Simviation Forums

Hi all.

I tried my float plane for the first time. It starts me off on a paved runway. This float plane is an add-on and has no landing gear. Just floats.

- How do I start off in the water?

- Are there airports that are designed for float planes? If so, please name a few?

Thanx all...for your time.

There was a list of water runways in FS2002 Help. Unfortunately this was not included with FS9. Should be plenty in Alaksa & Florida. The only one I can remember offhand is named Evers located just off Manhattan.

It's quite possible that at least one of the default flights starts on a water runway.

Terrific, thanx  :).

Being new to FS, I am probably taking on too much at one time. I still don't have a complete understanding of flight avionics. But can't resist trying everything. I'm interested in vintage, helicopters and other kind of craft.

What would be the best aircraft in FS2004 to use to gain the understanding of avionics I need to be successful in this simulator? And be able to move on to other aircraft. I have taken the flying course but need some flying time, practice, before creating a flight of my own. I would like to turn up my realism a bit, get rid of the training wheels. I have unlimited fuel, etc.  :P

(I found that I can fly everything, no problem taking off and landing really. but need an airplane that has user friendly gauges, no fuel mixtures or too much of that kinda thing to worry about, for example)

I think I lean to much on the AP feature.

Anyway, thanx .

Have a look in the Flight School forum. Brett_Henderson is doing a very interesting FS Training series which should be just up your street. Mobius has posted a video based on one of the lessons. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=school

Re the floatplane: You don't need a water runway. You can start off from any suitable stretch of water. Take off from a hard runway with a land plane then swap to a floatplane &  land on the water. (Use the Slew function to make it easier if you wish.) Taxi to where you want to start from & save the flight at that point under an appropriate name. This can then be selected from the Flights menu.

Ok, wow, thanx for the info. Sounds like it'll help me a lot.

If you fancy a trip around the San Francisco Bay, and surrounding area, get your plane afloat at the Commodore Center (22CA)....

'Frisco and Alcatraz ahead, and Golden Gate Bridge off to the right, and don't forget a trip under the Bridge to find the Aircraft Carrier parked in the Ocean......!

Paul....G-BPLF.... 8-)...!

Don't forget "slew" mode... press "Y" then use the arrows on your number pad to move the plane from a runway to the nearest water. "Q" makes it go up. "A" makes it go down... and when it touches the water, it will settle. Press "Y" again and you're ready to go.
That way you can operate your floatplanes from any water on the globe.
But there are plenty of water runways- look for the anchor symbol on the Map. Best places to start looking: any town or city on a major river or body of water.

As for "the best plane for avionics", there is a wide variety of avionics, but the Cessna 172 is a good trainer for comm/nav radio training as well as flight... and yes, Brett's lessons will help, more than the FS9 lessons, I'd say.

Another tip: rather than fly the default FS9 172, get the excellent freeware one from Real Air... easy to download and install, and it flies more like the real thing.

Looking for a good floatplane? Easy to fly & learn in?

You can't go wrong with the FS2004 Maule M-7-260 6-pack. The model & VC are excellent, it's also

Thanx all, for all of the suggestions.

I've started to use the Cessna 172 (default)...but am dl'ing the Maul M-7-260 6 pack (172). It's almost done.

I went to Frisco, flew around a bit, under the bridge, pretty cool, it was a night flight. Couldn't find the aircraft carrier but only had a moment to fly around, very cool, thanx.

My job keeps me very busy. I hope to get the training course started soon. I appreciate the advice.