VirtualAviator

I never really talked to ATC in real life. I did make CTAF calls. My CFI handled ATC. I would have eventually had I continued training. I am interested in a virtual ATC network. I have a current Pilotedge (PE) subscription and, a Vatsim account. My issue was that I stop progressing. I got to a point where I was comfortable with PE, flying to the same airports over and over in the ZLA area. Being a VFR pilot, I didn't push myself to practice IFR flying and procedures. I even got the feeling that the PE controllers grow tired of handling my usual calls and request for flight following. I really quit when I was flying VFR with flight following to a small airport just outside of Las Vegas. The controller advised me that I was in violation of airspace when I flew over a Military Operations Area (MOA). I'd flown the route numerous times with flight following in the past. As I was arriving into the Vegas area he asked vectored me to a heading to avoid traffic. I began to panic. Although I'd been vectored before to avoid traffic, I was caught totally off guard. He told me to turn 10 degrees to the left. I was more used to something like fly heading 340 to avoid traffic. Then he told me to join the Boulder VOR on an outbound radius. What? huh? After the 3rd request to comply, I said unable, that I was having some issue with my avionics (which I wasn't) and I cancelled flight following. I got really mad at the controller. Then I realized that I was the blame and I got mad with myself for not being able to follow those instructions. I realized it wasn't the controller. It was me. All those years flying PE and I couldn't fly outbound on a VOR radius. Ever since then I get terribly intimidated by ATC. So I avoid networks yet, I keep telling myself that I'm going to restart. That's why I keep my PE subscription current and I occasionally fly Vatsim. Never IFR though. So yes, I am interested in ATC and I do intend to work through my fear. It's just that it's easier to do it tomorrow than today (wow! a catchline, right?). Hey man, you don't have to give Volanta a try. But if you did, I think you'd like it. It works in tandem with ATC networks.

Volanta does not offer ATC. Orbix calls it a personal flight log. That's a good description, IMO. https://volanta.app/

I've been using Volanta almost since day 1. However, I never associated it with a VA. Other than the flight sim ACARS there is little in common with a VA. I always thought that one of the many reasons for a VA was to be accountable, albeit not to anyone particularly, but perhaps to others in the VA. BTW: Volanta is great. If you haven't tried it you're missing a lot.

One of the guys I talked to flew the MD11. I gotta say, it surprising what I learn at these meetings. I learned the 717 is basically an upgrade to the MD11. It sparked a conversation among a couple of retired airline pilots. It was so interesting hearing some of the shenanigans they dealt with on the B732, B733 and, B734. Also what was interesting is their lack of appreciation of what is involved with modeling an aircraft for flight simulation. My challenge turned out to be why a dev would need access to someone who has access to the 717. They'd pull up stuff on the internet and say, everything they [devs] need is already on the internet. I hope I gave them some awareness of the level of authenticity today's flight sims possess and why it's important to have a 1st person source. Anyhoo, it was a fun conversation the 717 sparked. Thanks @tkyler.

There's actually a difference in the way the airplane handles - i.e. cloud turbulence, and the flight physics has been tweaked. There's a difference in light rendering too. I don't mean to hi-jack this thread so in the spirit of the thread's title, should we start a new thread if you guys want to reply?

I'm going to my EAA Chapter meeting tomorrow morning. I'll check around there for some with access to a 717. If I get a hit I'll PM you.

This may be a little off subject, but wouldn't it move future aircraft development further faster is a group was formed to create avionics or flight management systems, where the core could be reused in different aircraft? It seems to me that every dev is having to reinvent the wheel. I sorta imagine a voluntary group creating core products that would be open-source. Anyway, I'm just spit-balling here.

Glad you figured it out. Simming and real-life flying is becoming more and more asymptote.

To be honest, @daemotron, I wasn't around during the transition from XP9 to XP10. I popped in right at XP11.1 (I still remember clouds "scissoring" by as I flew through them). I did read somewhere that the transition from XP10 to XP11 was more straightforward. Thank you for letting me (us) know that it was traditionally just as messy. That gives me more confident in the product. I find myself wondering if LR devs are working 8-12 hours per day, like madmen on a mission, on XP12 or, if each dev is causally working on their respective parts a few hours per week. I guess I'll never know, but I'd like to assume the former.

You didn't. Remember, "A good (sim) pilot is always learning". My rant/blub wasn't intended for you personally, although I did preface with your name. I tend to imagine a great deal of folks reading through some of these post and thus learn something (or at least entertain another opinion). Since simming is the only thing I spend money on, I tend to go for it. I don't drink or smoke so I consider this my vice. That's why I'm quick to pickup sim stuff. House is paid for, kid is grown and gone, oh yeah... no wife. Nevertheless, this isn;t about how many aircraft we have, or who can afford this or that. It's about a passion, learning and most of all, having fun. So no, I don't think you are tasting your leathery foot.

Rick, I think most 3 party devs are more frustrated than we are with the changes LR has made to XP12 - pray-tell it'll be worth the pain in the end. Many were promising free upgrades from XP11 to XP12. The upgrade from XP10 to XP11 was straightforward, from what I've heard. The upgrade to XP12 is bumpy and curvy. The devs didn't anticipate the guts of the sim to be as radically different from XP11 as it turned out. In fact, many thought they'd be able to have the XP12 versions of their aircraft deployed within days. At this point, it is going on months and we're still waiting on some aircraft. The good news is that most GA aircraft that rely on LR's G430, G530 and G1000 were able to get released relatively quickly. More complex aircraft seem to have be rewritten. I've been following the progress of the 737-300 by IXEG and have recently started reading a blog by X-Crafts. Both have given examples of how something that seemly should have taken a day or so to do, turned into weeks. The difference is that one developer has chosen to release his product in a "good enough" state with known bugs and a commitment to fix them, while the other has chosen to squash as many bugs as possible before releasing it. I'm waiting on my beloved TBM900. Since I haven't been following the redevelopment of the airplane, it's easy to assume that the dev has moved on or just taking his sweet time. However, I know better. Many devs have multiple offerings and limited time and resources. After flying a rushed plane, I've decided that I'd rather be patient than to rush them. The question whether to charge for the XP12 version is a tough one. I can see why it's hard to just give away, for free, months and months of reworking logic, and testing code (only to have the sim change and break the code and have to start again). Tools like Planemaker won't cut (alone) it in today's simming environment. Planemaker, IMO, is a great learning tool for someone who's getting started and want to make a cartoonish looking airplane with default datarefs and, drop-in avionics... but what do I know? I'm not a dev. Complex aircraft require complex programming logic and rigorous testing. I, for one, don't mind paying a dev for their work if it delivers the value I crave, even if it means paying for an aircraft twice (within reason).

Just out of curiosity, would you say that the changes to the XP12 code and SDK is settling down, and stabilizing or are you still seeing wild swings that may break something you've spent days or weeks on?

AFAIK, most issues concern the autopilot and/or power thrust levels. Of course, stuff like windshield effects won't work. Nevertheless, I think almost all the planes will fly. Some might cause CTDs. The more I read 3rd party devs blogs the more I'm learning that XP12 is a vastly different beast than XP11. At the end of the day, it's entirely up to each user whether they want to fly XP11 aircraft in XP12.

OMG. 324 is a lot. That's more than I have even if I check the show earlier version box. If I were to move my XP11 aircraft over, I'd run a close 2nd, no doubt. . However, I only run XP12 native aircraft.

WOW! Let's form XAA - X-Plane Aircraft Anonymous.

Speaking of flying a single airplane, one of the problems I have is that I'll start my sim, get the virtual hanger page and stare. I have a plethora of airplanes to fly. What do I feel like today? hmmm.... (tick-tock, tick-tock) hmmm. Oh well, I'll fly tomorrow.

Start flying.py View File Start flying.py is a simple program launcher that is somewhat more powerful than creating a batch file. If you launch other addons to run with your flight simulator this utility is for you. Set it up once and then you'll launch your Flight Simulator and addons with a single click. Submitter VirtualAviator Submitted 05/30/2023 Category Plugins and Utilities  

I'm with you, Bro. Although, I'd love to see the NG(X), I'd settle for the legacy model with deep systems. I've only purchased 2 airplanes for MSFS and Carenado's PC-12 was one of 'em. It wasn't much better than the XP11 version. The only other airplane I might purchase for MSFS is the PC-12 when SimWorks release their version (they've been working on it for almost 2 years - I think). That's how much I love the PC-12. The JF Arrow III/V was the other MSFS purchase. Cool cockpit pic, btw.

I can't recall having that issue with my copy. Here's a quick landing. Carenado's version was so lacking that I purchased and flew the STMA version mostly. The STMA version was ported from XP10 and the graphics where never updated. However, the systems were modeled much deeper than Carenado' version. The STMA version looked much more cartoonish, though.

That's only 1667 flight per year, averaged. Or about 4 1/2 flights per day, everyday, 7 days per week. Nah. You're not addicted.

Agreed. Back in 2016-18 I flew basically two airplanes exclusively: the C172 and the Piper Arrow III/IV. I have a bunch of video on my YT channel in the Piper. At the time, I was trying to stick to aircraft I might actually fly IRL. Once I decided I am not going to finish pursuing my PPL, I decided I would fly whatever suits my fancy. Then I fell in love with the PC-12. Since the Citation X and the Challenger I've been transitioning to biz jets, which has segue to airliners. However, I always return to my pistons and turbo props for the love of those planes. Same here @Blueb. I tend to let my curiosity get in front of my wallet. I'll buy a GA airplane, usually around $25US, fly it a few times and move on. Those I mark as a favorite, I'll return to for more flights. BTW: I flew the PC-12 from the Congo to RDU (Raleigh-Durham International) similar to the way @Rick310 is flying through AK. If y'all haven't tried FSEconomy, then it worth a look. To move an aircraft from one location to another you have to fly it there. No teleporting.

Wow! I'm lucky if I can't 15 hours in any one aircraft. The high today is about 80 in my neck of the woods. However, I think I'll do some PE flying in the ZLA today. Here's a first world problem - Can't decide what to fly.

This is more of a "Wish List" item - Redevelop or continue development on the GTN 650/750. Development and forum support appears to have stopped.

Interesting... Today, I'm semi-retired, not receiving any governmental money, however. I run 3 businesses, all really small. My main source of income has been a home repair business - (I turn down more jobs than I take). I also take jobs as a professional photographer, and finally I run a website hosting company. Anyway, when you said you wanted to sue developers, I thought you were talking about flight sim developers. Now I think you are referring to real estate developers. Am I right?