When You Fly Long Routes...

[usapatriot]

Hello everyone!

I have a quick question for all FSX players who do long flights. Do you fly the flight at normal speed the whole time through or do you speed up the simulation rate? If you do speed up the simulation rate then how do you respond to ATC when they check in on you?

[Anxyous]

Natural rate make more fun.

[usapatriot]

Natural rate make more fun.

Well I suppose so but doesn't it get boring after a while when flying at 35,000 feet?

[BFMF]

I always fly real time, at or near my computer, even if I have to pause the flight, and continue it later.

I just finished a 15 hour flight from Ireland to Canada in a B-17. All real time, at the computer.

I sure did get a lot of reading, paperwork, ect accomplished...lol

[C]

Natural rate make more fun.

Well I suppose so but doesn't it get boring after a while when flying at 35,000 feet?

Read a book, go to the toilet, have a cup of coffee, have your dinner - all make it as real as it gets.

[Minte]

I do what real airline pilots do...turn on A/P and take a snooze.

[bin801]

I do it real time.

[Salo]

I do what real airline pilots do...turn on A/P and take a snooze.

Amen to that.

[usapatriot]

LOL, what about ATC?

[macca22au]

Horses for courses! Sometimes I cut out the long sea legs by going to 8x sim speed, other times I pause the flight if I can't see it through to the end, and others I do what so many do.  Leave it at real time, go eat, snooze, watch TV.  However, this is not really real, as flight deck crew have regular tasks to fill the hours, relief crews to take over, cabin staff to chat up, coffee to drink etc. and there is always a lurking feeling that something might happen at 30k above the ground.  Like the exploding oxygen bottle on a recent Qantas flight.

If ATC gives up on me, I wait till I'm nearer my destination, or back over land, and then re-file my flight plan (but don't let it put you back at your point of origin).

Real world flying is described as hours of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror.

It is only a couple of foot to the ground if I fall off my chair!

[BFMF]

I don't fly jets very often. I prefer General Aviation, or vintage aircraft

But when I do long cross countries, I don't use the GPS, or the GPS/nav option on my autopilot. I sometimes remove the GPS from an aircraft panel completely. I navigate with my compass, aeronautical charts if possible, and radio navigational aids.

If you take off in a jet, and let the autopilot fly the aircraft and navigate itself while coupled to the GPS; Sure, the flight is going to be a little boring and dull.

But on the other hand, if you take off in a prop aircraft, and navigate with maps, compass, and using radio navigational stations every 50-100 nm, you're going to be a little bit more involved....

Try completing a flight with an IFR flightplan, without ever using a GPS, and only using radio navigational aids. You're going to be a little bit more busy

[idahosurge]

Real time, I fly military fighter jets mostly, US to Europe and US to Australia.  I get to the altiude, speed and heading that I want and turn the AP on then, to to the store, go for a walk, watch TV, surf the net on my laptop (read posts on this forum) and do what ever.  Keep an eye on the PC, adjust heading as required and when I get to my destination I land.  I do this on the weekends mostly or days off.  I will start a flight first thing in the morning and land by early evening.  Thank God for inflight refueling!

Rod