bilirubin 50 Posted April 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 Thanks Anders, I have found a free download on a site I use for movies & music of FSX Steam so I think I will get that down on my PC, take a look and have a go at the lessons and as you say see where I am in 3 months. The one thing I think I will invest in is a joystick as the thought of trying to operate a plane uses a keyboard does not excite me. Mike Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 /2cents: just...don't...use...the...2D...panel. God what a crappy way to look out of an Airplane. There are a few (very few) cases where it is easier to get to the AutoPilot and lighting functions via the 2D panel..but other than that, never look at it... many addons and even freewares don't come with a 2D panel anymore. Joystick, with a "Hat Switch" on the top (it will let you Look/Pan around the view easier), and throttle, prop pitch, and mixture levers on the yoke base is a minimum requirement imo...and if it has lots of extra buttons that can be assigned functions like Flaps/Gear/extra Views/etc...the more the merrier to keep you from having to reach for the keyboard so often...which takes away from the Simulator experience, no RL aircraft uses a keyboard to activate cockpit functions...heh. Agree fully with Anders re: addons...don't do them till you are sure you like this stuff, they addon costs dramatically once you start down that road. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 You're going to get some conflicting opinions and here's one... /2cents: just...don't...use...the...2D...panel. I'm the opposite. Before I got the TrackIR (which I love but don't recommend as starting kit for you until some time later) I hated the 3D cockpit. Using the hat switch as it's implemented in the 3D cockpit just felt all wrong and I didn't like it at all. Instead I used the 2D cockpit and the hat switch to momentarily look in other directions. That worked better for me. Since I have the TrackIR now, of course I do use the 3D cockpit. Anyway, as you read through all this stuff, most of it will be the kind of things you can try for yourself and see what you want to do and so it is with 2D and 3D. All the sims support both, though some payware aircraft only have the 3D. The more fundamental things like which sim and which hardware require a little green up front so on those you'll have to read what you can, here and elsewhere and make a decision. None of it is irreversible, but some will cost some money to reverse course. Read what you can, decide what sounds best to you, decide who sounds most credible to you and you'll slowly come to the right decisions for you. What's right for you may turn out to be different from what some of the rest of us like. John 1 Link to post Share on other sites
donnybalonny 46 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 You're going to get some conflicting opinions and here's one... /2cents: just...don't...use...the...2D...panel. I'm the opposite. Before I got the TrackIR (which I love but don't recommend as starting kit for you until some time later) I hated the 3D cockpit. Using the hat switch as it's implemented in the 3D cockpit just felt all wrong and I didn't like it at all. Instead I used the 2D cockpit and the hat switch to momentarily look in other directions. That worked better for me. Since I have the TrackIR now, of course I do use the 3D cockpit. Well, I never or hardly ever use the hat switch in the VC and I dont have TrackIR, FSX/P3D have the option of panning around using the mouse, so I have a button on my yoke which is dedicated to turning that movement on and off, so that I can move around, and turn knobs on radios etc. And I do also use popup panels once in a while. And now that I have a second monitor, there´s always a couple of popup panels on that one. The 2D panel has the advantage of not moving when in flight, but it is a very sterile way of flying IMHO. Yes, get a joystick with a throttle and a twist grip. I use yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant and of the 3, the yoke is the least important. Small prop GA birds and especially the bush ones that I like, fly as well or better with a stick and Jetliners we fly by turning and clicking buttons on the autopilot. (and reading loooooong manuals) I would love to have a floor mounted joystick that you have between the legs. Link to post Share on other sites
Dean33 29 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 "I would love to have a floor mounted joystick that you have between the legs." Wouldn't we all! Have I entered the wrong forum? Link to post Share on other sites
wain 879 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 TrackIR now theres a good one, if only I didnt need a hat, could use it for FSX and ETS2......I was in a rush the other day to test something and used my trusty old Xbox 360 controller, I have a yoke and rudder pedals as well as a Cyborg stick but sometimes the xbox controller just works fine, rudder, left stick for up/ down /left/ right, right stick to look around and set other buttons as required, a lot cheaper outlay for someone new than the other stuff which you can buy in time.... Wayne Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce (a.k.a. brian747) 142 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 Hi, Mike, and welcome to Mutley's Hangar! As you'll have gathered already, there's lots of good advice available. Flight simming is a huge hobby, with lots of specialist corners for you to explore, so take it gently and, above all, have fun! Cheers. bruce a.k.a. brian747 Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 Hello Mike and welcome from a simmer from a near neighbour in East Sussex. If Kent is the Garden of England then Hastings must be the outside toilet. You've already had some good advice here and there's little for me to add but if you enjoy a challenge and a learning curve you'll certainly enjoy our hobby and Mutley's too. Link to post Share on other sites
bilirubin 50 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Once again thanks for all the replies, It looks like I have picked a good site/forum to get started in this hobby. Mike Link to post Share on other sites
bilirubin 50 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Geoff (Hastings) We have had some great days out in Hastings in the summer, I suppose you see a different side living there but we enjoy it down there. One of our biggest clients are based just outside of Hastings so I get down there on business as well. Mike Link to post Share on other sites
hifly 925 Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 Mike don't get me wrong, I really do like Hastings, the Old Town, fresh sea air, stunning views and beautiful surrounding countryside. We're often up in glorious Kent too, Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Cranbrook. As for flight simming I've been at it for the past 7/8 years and am still learning, especially as some of the add on aircraft are getting more sophisticated. As mentioned above, start off learning the basics, ( in FSX you can click an 'Ignore crashes and damage' button so you don't have to reset every time you crash). It just takes practice, practice, practice. Heaven knows how much I have spent on aircraft, scenery and airports and weather add ons but if you check on Mutley's there are sales announcements. along with good help and advice and remember, there is no such thing as a dumb question here. Happy landings and keep us updated on your progress. Link to post Share on other sites
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