Ross F - 1118044
-
Posts
140 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
2
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Posts posted by Ross F - 1118044
-
-
David Z
No it wasn't listed as (A-22) as you indicate for model. It is listed as indicated in my previous post as (A22) just didn't recognize it in the search. However did it again with it and it did find it with the - included. Strange one of those computer anomaly's one gets occasionally I guess.
-
When installing FSCopilot and FSInn previously with XP things were done differently but since the introduction to Win7 and service packs have seen this process refined to minimize any install issues.
VATSIM posted a simple 4 step process guideline that resolved a number of load issues and when this was indicated to some of our hierarchy it was pasted in the FAQ section as a permanent direct link to that guideling advice.
you can find these links here
We used to fill in details as the boxes opened during installation but now you do not do that at all. Read the advice like not running in Program Files folder. Install as (administrator) but do not run the program once installed as (Administrator). Load the Server Fix so that the dropdown menu will then show worldwide servers and then run the voiceroom files for the CTAF radio frequencies (Australia only)
-
Clive when I fly online with VATPAC with the 'VFR Operations' on FRI and SUN nights, or 'World Discovery Flight' on WED, we get anywhere from 6 to 20 flying on these nights.
You can set specifics like time of day or weather settings for the flight. We tested this out seeing as some of us use ActiveSky 2012, REX Essentials or OpusFSX and get a variety of different wind directions and speeds let alone weather conditions. What we did find though was when you selected the VATSIM Icon (cloud/sun beside VATPAC on the FSInn Control Panel) we all got the same wind direction and speed which if someone comes online as ATC operating a Tower etc then we get the same information as they use when they create the Airport ATIS.
Another thing I guess needs to be taken into consideration is that not everyone has addon weather Generating programs either.
-
Paul I am sure you wont regret your decision.
There are some Tweaks that REX Essentials recommend to make so it loads and runs faster rather than downloading massive amounts of weather data you don't need so read the forums and guides that they have provided there. If you want a hand to sort these out pop into our VATPAC TeamSpeak on Wed (World Discovery flight night# or VFR Operations #Fri & Sun nights# and I am happy to go through the settings with you. VH-RJF
Here is how accurate it is
Seeing as NZ is getting just a little bit of a blasting and cold snap at the moment I went to Christchurch NZCH to see what the weather was in realtime as of 0530z
This is the results I got
Flightradar24 shows the realtime ATIS (real world information to Pilots at this specific time)
NZCH 2000500Z 19024G35KT 8000 SHRAGS SCT014 BKN025 04/03 QD994
BECMG 9999 -RA TEMPO 6000 RAGS BKN014
Weatherzone website showed this
FSX Screeshot Aircraft parked at Christchurch, actual Local time (3.30pm local) and let REXE generate the weather
In this screenshot it shows low cloud to the left in the background down to the ground. The aircraft was parked facing 359°
The low dark cloud was rain falling and came in across the Canterbury Plains from the South moving Northward.
Satellite Imagery showed East, West and North all had clear skies right up to the top of the South Island.
Wellington (North Island) showed it was raining there when checked.
Note that REXE weather indicated wind from 160° at 25kts and had gusts to above 30kts. I feel I can safely say the weather created by REXE was accurate, very much so.
When I activated VATSIM to generate the weather it changed to show 7°C, wind from 110° at 3kts with clear skies...!!!
That was the Max temp recorded and was around 12pm and have no idea what the weather was like at that time.
-
Having used all 3 weather programs I went to the extreme of actually doing a comparison test selecting various airports where there was more radical actual weather circumstances occurring so I could compare which portrayed the most accurate realtime conditions and have to say REX Essentials + Overdrive was a clear winner. Like the others it has its faults too with Dramatic changes when it refreshes sometimes. Active sky is also excellent but found it did not represent current conditions anywhere near as accurately as REX but has other features which also make is quite good also.
When I did the comparison tests I used BOM, weatherzone and the other day helping someone set theirs up discovered that you can get current ATIS conditions at any airport that provides this using - Flightradar24.com and selecting an airport when you identify that there is abnormal conditions occurring there from Satellite or radar imagery as it happens.
VATSIM Weather to say the least is not real-time weather. Test it yourself by going to a live weather radar or satellite image website, find an area that has extreme conditions occurring and set up there with FSX and see what it generates. You will quickly see for yourself then. An example early last week a fast Low pressure moved across from the South Australia bight and across Victoria and out across the Pacific to New Zealand at the weekend(VATSIM showed clear skies and light SE winds at Warnnambool) when it was 8/8 cloud cover 20kt with gusts above 30kts from WSW. It was also producing rain right across Victoria as it moved East. Both BOM and Weatherzone showed this and the amount of rainfall.
Just to confirm this I just discovered you can actually get real ATIS reports for any airport using flightradar24.com. Select the blue indicator for an airport and it will show you the current ATIS being given to aircraft actually flying.
I have found REX the most accurate conditions however when we get ATC they use VATSIM provided weather to generate the ATIS for the area they are working as the ATC.
When I got the new version of REX Essentials I discarded Activesky2012 simply as it looks so real with the massive amount of various HD graphics textures it can use. The other thing is you don't actually need it running to get these textures once it is installed into FSX. The weather is created and uses the REX textures. I only use REX when I want realtime weather conditions.
-
Greg
It can to some degree if you don't have suitable hardware. I built up what I think is a reasonable system but still only using 1 graphics card at this time which runs all 4 monitors and can maintain 20-30 fps. I can add 2 additional graphics cards to the board if I want.
Keep in mind that FSX is a 32bit program and is not Graphics intensive like most games but is more CPU intensive.
if a single HD Monitor with a resolution or 1920x1080 generates 2073600 pixels then 2 monitors create twice that amount 4147200. Clearly you need a more suitable graphics card to support that.
My previous system was running 2 x 8800GTX with 748mb on each with a Q6600 2.6GHz CPU and it was maintaining 30fps
My new build specs are:
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 with 2011 socket
Processor - i7 3820 (Quad core Sandy Bridge 3.6 GHz) has 3 preset overclocking speeds which I have set as 4.3GHz (Apparently it really starts to perform at 4.6GHz but not game to go there yet)
CPU Cooler - Corsair Hydro Series - H100
Graphics - VTX3D ATI Radeon HD6970 X Edition 2Gb - Capable of running 6 monitors - only running 4)
Memory - G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5 ZF3-17000CL11Q-16GBXL (2133MHz 11-11-11-30-2n)
Power Supply - Antec High Current Pro 750w Gold Series (HCP-750)
HHD - OCz Vertex 4 128Gb SSD - Operating System Win7 64bit Ultimate
HDD - WD 300Gb Velociraptor (10,000 rpm) Sata 3 - FSX only
HDD - WD 300Gb 7,500 Sata - Other ancillary programs
CASE - Corsair 600T Graphite Series
As indicated the graphics card is capable of running up to 6 monitors but I am running 4. Using the ATI Eyefinity software I found caused stretching of gauges etc and did not like to display in windowed mode but only fullscreen. Windowed mode allows me to be able to use the other monitors for other screens at the same time with this software without having to use eyefinity at all
the screenshot in the link shows a left monitor (19") I have TeamSpeak 3, FSInn Player, ATC, CHAT,Radar and Control panels displayed. The next 2 monitors are both (23" LED HD) which is my virtual cockpit. The right monitor is a (23" LCD HD) and has FS Commander and Plan G both running on it. With all this running I still maintain 20-30 fps. this obviously drops coming into some heavily detailed areas like Orbx Melbourne or Brisbane yet will maintain 10fps even there.
-
I know that we have some serious Flight-Simmer nuts out there and some serious built up simulator machines.
Anyway thought there might be some who are starting out with just one monitor and considering expanding to multiple monitor displays.
There are hardware adapters like the 'Mattrox 'Triplehead 2 Go' or 'Doublehead 2 Go', but were outside my budget.
Then I found this software and it was completely FREE. This is basically how it all works and it works a treat and does not need specialised Graphics cards and drivers to achieve a wide screen resolution.
I found SoftTH software nearly 2 yrs ago but for the life of me could not understand when they talked about modifying the created .cfg file and so on and gave up on it for a while.
Sometime later when I wanted to get a more realistic view across 2 monitors rather than 2 separate views that never seemed to line up I revisited SoftTH and amazingly it all started to make sense.
Even though there were some threads having similar problems trying to get this to work on a 32 bit program like FSX.
Finally worked out what the problem was and now have it all working and as stated earlier it was free.
This is what I discovered and posted. If I want I can easily extend the virtual cockpit to go right across all 4 monitor not as FULLSCREEN but in Windowed mode even.
Hope this is of use to any other flightsimmers who are looking at building up their systems for a better visual simulator
-
David it is indeed a more comprehensive list.
I did a bit of an exercise to see how easy it could find an aircraft
my example being the Aeroprakt A22 Foxbat
I did a search initially under (Model search) for the A22 Foxbat, then Foxbat, finally A22, yet it did not find a model with any of these conditions yet is listed in the Model column of its DATA
I was not aware of the manufacturer to start with but when I found this out did a search for Aeroprakt under (Manufacturer) it showed a only (A22) as a model
However doing a search for Aeroprakt under (Aircraft Manufacturer) in the Blue section on the left
Aeroprakt was identified in a list shown and selecting the name then showed all aircraft made by them
Surprisingly A22 Foxbat was displayed in the (Model Column)
Clearly the sites search engine does not do a complete search of its available data.
-
Greg I found this site very useful when FSX indicates the Aircraft Identifier code as ZZZZ
-
WHAT on WHAT (
) I could almost see it now in the local Advocate newspaper. Recent Aviation feat attempt. Due to a 737 who tried to land on rwy 28 (approx. 848m long) Hogbin Drive that run across near the western end of the runwy was forced to be closed by emergency services as a result of this uhmmm 'forced or Error in identifying the correct runway 21. The aircraft managed not only to cross the busy service road but went across the swampland to the west and was able to stop on the Pacific Hwy where passengers were whisked away quickly by the many amazed onlookers....... LOL
Me thinks that would be something else to see a 737 trying to land on 28..... I THINK NOT
-
Yep saw him a string of them coming in from the north on flightpath but could see the first one was up past Split Solitary Island so was well away from me wondered why you told me to give way and go around behind him (unless there was another one I couldn't see that was on final for 21. When you said that, I was already crossing the 21 alignment over beacon hill on my downwind leg for 28. God knows the way my FSInn was playing up anything was possible. Anyway have now uninstalled and reloaded a fresh install of it.
I have a question, we were directed to join the right downwind for 28 which effectively had us crossing the final approach for inbound traffic on 21 which was one of the designated rwy given in the ATIS. Would it have been easier to avoid possible interference to both to have those landing on 28 to come in from the South and join a left base which would put them out east of the airport clear of the inbound 21 Traffic and only would mean they only cross if an aircraft has to go around on Final on 28. Aircraft would normally be on the ground by the time they are in the line of 21 arriving aircraft as it is a bit to the south of the 28 runway. Just a thought. Anyway as always a good challenge to time it to arrive at that given time - except for some annoying computer glitches.
-
Gee I was watching the UTC timing on the VATPAC webpage and reckon that one of the VFR flyers had to be close VH-DBA (Dave) for the non jet catergory landing on Rwy21.
Anyway thanks to those that performed ATC duties, had a few issues with FSInn dropping out a couple times enroute (grrrr). Arjun I could hear you calling me when I was on Right downwind for 28 and responded but clearly I wasn't transmitting. Finally got info to you relay with other pilots on teamspeak and found it rather hard to type and try and land at the same time. Such is life.
-
:rofl::clap:
-
Hayden that sounds interesting. Is that thrown out to the VFR Ops as a challenge....... LOL
Always wondered if an ultralite would register a IAS,
not IF, but WHEN going backwards
-
Mike you would be more than welcome to come join the mad bunch at 'VFR OPERATIONS' and do some ATC on the weekly Friday/Sunday flights, or even the Wednesday 'World Discovery Flight' fun, we have been getting around round 10-16 flying every week and most are getting uhmm ...more proficient...ok better if we encounter ATC Online....
Trent I like the idea of Cairns always creates some fun and games for the VFR group coming it there as you know
all the best everyone and have a Merry and safe Xmas
VH-RJF
-
Yet another great rollup last night with some 14 flying. - Great flight Pete yet again
As discussed with those last night it does pay to do a google search just to see if there is any scenery out there for where we are flying as there is plenty of freeware and payware available to make the flight just that much more realistic.
Anyway here are some screenshots taken
Approaching Montserrat I thought I saw a white vertical plume in amongst the cloud cover and sure enough on closer inspection found this
Approaching the airport of Vance Winkworth TKPN with harbour details along the coastline
Finally the destination OF Juancho Yrausin SABA (TNCS)
Following Daryl in it certainly did not look anything like he was on final but heading for valley to the right of where the airport is actually located.
As you can see from that screenshot Darryl certianly did not appear to be on final to the runway as the 'Default Scenery' does not locate the airport accurately.
As you can see here I was showing as being parked on the concrete apron area with the scenery I was using.
Looking at 'Plan G' map view you will see I was also accurately positioned on that on the concrete as well.
It also shows where the others were landed on the 'Default Scenery' airport but can see they are nowhere near where the actual airport in reality is positioned.
For me the few minutes it takes to do a search to see if there is scenery available can be well worth the visual accuracy of the flight in the end.
Cheers Rossco (VH-RJF)
-
Just an update as I have now also created and posted the Air Services AIP - ERSA - IFR Waypoints on the website now also
Here is the link to the download page
http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/file/3166-australian-ersa-ifr-waypoints-for-plan-g/
One thing I noticed checking over a number of them in Plan G was that even though a number of Waypoints showed along Upper and lower airways as named Intersections none show up as IFR Waypoints at all. There were also quite a lot not listed at all. There are some 1923 IFR Waypoints listed in the AIP which have now been created and will show in Plan G.
Cheers Ross
-
Don I have no idea why other than they are listed in the AIP ERSA and are called West Bass WEBS and Crayfish CRAY dont ask me why they are there other than they are in the VFR Waypoints List........
-
EDIT (AM): VFR waypoints in this post, Scroll down to message #6 for IFR Waypoints
A recent discussion raised an issue that some of us that fly VFR flights were using IFR waypoints in our flightplans and not VFR ones. I will be the first to plead ignorant here and always trying to improve and on getting referred to the AirServices - Aeronautical Information Pack (AIP) website which has listed Australian VFR Visual Reporting Points (VRP) in PDF format. Unfortunately all the co-ordinates were shown in Degrees, Decimal Minutes and the mapping Utility 'Plan G' uses Decimal Degrees but can import Data from Excel spreadsheet CSV files. After installing similar VRP and POI for NZ, I decided to compile the data using Excel and then converted the co-ordinates so they could be accepted and position correctly on the Plan G map. After some 1,012 entries it is now finished and available to all. It can be downloaded from the OZx website at the link below
http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/file/3153-australian-ersa-vfr-waypoints/
Here is a screenshot to show the waypoints scattered all around Australia.
Cheers Ross aka VH-RJF
-
1
-
-
In between the several 'Fatal Error - white screens of death' I managed to get a couple of snapshots at Rawnsley Park
Seems there was a picnic day at the field
And they even provided temporary accomodation for those that had a bit too much or maybe it was a temporary red light district............
-
Yet another great scenic flight 'Rusty'
You really need to install the scenery available to appreciate the location. The transition between Orbx Green to Red very distinctive as far as one could see east and west
Let alone ones surprise when about to touchdown at Wilpena Pound to see a mob of Kangaroos just off the edge of the runway
(look closer as some are animated and move highlighted with circles. Noted some cleaned their front paws or scratching their ears, some clearing the dust out of their eyes with their front paws) probably from all the ...hmmm smooth landings made.
Even at the eastern end there was even a herd of sheep (just to make Col to feel at home).
I couldn't help but notice that they were all standing yep not lying down and appeared to be waiting around the truck!
Probably waiting for the nightly trip into the forest Col ............... was that the horn they were tooting ?
-
What can I say other than brilliant effort from all
yet again the chap from Vatjpn did a fantastic job on ATC and was certainly challenged with wayward pilots and people talking over one another etc but all a learning curve for all and just shows how hectic it can get.
19 on Teamspeak then on FSInn about 6 japanese aircraft also so roughly 25 aircraft on the flight and also in and outbound from Naha which was just southeast of our destination at Kadena AB.
A couple of quick captures of FSInn Radar
Teamspeak list and FSInn panels showing it was busy
Plan G showing route and aircraft all along it
Finally just for Dan Whales circled in red at the East China Sea Whaling fleet surrounding them
-
CONGRATS and well done Pete and VATPAC for getting this up and running
As they say 'The world is our oyster' so am sure we will visit and explore some interesting (and challenging) places in our flights in the future
Ross (VH-RJF)
-
How good was that last night weather certainly became a challenge at Obihiro and the NDB was well inside the ILS approach. A lot of fun and then getting a text message to contact Tokyo Control.
I thought someone was having a lend of me to start with until seeing an active ATC in the FSInn ATC window
To start with it was a tad difficult decifering his english but quickly started to pick up the main things and gee what a job he did separating and bringing everyone in neat and tidy looked great on radar and Plan G.
Running REX Essentials sure created realistic weather as the visibility was a bit of a problem on the ILS at the destination and having the Military airport right beside nearly caught the unwary on approach as the runways there could be seen not the New Chitose Runways in the clouds. Great flight Pete and good roll up yet again.
) 
VFR OPS - Across Australia [Leg 3]
in Regular Events
Posted
Some more feedback from another of the VFR group.
We regularly get a good rollup every week on Friday and Sunday nights. 10 - 15 regularly.
We have a lot of fun over the 1 hr to an 1 1/2 hr as some have to start early to work the next day so it does not make a late finish at around 2130 EST
Unfortunately this Across Australia series seems to be completely out of sync with the planning re distances and timing to cover these distances.
Leg 1 shows 160nm but was 197.7nm and suggested in a C172 even @ 120 kts still took 2.0 hrs
Leg 2 shows 370nm and was 368.2nm and suggested in a B200 even @ 250kts took over 1.45 hrs
Leg 3 shows 280nm but was 443.3nm and suggested in a SR22 even @ 250kts would have taken 1.51 hrs
Leg 4 shows 300nm and is 318.1nm and suggested aircraft @ +240kts or we will be flying all night. This indicated already it is at the extreme limits for distance and time
The group likes to appreciate the scenery available and usually do flights around the 1hr duration but allow for all aircraft to get in the air which can add nearly 15 mins from first to last from start to finish so allow that extra 1/2 hr.
Clearly the distances and speeds have not been calculated correctly so hope this can be rectified and please do not take this as personal but constructive criticism
Regards Ross VH-RJF