New to FS and this forum

[sharpshooter73]

Hello all... I'm new to the FS world. I have been up flying with a friend about 10 years ago when he was working on his PPL. My fiance is a GM at a flight training school in Florida and I am starting to get interested in getting our PPL together. I went out and bought FS2004 last weekend and have started tinkering with it. My PC is a Dell Optiplex 170L SFF and I just realized that I am going to have to stick with the crappy onboard graphics card because it won't support an additional gfx card. So the gfx are good, but they aren't anywhere near the box screenshots.  :(

Flying with the keyboard stinks, so I was looking at buying the CH flight yoke and pedal set. Is this the recommended set for a beginner? I just completed the student checkride in the game, but until I get the flight hardware it's going to be hard for me to control the plane properly.

Well, any suggestions would be great from some of the old pros/experts to a newbie. I really want this to be an enjoyable hobby.

Thanks!

[4_Series_Scania]

Welcome to the madhouse sharpshooter73 !

I'd advise a visit to the hardware forum for some information on how to kit out your pc for a better FS experience, Get any joystick as long as its analogue with a "twist action rudder" and take things from there.

The CH flight yoke and pedal set is very good, but, limited in other games as my friend with one has discovered.

I'm more than happy with my (now out of production) Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Stick.

Paul.

[Saitek]

Welcome. We have a number of pilots here and many FS and hardware experts. Post all your questions in the relevant forums.

[Brett_Henderson]

It's all a budget thing.. but if a yoke and pedals are in your budget.. DO NOT hesitate to order them. Especially if you're going to be taking real flight training. A CH yoke/pedal set costs less than two hours of dual in a 172 and you WILL, without a doubt, get more out the ensuing thousands you'll be spending on real training.

[sharpshooter73]

Thanks everyone for the welcoming!

I can afford the yoke and pedal set, so I'm going to be putting in an order for them.

Next on the list is to build a new PC and just give this one to my son. I need to have a better graphics card, more memory, and better sound. Then I should be all set.