UK airports, and Washington Dulles

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:57 pm

Hello all,

I'm very new to Flight Sim 2004. Could anybody tell me what I need to purchase/download to fly from LGW to IAD via PHL?

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:54 pm

Hi Bob

You could fly using the basic FS2004 installation. The in-built FS9 Flight Planner - such as it is - works using ICAO codes rather than IATA so you'd just need to use that and select EGKK as your departure point and KPHL as destination.
Then repeat the process once you've arrived at Philadelphia. KPHL to KIAD.

You'll probably have to use a Direct GPS flight plan, or alternatively you could use this free route planner and then add all or some of the necessary waypoints.

*If you try to use the IFR flight planner it will eventually get you there but if I remember correctly it routes you via Portugal or some other ridiculous route.

You might want to pop over to Project Opensky, IFDG, Historic Jet Group or to AVSIM and get yourself something nice to fly it in.
You could spend some money at PMDG or PSS on aircraft but I'd recommend you find your feet first.

Then there is the scenery. For a lot of people the default renditions of the major airports and hubs are sufficient.

I don't know of any freeware scenery for the airports you've mentioned. A search on AVSIM or Flightsim.com may reveal some though.

For Gatwick there are two payware versions I'm aware of. UK2000 which can be bought either from the author here or as part of the British Aiports series in the shops, from the likes of Play.com or direct from the publisher.
Alternatively OSS have a rendition but I've heard it requires a very meaty PC to run it well.

SimFlyers have versions of Philadelphia and Dulles for sale but I've always found their scenery to be quite a heavy drain on system resources too.

Best to find out whether long-haul flying is for you before spending any money.
I'd strongly recommend doing it in a non-default aircraft as that can be enough to put anyone off this part of Flight Simulator.

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 4:02 pm

Thankyou!

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 2:46 pm

Is that a Lodekker outside of Temple Meads?

I'd go along with all that was said above.

Get to http://www.avsim.com and http://www.flightsim.com for some truly fantastic free downloads.

Best advice though... Before going, choose the aircraft type (Vickers Super VC-10 from http://www.dmflightsim.co.uk/ would be my choice, but it's not really a beginners aeroplane)

Choose the airline you fancy flying...

Then choose departure and destination airports (which you've done)

And then search those components at the sites.

The number of times I've gone there to look for one airport scenery or AFCAD file and ended up hours later installing all kinds of stuff that I'll hardly ever see. And then I don't have enough time to do the original flight!

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:05 pm

Hello Fodda,

That's an RE outside of Temple Meads! Thanks for your tips, I thought I'd jump in at the deep end and go with an A340...

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:20 pm

Well at least you'll have auto-everything with an A340.

Look for anything made by Project Open Sky (Posky) as their aeroplanes have some fantastic detail and they seem to specialise in these modern airliner thingys.

Get a decent paint for it as well.

To be honest, with my first trans Atlantic I chose the Posky 747 with the British Airways Unicef repaint which looks absolutely stunning at 35,000' at sunrise or sunset.

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:44 pm

Speedbird083 wrote:
You'll probably have to use a Direct GPS flight plan, or alternatively you could use this free route planner and then add all or some of the necessary waypoints.

Hello again,

Can you tell me how to enter the waypoint info from that website into the flightplanner?

Also, is there a free online resource with fleetlists etc?

Very Best Wishes, and a very Merry Christmas,
Bob.

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:16 pm

Unfortunately its a case of manually entering it or at least thats the method I always used prior to the BAV OSP having the facility to generate flight plans.

Routefinder generates the flight plan and the Long. and Latt. for the waypoints.
I'd got to the Flightplanner in FS and then ALt+Tab between the IE window and FS9 editign the flight plan by scrolling around the map and taking/dragging the "route" (pink line isn't it?

) to the respective navaids.

Its awkward and could take ages on a long flight.

There is FS Build which I believe can do the work for you. The new version (2.2) is payware but an older version (1.4) was made freeware.
I've just tried the link but it says the page not longer exists.
Try http://www.fsbuild.com. You might have better luck.

Alternatively, look at FS Navigator. Theres a demo version of that (20 flight sim sessions).
A lot of people I know who fly for VA's see it as essential but I've got by without it since it went payware years ago.

Post by **codrivermike** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:20 pm

One aircraft worth obtaining is from http://fokker.avsim.net.
Also scenery from http://www.nl-2000.com

The aircraft comes with a very detailed panel and also a tutorial flight starting with instruments and engine off, going through the sequences and leaving the gate at Schipol. Then climbing on autopilot to a full autolanding back at Schipol.

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:57 pm

Thankyou both very much for your suggestions and help.

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Website · Post by **Easilyconfused** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:13 pm

codrivermike wrote:One aircraft worth obtaining is from http://fokker.avsim.net.
Also scenery from http://www.nl-2000.com

The aircraft comes with a very detailed panel and also a tutorial flight starting with instruments and engine off, going through the sequences and leaving the gate at Schipol. Then climbing on autopilot to a full autolanding back at Schipol.

Well that will give the cable modem some exercise whilst we are out at the carol service

Looks stunning. I suspect a lot of flying practice will take place these holidays

Cheers

John

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:34 pm

Hi John,

It's already giving my cable modem something to do!

Have a good evening.

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Website · Post by **Easilyconfused** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 10:53 pm

Well the Netherlands scenery is stunning - never knew a flat country devoid of any significant hills could look so good. 231MB download though so that exercised the connection.

Sadly I downloaded the FS2004 version of the Fokkers rather than the 2002 version so another batch of downloads is running now.

Cheers

John

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 11:09 pm

Netherlands 2000 is fabulous.

You normally have to pay serious money to get scenery like that.
Its not quite VFR Photographic, Gary Summons', Sim-Wings quality or MegaCity/MegaScenery quality but for free its easily one of the best add-ons out there.

Website · Post by **Easilyconfused** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 8:28 pm

Just downloaded the scenery objects for the both Severn Crossings from flightsim.com The Fokker sure looks good and the new bridge scenery is welcome change when flying out of Filton.

Click the image to zoom in

Click the image to zoom in

Cheers

John