Decisions...Decisions

[Flying Trucker]

Good afternoon all...

The old girl and I are moving out of the old homestead in the very near future as this home will go to our eldest son and his family.

[pengyman89]

you are given one throttle quadrant (3 levers) with the saitek yoke. however, you can purchase the throttle quadrant by itself to get another 3 levers and mount them side by side.

[Flying Trucker]

Yes I see what you are saying and I was wondering how realistic they look when you do that.

Are the top of the levers all the same height when you mount to the right side the throttle unit to the yoke unit?

Thanks for your input pengyman89.    :)

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Brett_Henderson]

Hi Doug..

As you're aware (as it applies to just about any hobby).. the two questions are always:

1) What level of realism are you looking for ?
2) How much are you willing to spend ?

The products you list cover both of those spectrums, fully. So I'd be inclined to ask, both questions.

Before you answer, I'll add that, for health reasons, I fully expect to be grounded in less than 2 years... and have pondered what level of simming I'd end up with as a substitute. Even if it's just a reduction in how much you fly for real, and you apply those resources to a computer and control hardware.. you're talking about VERY high-end equipment. I've always kept my simming budget pretty tame ($1,500 -$2,500 per year.. for both computer upgrades, and hardware like yokes and such).. and realize that I regularly spend twice that much in just one month of real flying.

[homebrewer]

Grounded, Brett? Care to elaborate?

[Brett_Henderson]

Grounded, Brett? Care to elaborate?

Just preparing myself  :)

Blood pressure, and blood sugar problems are in my genes, I just passed 50.. medication will probably come soon... i'm not willing to jump through the medical/legal hoops needed, to keep a medical certificate, while on that type of medication.  :-X

[olderndirt]

Brett
Know the feeling.

[Brett_Henderson]

Hey.. maybe between the two us, it will make one, qualified pilot  :D

[olderndirt]

Yeah, you can have all the TO radials and I'll have the FROMS

[Flying Trucker]

Good afternoon all...

Thanks for the feedback Brett.    :)

The computer I use now was built for Vista and FSX and is a lot more than what is really required.  That is all I use that computer for.

Several years ago I was going to have someone build me a simpit out of the front end of a Piper Apache.  I didn't do it as I ran out of time doing volunteer work and I didn't want the thing down in the barn or the hangar and both are winterized.  I wanted something in our home and the old girl and I were not ready to start taking out walls and now it is too late.  I do manage to get into a C130 and a Boeing Simulator for several hours twice a year and having our own aircraft has spoilt me.

What I am looking for is realism when flying the simulator.

The old girl and I now both in our 70s do our Pilot Medicals every six months and our drivers test once a year.  I am going to let my multi and instrument ratings lapse as I do not think I will ever buy another multi-engine aircraft again and what we pay out in check rides and medicals a year along with the time to do them is soon going to be a thing of the past.  We both share great/good health and are very very active.  

That is why I am interested in building a better flight simulator as the time will come soon I think when neither one of us will want to drive to an airport to go flying.  Walking out your back door and jumping into one of your own aircraft has been wonderful for us and we log anywhere between three to five hours a week in our own aircraft and that is mostly all year round except when the field is two soft.

We are hoping flight simming (not sure that is even a word)  ;D will fill the gap.

Now a little off topic Brett but take a half a day and talk to a Hospital Dietician and I think you will be surprised as to what they can do especially with the basic food groups.  We know avaitors from several of the flying clubs we visit who have diabetes and high blood pressure and a Dietician worked wonders for them.

Thanks for some input folks.  

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Brett_Henderson]

Hi Doug..

I think you're probaly looking for the same things that I do, out of a simulator.. and will even moreso as time goes on.

I don't need a "pit", or an array of monitors (and the array of computers/graphic-cards that would call for). A good, large, widescreen monitor for now (and probably an actual HD TV in the 46" range eventually) is all I'd want.



I think the ergonomic hardware is the key. A good seat with controls placed appropriately, and of course, decent controls. The rest of it is all mental. When I start a simming session (for other than testing something), a good chunk of the realism starts before I even fire up the virtual engines. Flight planning, and real-world weather briefing.. getting all the charts and plates organized.. checking out the airports I will, or might be stopping at... ( www.airnav.com ). Carefully fueling .. virtual walk around.. checklist use.. etc...

Then, the flight itself is (to me), an excersize in discipline. Nail the speeds..

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning all...

Great information Brett and thanks for the input.

What I would find interseting if I got the CH yoke with the six throttle unit I could use the top three levers on the yoke for something else.

Now I wonder if it is possible to use them for left and right carb heat or left and right cowl flaps leaving one lever for something else lets say for the Douglas DC3.  When I look at the set up I have now it only shows one position for carb heat that can be programmed and the same for cowl flaps.
I like that idea you mentioned.

I am in no big rush and space will determine what I purchase, if we get a three bedroom condo which is what we are looking at then one room will be dedicated for this hobby and probably shared as library as well.

Will have a look shortly at your sim flight...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Brett_Henderson]

Will have a look shortly at your sim flight

No  no.. it was a REAL flight  :)

[Flying Trucker]

Sorry my mistake...shall have a look.  

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug