To smooth a ride

[Hula]

Overall im fairly pleased with CFS3 though ground detail could be better.
But what gets me is the way you can fly through the worst weather CFS3 can throw at you so smoothly.
I've been in a small plane (as a passenger) and remember it vividly as we passed very close to some large thunderheads. The turbulence was far greater than anything I've yet encountered on any commercial flight ( thank god ). So far in the game I think I've only noticed a mild effect once or twice and this simply doesn't equate to the real world. This game needs an add on to remedy this and the storms are pretty pathetic too.

[SilverFox441]

Military aircraft ride smoother than most general aviation aircraft of the same size. The reason this happens is because military aircraft have a higher wing loading and better streamlining...they are less affected by the airmass moving around them. Also, they are frequently flying much faster and gain the advantage of inertia...they don't want to bounce around.

[Hula]

But we're talking about WW2 aircraft here and though your points may well hold true for the fighter aircraft the bombers of that period were slow and probably not that efficient in terms of streamlining. Really I'd like to hear wether they gave as smooth a ride as CFS3 simulates in adverse weather conditions straight from someone who has or had experience of flying these planes.

[Sky_Shark]

Even the most modern jets feel turbulence, particulary small fighter jets. I never flew in one but I know they are very stressfull and turbulent.

I think Microsoft knows this, just look into FS 2002. The turbulance efects are there.
But real flight sims have more complex simulation engines for these things like weather. In CFS3 you have alot of AI runing and the whole combat thing (bombs, guns, damage, interactive scenery) etc.. probably they didn't had any room left for real simulation.
I'm glad they didn't cause the game is barely playable at most systems

[Hula]

I think perhaps I should try a 'real' flight simulator but i'm not gonna rush out and buy fs2002 not with fs2004 c.o.f. imminent. But even then I don't like the idea of going through a manual that makes the bible look like light reading in order to fly - correct me if i'm wrong. One of the reasons I bought CSF3 was to have the ability to fly aircraft with a more 'hands on' feel. Turbulence is there in the game it just needs enhancing and if it is a draw on resources perhaps any enhancement would be best available as an add on with an appropriate warning to users of lower spec systems. I run this game on a powerful system and still get the odd stutter.

[Sky_Shark]

My dad was never found of computer games but he likes to fly arround in FS 2002
I dont think it's dificult to fly in FS 2002 if you use small planes like Cessnas. The engine is already started when you begin a flight, to get it up flying it's basicly the same as CFS3.
The navigation is also very easy using GPS.
Once you begin flying arround, prety soon you will want to learn more about flying biger and faster planes and make longer flights  ;)

[yellow5]

I flew in a military simulator once and that thing rocked me all over the place.  It almost seemed worse than my Piper Warrior of the Cessna 152.