airplane in MS Flight Simulator 2020
By Matt Thomas Software • 0 Comments

The Latest in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

Flight simulator enthusiasts, rejoice! Let’s take a look at the current status of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and what the future holds for this beloved flight simulation experience.

A World of Realism:

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 continues to captivate hobbyists with its unparalleled realism. From stunningly detailed aircraft to breathtaking, true-to-life landscapes, the level of immersion is unmatched. Thanks to regular updates and improvements, the experience keeps getting better. One of the notable achievements of Flight Simulator is its optimization. Over time, developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible to a broader range of PCs. This means more enthusiasts can take to the virtual skies without investing in high-end hardware.

Enhanced Graphics and Realism:

Visuals have always been a strong suit of this flight simulator, and the developers keep pushing the boundaries. With the inclusion of DirectX 12 and cutting-edge technology, the graphics are crisper and more realistic than ever before, ensuring an immersive flying experience. The team behind Microsoft Flight Simulator is committed to delivering regular updates. These updates not only improve performance but also introduce new features, aircraft, and airports. Stay tuned for upcoming updates that promise to enhance your simulation experience further.

Community Engagement:

MS Flight Simulator has a vibrant community that contributes to its growth. The marketplace is bustling with user-generated content, from liveries to mods, to DIY flight simulators, allowing hobbyists to personalize their experience extensively.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 remains at the forefront of flight simulation. With ongoing improvements, enhanced performance, and an engaged community, it’s a haven for aviation enthusiasts. So, if you haven’t taken to the virtual skies recently, now is the perfect time to rediscover the magic of MS Flight Simulator and explore its ever-evolving world.

Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or a newcomer, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 continues to provide an incredibly authentic and enjoyable experience for flight simulation hobbyists.

Flight Simulator 2020 Pre-Alpha
By Matt Thomas Software 0 Comments

Microsoft Shines with Flight Simulator 2020 Pre-Alpha

Microsoft is back… again. Really? Flight sim community influencers certainly think so. Microsoft invited several of them to their headquarters to experience the pre-Alpha version of Flight Simulator 2020 in September. Will this new effort by Microsoft soar or flop?

Flight Simulator 2020 Features

First of all, let’s look at the features of Flight Simulator 2020. It has astonishing worldwide scenery that makes true VFR pilotage a joy. Microsoft included every known airport in the world, that’s over 40,000 airports. Flight Simulator 2020 also includes better simulation of rain, humidity, turbulence, fog, aerodynamic performance, friction modeling, sloping runways, icing, wind layers, visibility, sun/moon/star positions, etc. which are improvements you would expect. The developers created true volumetric clouds that cast shadows and are lit from above by the sun and even from below by city lights at night. Finally, complete SIDs and STARs are included and perhaps Sectional charts too.

Will you be able to find your house in Flight Simulator 2020? Maybe.

 

Microsoft Community Commitment

Why would Flight Simulator 2020 be the “next generation” of flight sims? This development team seems to understand that a comprehensive new sim must embrace the community, not operate in spite of it (like Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3D). The target market is “hard core simmers”, not gamers like the bungled MS Flight release in 2012. For example, Microsoft didn’t just invite community influencers to their offices, they PAID for their flights and hotel accommodations. Some invited guests came from Australia and Europe, so those tickets were not cheap. In addition, Microsoft treated the influencers to flights in a REAL Cessna 172 around Seattle so they could compare the real world scenery to the scenery in Flight Simulator 2020. That’s unprecedented. Even the Three Grumpy Simmers seemed delighted.

Microsoft brought in 3rd party developers early to gain their input for Flight Simulator 2020. Although, they are not saying yet who those 3rd party developers are. Furthermore, Microsoft revealed they have been working on this new flight sim for 5 years in secret! They certainly seem to be re-dedicated to the flight sim genre.

 

 

What’s Next?

When will Flight Simulator 2020 be released? How much will it cost? Will it crash your PC?
The sim will be released in 2020 sometime but there is no word on what it will cost. The development team has already assured us that it will not be a subscription-based pricing model. If you have a strong PC that is currently running VR apps smoothly, you should be able to run Flight Simulator 2020. This won’t be a repeat of the FSX performance debacle of 2006.

 

Hear Froogle’s take on Flight Simulator 2020 in this 30 minute video…

Flight Simulator for Private Pilot License
By Matt Thomas Software • • 0 Comments

How to Use a Flight Simulator for Private Pilot License

How to Use a Flight Simulator for Private Pilot License

Can you learn to fly a real airplane with a home flight simulator? Two aviation schools say yes, and they provide training to help armchair pilots become real pilots. Interestingly, both schools use X-plane as their chosen flight simulator for private pilot license. I’ll discuss both schools below.

First, an initial caveat: don’t record home flight sim training in your FAA logbook. The FAA will not recognize it. On the other hand, you can certainly learn material at home that will make your training time in the real airplane more efficient.

 

 

PilotWorkshops.com

Getting Started with Flight Simulation $99 (regularly $129).

PilotWorkshops is a distance learning company that provides ongoing proficiency training with videos and manuals. Some online courses are one time fees, others like the IFR Mastery Course, is a subscription. They use X-plane 11 as the flight simulator for Private Pilot license training. The material provides impressive details about installing and setting up the X-plane software, controls, views, monitors, weather, replays, debrief tools. PilotWorkshops also introduces online, live human ATC with PilotEdge.

Interestingly, they try to do all this with a simple Phase 1 home flight sim setup (what is a Phase 1 flight sim? Read more). They use a single monitor, a joystick (not a yoke), and a TrackIR for the most part. You could have a much better training experience with a setup like the DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim which features, multiple monitors, yoke, rudder pedals, throttle quadrant and more.

 

DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim flight simulator for private pilot license
Best option for training: DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim

 

Gliem

X-Plane Flight Training Course $149.95 or $99.95 if you already own X-plane 10.

Gliem is a decades old legacy company that sells study guides, text books, videos and other materials for pilot ground schools. Anyone who has trained in North America has seen a Gliem book at one time or another.

The videos and content uses a traditional Private Pilot syllabus with a flight sim focus. However, note that Gliem is still using X-plane 10 (not 11) as their flight simulator for private pilot license training. The promo video shows a real Direct Fly Alto light sport airplane, instead of the Cessna 172 used in X-plane, which is a bit odd.

Gliem also sells a triple-screen cockpit frame for $549.95. That’s the price for the frame only! You will spend a lot less and get much more when you build your own DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim.

 

Flight Simulator for Private Pilot License

In conclusion, home flight simulator software keeps getting better and is an excellent addition to your Private Pilot training if used correctly.

Golden Age of flight simulators
By Matt Thomas Software • • • • • • • 0 Comments

The Golden Age of Flight Simulators: 4 Reasons Why

“The Golden Age of Flight Simulators” I started using that phrase in 2016 as I noticed fresh inspiration from software developers, and a renewed optimism in the flight simulator community. See in the picture, that’s what my old website looked like in Spring of 2016. Now, over a year later, the evidence is undeniable. We are entering a new renaissance of home flight simulation. Watch the Frooglesim News each week and it’s obvious. The future we’ve waited for is here now, and it’s time to go flying!

 

1. Flight Sim Software

One of the most significant signals that things have changed is this: we have real choices now. Not just choices, but difficult choices. How are you going to decide between X-plane 11 and Prepar3D v4? Both are outstanding flight sim platforms and you have many things to consider when you choose. What will Dovetail’s new Flight Sim World bring to the table? Time will tell.

This leads to another sign of the times: 3rd party developers with products for multiple flight sim platforms. You can get the same outstanding add-on aircraft and scenery for whatever software you’re using. Well almost. Several developers issued a joint press release on July 4, 2017 to say they are no longer building products for old Flight Simulator X. They declared their independence from FSX!

 

2. Hardware and More!

One subject you won’t see much of on Frooglesim News is hardware. Today’s flight sim pilot has many choices in flight controls, switch panels, displays, touch screens, graphics cards, and more. Take displays, for example. You can buy an excellent 32” HDTV for less than $200. Most quality graphics cards can now power three displays, so why not buy three 32” TVs and stretch out the view to over 6 feet wide! Add some PVC pipes, lumber, and elbow-grease and you have an impressive, affordable, home cockpit.

Let’s not forget the advances made by non-ESP based flight sim platforms like DSC World and Aerofly FS2. These are considered by some to be “FS lite” because they don’t have native global scenery and all the weather and ATC options we’re used to. Nonetheless, these sims sport smooth frame rates (much higher than even P3D and X-Plane) and excellent detail for the limited geography they offer. DCS World and Aerofly FS2 also have beautifully rendered aircraft. You’ll find the higher fidelity aircraft in DCS World as compared to FS2.

 

P3Dv4 flight simulator with multiple screens
P3Dv4 flight simulator with multiple screens

 

3. Virtual Reality?

What will Virtual Reality bring to the table? As of yet, no one knows. VR headsets demand performance that is difficult to achieve with flight simulator programs. For successful VR, you must have high frame rates, over 90 frames per second. Furthermore, flight sim software has exponentially more scenery rendering than any game software. Plus, once you put on a VR headset, you can no longer see your controls, checklists, switch panels, or anything that is not in the virtual world. For now, nobody knows how much VR will impact the flight sim genre.

 

4. Watch Frooglesim News

In conclusion, why is it the Golden Age of Flight Sims? Well, Froogle says so too! Take a look at this episode of Frooglesim News at 27:11.

 

Bel Geode wags the finger at Dovetail Games
By Matt Thomas Software • • 0 Comments

Three Grumpy Simmers discuss Flight Sim World

Three well-known flight simulator enthusiasts teamed up to discuss Dovetail Game’s Flight Sim World. Bel Geode, Sérgio, and Novawing24 called themselves the “Three Grumpy Simmers” in this inaugural video.

 

What is Flight Sim World?

Flight Sim World (FSW) is a new comprehensive flight simulator from Dovetail Games (DTG). It builds upon old software technology from Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X (FSX). However, DTG’s new update brings the software into the modern world by incorporating 64-bit technology, DirectX 11, as well as other new features. FSW is currently in the early access phase. Consequently, avid flight simmers have the opportunity to participate in the software development by providing feedback to the developers. I’m looking forward to trying FSW with a multi-monitor setup in the DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim.

 

 

 

What Do People Say About Flight Sim World?

Keep in mind, the flight sim community has a tendency to “eat their young.” That means many potential customers want a new advanced flight simulator platform to replace FSX, but they also tend to ridicule any development team that attempts to do that. The Three Grumpy Simmers take on that issue as FSW is a long way from final release. They make the point it’s unfair to compare FSW in its current state to established platforms like Lockheed Prepar3D. At one point Bel Geode “wags the finger” at DTG about the lack of information about FSW for several months. I encourage you to watch the entire discussion (see Novawing24’s video below).

 

Who are the Three Grumpy Simmers?

  • Bel Geode (Drew Bolton) has been a flight simulation enthusiast since 1986, and has been an active member of the community since 2005. A former virtual airline CEO, Bel has embraced many aspects of flight simulation, and understands how to connect with the community at large through his Twitter Profile, YouTube channel, and public appearances at events like Flight Sim Con.
    Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/BelGeode2015
    Twitter – http://twitter.com/BelGeode
    YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/BelGeode
  • Novawing24 (Tristan Ayton) hosts a weekly news program with a focus on the Simulation genre. See it on YouTube. Believeing that giving back to the community is important, he provides open and honest commentary and feedback on developments in the simulation genre. He has also tried his hand at texture design, with content available at his website and at the AVSIM Library, as well as writing for numerous websites.
    Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/novawing24
    Twitter – http://twitter.com/novawing24
    YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/
    Web – http://www.novawing24.com/
  • Sérgio Costa is a flight simulation enthusiast with over 20 years experience. His passion with helicopters developed during MSFS 2000 when he discovered the complexity of these aircraft and the challenge it was to control them. Since then he has been primarily a helicopter flight simmer, trying his best not to crash and kill all his virtual passengers. Sérgio is HeliSimmer.com’s editor and writer.
    Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/Helisimmer
    Twitter – http://twitter.com/Helisimmer
    YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/Helisimmer
    Web – https://www.helisimmer.com/

 

See the Discussion Here…

 

Flight Sim World from DTG
By Matt Thomas Software • • • 0 Comments

Best Flight Simulator – Which One to Choose? Part 2

Flight Sim World (FSW) by Dovetail Games

Dove Tail Games (DTG) announced the release of Flight Sim World days before I wrote this article. Therefore, I haven’t tried it yet, and actually nobody has. FSW will be released for early access in May 2017. DTG really wants FSW to be the replacement for FSX that we’ve all been waiting for.

And yet, FSW is built upon the foundations of FSX. DTG purchased the rights from Microsoft to extend FSX and is building upon that. I think DTG is trying to develop what FSX could have become if Microsoft hadn’t killed the Flight Simulator franchise in 2007. They have an uphill battle today because DTG’s Flight School was not well received in 2016. However, DTG offering a huge olive branch to purchasers of Flight School… they get FSW for free! Consequently, FSW the best cheap flight simulator.

FSW features utilization of DirectX 11 and its a 64 bit application. Of course, the release video looks beautiful.

 

 

Flight Simulator X Steam Edition by Dovetail Games

Well, there’s always FSX. It was the all-around best flight simulator for years, but it is slowly fading. DTG successfully dusted-off and re-released Flight Simulator X on the Steam platform in 2014. Microsoft fired the entire FSX development staff in 2009, but dozens of 3rd party developers continued to produce hundreds of add-ons, utilities, and enhancements to FSX. I installed FSX on the DIY Flight Sim Pod and the DIY Roll-Away Flight Sim.

Sometimes there is a sale on Steam and you can buy FSX for about $15. You have little to lose by trying FSX. Therefore, FSX is probably your best cheap flight simulator option. Download some free scenery add-ons or airplanes. Fly some of the old missions. If you have problems, there is lots of information available just a Google away.

 

Prepar3D is the Best Flight Simulator

P3D is my pick right now, but that could change in the future. The flight sim community is in a time of flux right now. On the other hand, you may have noticed something about these choices. Out of the four titles I listed, three are based on the old FSX foundation. So after two decades, it’s still really just Flight Simulator vs. X-Plane.

 

Did you miss Part 1? Read it here.

Is X-plane 11 the best flight simulator?
By Matt Thomas Software • • • 4 Comments

Best Flight Simulator – Which One to Choose? Part 1

The flight simulator community is experiencing something it hasn’t seen in a long time: real choices. After a decade of Flight Simulator X (FSX) dominance, there are now serious software alternatives. So how you do you choose the best flight simulator application? I’ll take a look at four options: Lockheed Martin Prepar3D, X-Plane 11, Dovetail Games’ Flight Sim World, and Flight Simulator X Steam Edition. Also keep in mind, I’m the DIY Flight Sim guy. I do my best work with a drill and a miter saw and I spend more time editing video than I do flying a simulator. But still, people ask my opinion, so here it is…

 

 

Lockheed Martin Prepar3D (P3D)

Lockheed Martin is a $46 Billion dollar defense contractor. They build ballistic missiles, armored fighting vehicles, combat ships, rockets, satellites, robots, and a lot more… and real airplanes too. LM purchased certain licensing rights from Microsoft to further develop its ESP simulation platform, which is now Lockheed’s Prepar3D. The P3D development team is a tiny segment of this giant mega-corporation. P3D markets its capabilities as training simulation for commercial, academic, professional, or military interests. They do not make products for armchair flightsimmers like you and me. This is why P3D issues the odd warning against using its product for entertainment.

P3D works so well. I remember when I first installed it on the DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim. The software automatically detected and properly assigned my flight controls. First time in my life I’ve ever experienced that. P3D is an improvement over FSX and retains familiarity in the menus and options. The frame rates are better, the scenery is better, and many FSX add-ons also work in P3D. Multiple monitors and Saitek switch panels work well in P3D. So P3D is my choice for the best flight simulator software right now, but that comes with a caveat (read on).

Lockheed builds a great product and if you happen like it, that’s fine, but if you don’t then remember that Lockheed is not very concerned about us or the flight sim consumer market. Out of Lockheed’s 126,000 employees, only a few of them work on the Prepar3D program, and P3D is a tiny part of Lockheed’s revenue stream. I’m saying that Lockheed’s priorities could change in the future and we may not have access to P3D any more. And yet, Lockheed offers a great product for retail customers right now and it is my choice for the best flight simulator.

 

 

 

X-Plane 11 by Laminar Research

The X-plane franchise has been the #2 choice for flight sim pilots for years. Will it become the #1 best flight simulator now with X-plane 11? I installed the X-Plane 11 demo on the DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to really experience X-plane 11 on my rig yet, but you guys want my opinion, so here it is. I think X-plane could become the new standard for home flight simulators in the next 10 years. Austin Meyer is the lead developer for X-plane, and this is his baby. X-plane is an essential part of Austin’s identity, so I think the X-plane team has a passion that is perhaps not present at Prepar3D. Plus, X-plane is here for us… the flight sim community.

As of right now, the X-plane community is smaller than the FSX community so there is less choice in 3rd party add-ons. X-plane is 64 bit and that doesn’t necessarily mean your frame rates will be higher than P3D, but X-plane is able to fully utilize the RAM you already have in your computer. This could help in the future. Multiple monitors and Saitek switch panels work well in X-plane 11, but some of the menu options are difficult to read. Austin is seems really interested in bringing built-in VR capability to X-plane, so if that’s your thing, you might want to sign up for Austin’s blog. VR brings several new challenges to flight sims like frame rates, eyeglasses, ergonomics, etc.

 

What about Flight Simulator X and the new Flight Sim World from Dovetail? Read Part 2 here.

 

By Matt Thomas Software • • • • • 0 Comments

X-Plane 11 Beta on Triple Screens, First Look

You can download the X-plane 11 beta right now. Configuring the X-Plane 11 Beta on triple screens with a full flight simulator cockpit is a challenge. I’m using the DIY D250 Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim for this evaluation. The D250 uses three 32″ HDTVs running from a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 SSC.

The download and installation was straightforward, and furthermore X-plane automatically spanned all three screens when it booted. The software detected my Saitek Cessna rudder pedals and provided a quick calibration. Unfortunately, it assigned the pitch and roll axis to the toe brake functions. Also, I was unfamiliar with the user interface so it wasn’t apparent how I would properly assign the functions to my flight yoke.

X-Plane 11 assigned pitch and roll to the toe brakes
X-Plane 11 assigned pitch and roll to the toe brakes

Immediately Airborne

The demo gets you into the air immediately. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to assign the controls properly so I stopped after a few minutes. Also, I wasn’t able to zoom out the view, so the virtual cockpit was unseen, except for the wet compass.

X-plane 11 control menu with options behind the bezels
X-plane 11 control menu with options behind the bezels

I found my way to the control settings menu to set up the yoke, throttle quadrant, and trim wheel. In addition I wanted to correct the rudder pedal assignments. On my triple-screen setup, some of the menu options are obscured behind the bezel. You don’t have the option to move the menu window around like you do in P3D. The only way to see these menu options would be to exit out of X-plane, turn off bezel correction in Nvidia Controls Panel, restart X-plane to run the menu, and then turn bezel correction back on afterwards. Or you can just guess what’s behind the bezel. I had some troubles with identifying which axis is which on the Saitek throttle quadrant.

X-Plane 11 graphics settings, some options hidden behind the bezel
X-Plane 11 graphics settings, some options hidden behind the bezel

X-plane allows you to manually set the screen resolution, which is a very nice option. I set it to the same screen resolution as my desktop with no trouble at all.

I’m using Air Manager to display the flight instruments in FSX and P3D. I think it requires additional configuration to use it with X-Plane 11. Air Manager has an excellent set of Beechcraft Baron flight instruments and I’m looking forward to using them with the Baron X-Plane 11.

I spent a lot of time stuck on the runway
I spent a lot of time stuck on the runway

Stuck on the Runway

I couldn’t get all my controls properly assigned and as a result, I spent a lot of time on the runway. I didn’t even attempt to set up the three Saitek control panels because they probably need an updated driver to work with X-plane. I’ll look into that.

The demo expired before I could set up the controls
The demo expired before I could set up the controls

And that was it. I ran out of time in the demo, in addition, I didn’t have any more time in my day to wrestle with the simulator settings. The message said that my “flight controls will no longer function.” To be clear, my controls never functioned properly because I couldn’t get them assigned. I will try X-Plane again and I hope to actually fly it next time.