You're not going to like some of these answersOracle427 wrote:I'm just answering your question, I understand that you aren't flying using standard procedures.
Very generally speaking if you are talking to ATC and they tell you to climb or descend to an altitude, they expect a minimum of a 500FPM rate. If you can't maintain that rate which is possible due to a hot day in a heavy plane at high power setting, you need to advise them that you are unable.
2. If there is a mountain ahead I take the controls
So how do you plan to ensure that you climb at the fastest rate or angle to clear the mountain. I was actually wrong when I typed Vx on my bus ride home. I meant Vy. Vy is the airspeed that provide the best RATE of climb at a given altitude and loading. At this speed you'll get your best sustained vertical climb speed.
3. Climb vx ? no idea what vx is sorry
Vx is the best angle of climb. It allows you to cover the least lateral distance while climbing, but it trades climb rate to minimize distance.
4. target altitude ? depends what I want at the time I guess. I set alt capture and it's done
There are VFR altitudes to fly depending on your heading to help with separation from other aircraft. Could be risky to be at the wrong altitude going the wrong way in a busy airspace.
6. Ground speed ? no idea I don't look at that I check airspeed only
Ground speed is very important in flight planning. One needs to keep track of their progress over the ground to determine how much time they'll need to get to their distination. Fuel consumption is based on time at a given power setting. This is also important when determining where you will be or need to be when changing altitudes, turning, planning to avoid obstacles, etc.
7. 3/6 rule ? sorry not heard of that
3/6 rule helps in descent planning. 3xaltitude in thousands of feet to descend = distance to begin descending and 6xgroundspeed = rate of descent. Using this rule you should generally be able to arrive fairly close to a point over the ground at the desired altitude from a higher altitude.
8. What is the distance I need to be before that altitude ? This is something I choose completely when just flying around.
For VFR flying around without a plan outside of busy airspace, this is perfectly okay. When you get near busy areas or arrive at a busy airport, you need to be at the right altitude at the right place to ensure orderly entry into the traffic pattern.
There is a lot of constant evaluation decision making going on and a lot of structure to make the behavior measurable, predicatable and therefore safer. If everyone just goes and does anything it can get very confusing and dangerous. Anyway, in the sim world none of this applies, but just background.
The trim is a tool and like any tool it can be used incorrectly to the detriment of the user.
1. Your first point re ATC. Yes they can advise you but there would not be an FSX option that says "sorry I can't do that" unless I am mistaken ?
2. if the mountain is there and I can't climb then I press Y and I "slew" However saying that, it is my preference NOT to because circumventing all the realism is profligate.
3. Ok best angle of climb but where is this said, on a chart ? the plane specs etc ?
4. Errrrrr unless ATC is telling me I have no idea, I just pick a height and go for it. If I fly the Aerosoft Airbus that's another story as I put it all in the FMC and it does it all
5. there is no 5
6. Ok. Time I just use DME if available but I never know WHEN I need to change altitudes. This is my problem actually. I am always too high so with practie I just know where the glideslope is so aim for that. I think this info is in an airport chart ?
7. Gotcha. Goodness this one is very important..
8. All I do is contact ATC and they give me clearance and I land. That's all I know I fear. They don't vector me in because I don't file a flight plan. What I should do is start using a flight plan and get ATC to vector me in......yes ? Hopefully they will say climb to this and head this this degrees decend to this and this yes ? At least I hope they will.
I think trying to circumvent the realism though is profligate. As I learn more and more albeit VERY slowly as I find this tricky, I do get better. What you have here is FANTASTIC because it covers REAL WORLD which is what a simulator is trying to simulate.
Therefore, I need to read CAREFULLY everything you wrote here and learn to do it RIGHT. If I wnat to faf around, I always can.
So what I need to do is
* File a flight plan. I tend to just jump in and fly.
* check the airport chart. Well, try to read it
I've only recently turned off unlimited fuel (2 days ago).