Simviation Forums

Hi people,
Seriously considering getting FS2004, having looked at FSX I don't think my PC's up to it in it's current form so 04 it has to be. I must say, for a 3 year old game it looks fantastic, both graphically and technically.

I've never tried a flight sim before, and don't know much about operating procedures, etc (thats what makes it so exciting  ) Basically, is it worth investing in? Also, are there any other features I should consider besides the basic simulator package. Bear in mind that to start with I just want something to recreate the experience of flying a commercial airliner between real life airports, and the addons and upgrades will probably come later.

Also, what different addons are available commercially? (I assume there's various planes and airports to be bought)

What are the default airports that come with the game? (I can't seem to find a definitive list anywhere.)

Finally, can anyone kindof describe the game in a nutshell just to give me a feel for it?

Answers much appreciated people  

Seb  :)

Also, what different addons are available commercially? (I assume there's various planes and airports to be bought)

There are thousands of commercial add-ons some links off the top of my head
www.abacuspub.com
www.justflight.com
www.flight1.com

[quote]What are the default airports that come with the game? (I can't seem to find a definitive list anywhere.)

Also, what different addons are available commercially? (I assume there's various planes and airports to be bought)

There are thousands of commercial add-ons some links off the top of my head

There are also literally thousands of addons of all types posted right here at Simviation completely free of charge.

there are tens of thousands of airports and strips included all over the world

I think it's something like 24,000.

Well... Where to start? FS9 is probably the most customizable game in existence. For starters, I don't suggest going crazy. A decent joystick (My first was a Saitek Cyborg Evo, pretty good stick and very cheap, although a yoke, or a really nice joystick can push $100). As for airports, it's pretty much you name it, it's there. From the massively busy Chicago-O'hare Intl, to the world's highest operating airport, Lukla, to grass strips, and large military bases. And if it's not in game by default, freeware and payware addons will fix that without a problem.

As for starting, I bought FS9, a joystick, with little to no knowledge of Flight Simming, and no actual plane experience (I had only been on a single trip by plane at the time), and now my interest in aviation has increased greatly. As for planes, the default ones are very poorly modeled in terms of flight dynamics, but are quite fun nonetheless until you start getting more addons. Depending on what your style is, you'll find an addon for almost any plane. Me, for example, I am a military freak. I love jets, I love cargo planes, Anything that a military would use for airpower I enjoy. Be this A jet, a prop, American, Russian, Swiss, it doesn't matter to me. To fix my tastes, I got Kirk Olssen's F-16C, which is a great plane, The Coral F-15C. Daisuke's F/A-18E, and many others. Although, your tastes may fall into one of many different categories, like, Commercial airliners, General Aviation, Vintage, Helicopters, and many other addons that range from flying coke cans, to Star Wars X-Wings.

As for commercial addons, you'll find a huge amount of them. My personal favorites are the IRIS and Alphasim products, as they focus mainly, from what I can tell, on military jets, and other obscure and less modeled planes (Such as the Alphasim B-58 and B-1B). For the Vintage fans, Wings of Power offers plenty of WWII era aircraft, and PMDG is the one you go to for some of the best, and most expensive, addons for Commercial Airliners (The 747-400 is extremely excellent, and quite a hefty price last time I checked).

They're just so many possibilities that FS9 offers, it's extremely hard to not recommend it, no matter how interested in flying

Definately for FS9...A very nice looking FS9 can give FSX a run for its money...

I think you are going to have a hard time finding someone here that does not recommend getting FS9.

I appreciate it guys, I know what I'm getting this Xmas!  Just a small question, as I've never bought a joystick before, are all standard 'sticks compatible with FS9?

8-)

I appreciate it guys, I know what I'm getting this Xmas!  Just a small question, as I've never bought a joystick before, are all standard 'sticks compatible with FS9?

8-)

Pretty much. Actually I don't even know of one single modern stick that isn't. I've been running a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro 2 for about five years. I got it as a Christmas gift, and then it was $100. Now I'd assume its much lower.

wow, man oh wow, im so excited!!! a new guy who wants to start FS and is coming in to ASK!!!! WOW.  Alright, Personally I LOVE FSX, but I built my computer and it cost $1100, so I made shure it would run FSX. However FS9 is just as good in ALMOST every way, though I have found heli's are better flown in FSX. Anyway it should be awhile before you get there. FS9 default is pretty good but the addons, man the addons, Sim-V probly has almost 1000 pages JUST for FS9 and previous versions (most FS2k2) aslo work with it, there are so many addons its nuts. As far as a joystick my first was a wingman warrier, very hard to find now tho, its quite outdated, but then a moved to the Sidewinder 3D Pro, verry nice, had a twistable joystick for rudder, and now I have the Satiek X45, an $80+ joystick modeled after an F-16. You really just need to go out and find your style, from WW1 or 2, korea, Its all out there. Explore have fun, fly in areas you never though you would go to, its a blast, and very addicting. And after youve flown on your own, you can fly online on the Sim-V server or with people acting as ATC on Vatsim, thats really as real as it gets. Its a great past-time/hobby/addiction and I hope you have fun!


Humm wow kinda got off to a rant there about FS  ;D   Well feal free at ask questions, were a good bunch of people, just watch out for the mods, fust incase you break a rule    Oh and then watch out for ozzy and his spitfires, and my personal favorite, Fozzer and his spelling corrections, hes going to have a feild day with this post and all my misspellings.  ;D

Greenhorn,

Welcome to SimV.  You've found THE place to get just about anything you need for freeware add-ons to juice up FS9 (FS2004).  

If you have an interest in non-military combat flying........ get the program.  You can fly everything from a Cessna 172 ......which is something that you might aspire to in real life...... to an SR-71 Blackbird....... which likely is NOT a realistic rela life situation  ;).  Want to fly a 747 for Lufthansa?  You can.

This is a simulator... and is pretty darn realistic.  With some free tweeks, addons, and time... it can be more realistic than what comes out of the box.   Add some payware...and you will be amazed at what can be done.

Well worth the "price of admission."  Have fun.  And if you really want to see the truly "sick side" of this obsession....... drop down to the "Homebuild Cockpits" forum and see what you can do with a large credit card /

Welcome aboard.

best,

........................john

PS:  You can fly military aircraft... but you don't have combat capabilities.

Welcome, greenhorn - you won't regret either getting FS, or coming on here!

I'd say definitely FS9 at this stage - not only does FSX require a lot of computer power, it doesn't offer the sort of 'quantum leap' towards greater realism that FS9, for example, had over earlier versions.

One word of warning, though - FS9 is VERY realistic, to the point where it's arguably as difficult to learn to fly on the Sim as it is to learn to fly the real thing. So don't get discouraged if NOTHING seems to go right at first!

In my view the lessons are the best way of making a start - the first few anyway, up to and including flying a takeoff, circuit, and landing on your own. They'll teach you the basics about turning, managing engine power, lining up etc. You can be more selective about the later lessons, a lot of them are needlessly complicated and long-drawn-out - but the first few are short and to the point and will get you off on the right foot.

Also use the 'Learning Centre', especially to get a briefing on new aeroplane types before you try flying them.

Get FS2004, you will have loads of fun.  Oh and if you have to buy some planes DO NOT GET ANYTHING FROM ABACUS.  Their planes are often worse than freeware, I am not saying freeware is bad, I think you would be happier with all the Free stuff out there.  That said I suggest you pay the twenty bucks and get Abacus' Vietnam Carrier Ops pack, it has some ok planes and it comes with all the files you need to land on a carrier, although I also suggest you promptly download freeware or Alphasim versions of all those planes.

PS:  You can fly military aircraft... but you don't have combat capabilities.

Not entirely true. Some add-ons have guns built in (The LAGO F-16, Alphasim F-22, and a Tornado I got here on SimV). Although they do no damage, you can see the tracer rounds fire. And the Su-15 that just came out has A/G rockets which leave "explosions" on the ground. And there's an F-15E here on SimV with a bomb dropping action, although no damage is done to the terrain. So, while you can fly military aircraft, and simulate strafing runs, bomb rounds, CAS missions, The "weapons" do no damage to the surroundings.

One other idea, for the visual aspect of the sim anyway, check out the Freeware Screenshots section of this forum to get a feel for what's offered by FS9. You won't regret taking the plunge.

Have a look at Classic British Flight Sim............I've got lots of their freeware aircraft.  They really are FIRST CLASS so I drop donations at them when I get them  
Have fun!

TW



I was TerryUK but couldn't log in with my usual name & password  :'(