — there's a *lot* of outdated information available from all search engines)?   :whis:

     

    Well when *I* hit Google I found a news story dated 4th July (Happy Independence Day, guys!) 2014 which said:

     

    > "The runway at Jersey Airport has been designated as 09/27 since 1952. As the headings are now 084.38 degrees and 264.39 degrees respectively it will change to 08/26 from 26 October."   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-28167639

     

    So as of October 26th last year the runways at Jersey have been 08 and 26. You can also confirm this by downloading the latest chart from NATS here: http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-4543C288E9AA3A353CCA0152E7F9095D/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/Charts/AD/NON_AIRAC/EG_AD_2_EGJJ_2-1_en_2015-05-28.pdf

     

    The bottom line seems to be that your version of the TopCat data needs updating, my friend, and hopefully it should then give you the correct information. (Update the PFPX data too, to keep it in line, along with any other stuff you have). And if I may suggest — do always check the date of any information which you find online, especially in a case like this where date is... rather significant!     ;)

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  13. P3D V3 - My first shots

    in Screenshots

    Posted

    Looking pretty damn pretty, Joe, congratulations!     :D

     

    Mind you, the Mutley avatar seems a little...  *<cough>* .... work in progress(?). Maybe they haven't caught your best side, yet?    :P

     

    But tell us more: like for instance, frame rates, VAS usage  — unless, of course you're too busy having fun.  (I hope!).   ^_^

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

  14. Any FS news is interesting news, please share!

    in Mutley's Hangar News and Announcements

    Posted

    @Loic

     

    Many thanks indeed for the news about Scenery Config Editor!   :D   I use it a lot, as well as the TweakFS freebie (Scenery Config Toolbox, downloadable from this page: http://www.tweakfs.com/store/free_tools.php ).   

     

    I'll probably pass on KMCI, though. I don't know why, but for some reason the two large lumps of land that I very rarely fly over are the USA and Australia (though I'm enjoying the pics of your trips around there). Happily, there's plenty of interesting flying available elsewhere...).    ^_^

     

    @Kevin

     

    You have to try Orbx's Norway — it's (to use an overworked word) awesome!    :cool:

     

    Mind you, I've seen a lot of it from the cockpit IRL (in helis) so I suppose I got to love the landscape — although not the winter weather (fog and thick snow tends to interrupt low level flying).

     

    Back to simming, here's a landing at a (typically misty) Stavanger —

     

    misty-Stavanger-sml_zpsqikpromr.jpg

     

    (Without the mist, though, the Norway scenery is stunning!).    :)

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

  18. Prepar3D V3 Arrives 30th September

    in News and Press Releases

    Posted

    Thank you for the link. But I fear that amidst the general rejoicings this may well be a minority report. ;)

    TBH, listening to Froogle grope his way through a press release which, by his own admission, he hadn't previously completely read, wasn't massively convincing, I'm afraid. (And it wasn't even joined-up writing).

    My problem with P3D is a simple one. I have a fairly enormous investment in FSX, almost entirely (given my style of flying) in terms of airfields and also some Orbx worldwide scenery and mesh. Having observed, from a safe distance, the chaos that followed the move from P3D v1 to v2, I now await with a certain pessimistic interest the scramble for the unfortunate developers to try to reissue their products to meet the new demands of v3.

    Meanwhile, to someone on a pension like mine, the concept of paying £130 for the P3D software, followed by junking most if not all of my existing collection of worldwide airfields to start again from scratch, is not remotely an attractive one. I said "from scratch", since it seems to me that P3D is increasingly diverging from its FS roots. (As in, oh no, not *another* SimConnect?? :huh: ).

    Besides, FSX in DX10 mode with the Fixer provides an excellent experience with no VAS problems, so P3D is not only unaffordable, but (for me) also unnecessary.

    Never say never, and all that, but that's how it's looking to me right now. :)

    Just my two cents.... :twocents:

    Cheers,

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

  20. new member

    in General

    Posted

    Hi Phil!

    And a warm welcome to the Hangar! :)

    Welcome to FSX, too, which has the capability to absorb as much of your retirement time as you (and/or any Significant Other) can afford to devote to it. ^_^

    Before we inundate you with information and opinions, could you perhaps give us some idea where your aviation interests lie? For example, do you prefer to fly low 'n slow; or military; or airliners? Do you have any controller hardware (yoke, joystick, throttles, rudder pedals, whatever)? Do you prefer VFR or IFR? Props, jets, or helicopters?

    Or are you struggling to know where to start? :whis:

    Whichever, there are lots of good folk here who can help you. Welcome again! :D

    Cheers,

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

    • Like 1

  21. Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog — extension arm available (and mini-mini review)

    in Hardware

    Posted

    Hi Phil!

    Having no idea of the answer, I had to resort to Google. ^_^ This showed up the stick only as being available in the U.S., at least, (for a price).

    See here: http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-HOTAS-Warthog-Flight-Stick-PC/dp/B00CBVHJ00

    (The throttle unit is also available to buy separately, but it's obviously much cheaper to buy them as a pair).

    Remember too that the stick is aileron and elevator only (i.e. there's no twist rudder). But high resolution (14-bit, not 8-bit) Hall Effect sensors mean fantastic accuracy and response, with zero spikes. Over to you. :)

    Cheers,

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

  24. Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog — extension arm available (and mini-mini review)

    in Hardware

    Posted

    Further to the above, I can now confirm that the extension mod works extremely well, and adds a significant degree of additional refinement even to the smooth operation of the unmodified 'hog.

     

    Perhaps owing to the fact that they were apparently mentioned in PC Pilot, the extension pieces have been in somewhat short supply, so all you can do is watch the web site and dive in quickly when they are once again offered for sale. It would appear also that the shorter sizes are the most popular, selling out faster than the longest (120 mm) version.

     

    I placed my order on Sunday, and soon received a courteous email (yes, at the weekend!) telling me that it would be posted to me on Monday; followed by another mail the following day confirming that it had been posted and giving me the tracking information. Amazingly good service! I received it this morning (Tuesday) via signed-for mail, and well protected in layers of bubblewrap.

     

    On unwrapping it I was immediately impressed by its weight and its quality. I'm no metallurgist, but it would appear to be turned from stainless steel or something similar, and is beautifully made, complementing the heavy metal feel and appearance of the 'hog admirably.

     

    In view of the stern warnings on the website I was slightly nervous when it came to installing the cable, but all was well and it worked first time. (Just the same, I do feel that a couple of close-up pics of the cable connections would be a helpful addition to their existing "how to" text and video, to clarify the orientation at both ends of the cable).

     

    Obviously, I immediately fired up PSX, and after trying various gusty take-offs and landings that I had found to be a little tricky to control with the unmodified 'hog I was absolutely delighted with the improvement in the 'hog's sensitivity and authority. (It was definitely one of those "how have I managed without it until now?" moments).

     

    I had opted for the 100 mm version.... Hang on, and I'll take a quick pic:—

     

    extension-sml_zpsa1o95mvs.jpg

     

     

    There you go (the extension piece is ringed in yellow).

     

    The difference in the 'throw' of the stick is considerable, and I can totally endorse the maker's claims for —

     

    • Increased precision during manoeuvres, by providing finer and more precise adjustments.
    • Reduced need to counter the stick's tendency to try and return to the centre detent when making small adjustments.

     

    My landings mostly weren't too bad before (honest, guv), but the increased precision afforded by the mod means that they have definitely improved as a result. Hence, if you have a 'hog, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. The service from the vendor is superb, and, as I said, after only an hour or so I'm hooked — I just can't imagine living without it.

     

    So 'hog owners, this is what you have been waiting for! Buy one — your only problem will be deciding on whether to get the 80, 100, or 120 mm version, depending on what's most appropriate for your home 'pit.     ^_^

     

    Cheers,

     

    bruce

    a.k.a. brian747

     

     

    P.S. Here's a link to their installation video, so you can see how easy it is to fit —

     

     

    B.

     

     

     

     
    • Like 2
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