2004 Navigation

[musnkatz]

Am I missing something? I got my FS 2004 a couple months ago. I also have FS98.
In attempting to learn how to navigate a flight plan from point A to point B. I have read most of the learning sessions in 2004; I have even printed out the GPS section, and the glossary so I know what the lessons refer to. But I still have yet to navigate from Point A to Point B without having to use the GPS (as opposed to the Nav feature). I set up my flight plans using the "Create A Flight Plan" feature, hi-liting the VOR (ILS) buttons, asking for the routing be established via default. I even have problems finding the radio frequencies I need for the flight plans. What am I doing wrong??? Thanks for responses..

[Georf]

I have this problem on fs2000 but now i dont because in answer to your qustuion you can go on map view and click on the desired airport for freqencies!

[wji]

It appears to me you are not doing anything 'wrong'; you are simply learning how to use a complex system.

I bought FS9 the day it came out (July 29, 2003) and spent the first six months answering for myself the very questions you pose.

It's not the work of a day nor child's play. Stick with it and be patient. Print out the 42 page GPS manual and make a profound study of it.

This is why many of us upgraded to FS2004 because it comes with $18,000.00 USD worth of Garmin GPSs. Then it fell to us to learn how to use them.

Enjoy!

bill

[musnkatz]

Thank you both..I guess I have a lot of memorizing to do. Thanks, Georf, for the tip. Thanks, Bill, for the encouragement..

[Plurb]

Also I might add if you print out your flight log it will have the freq's listed as well as OBS settings, mileage and estimated times between fixes.

Good luck and feel free to ask as we are here to help. It's a great game.

[musnkatz]

Hi Plurb..
I have printed out the flight logs on some destinations..and the frequencies I needed weren't there (usually listed under the waypoint or airport name)..

[BFMF]

musnkatz,

Be patient with yourself. It takes time to learn how to navigate. Some of us have been using the MS flightsims for years. I started on FS4, so i've been around the block\virtual world a few times

I personally don't like to fly small GA aircraft using the GPS. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I get a bigger sense of accomplishment knowing that I can navigate from point A to point B using a regular sectional chart.

Right now I've been flying my Piper Archer from Anchorage down to Seattle. I just landed in Victoria a little while ago. On my trip so far, I've logged almost 14 hours of flight time, all real time, sitting in front of my computer, using sectional charts, the navigation radios, and without using the built in map or a gps

I once flew a B-17 from San Francisco to Pearl Harbour using only a compass, and the ADF reciever. I never once opened up a GPS or the built in map. Sometimes the things that try to make life easier also make it more complex

[rmac]

Hi
Have you tried on your flight plan going to IFR. then watching the GPS display.

[musnkatz]

Patience..when I first got this software (and the FS 98) I dived right in trying to fly everything..crashed on every landing. It's taken me a year to work a good landing..and I still mess that up. But I'm determined to master this thing (if the Navy can use it to train their flight cadets, I can learn it).
Thanks to everyone who provided some encouragement..I intend to be the one who raises their hand when the stewardess asks if anyone can fly this plane..

[Nav]

musnkatz, on the 'Flight Plan' screen you'll find four options - Direct GPS, high- or low-altitude airways, and VOR to VOR.

Direct GPS is just a straight line.  Airways routes are mostly from (airway) intersection to intersection - just occasionally one of the waypoints will be a VOR.  

'VOR to VOR' looks to be what you're looking for.  If you opt for that, you will most certainly find all the VOR frequencies you need in the Flight Plan.  You can print that off if you like - or you can call it up in flight at any time by pressing 'Flight', then 'n' for 'Navigation Log'.

If you want to plan the whole flight yourself, enlarge the route map on the 'Flight Plan' screen and you can 'mouse' the route line to any VOR or intersection you choose.  Just make sure you have the right icon clicked at the top of the map (e.g. 'Show VORs').

Hope that helps  :)

[igorradmilovic]

Easy you chose direct gps then ifr or irf and tune into the controll tower he will tell you where to go if its far set the autopilot controlls on when you get lined up then check how long it will take you to get there set up an alarm to ring and do something I did with a 13 hour flight

[musnkatz]

Again, thanks to you all for the guidance. I've already made good use of some of it..
Maybe someone who has mastered the tasks should write a book about how to use the equipment for flight planning and flight. Bet it would sell good..

[BFMF]

Easy you chose direct gps then ifr or irf and tune into the controll tower he will tell you where to go if its far set the autopilot controlls on when you get lined up then check how long it will take you to get there set up an alarm to ring and do something I did with a 13 hour flight

That's cheating

Might as well only fly take offs and landings