More newbie questions

[Garcon31]

Hi all,

I was wondering if the aircraft, aircraft variants and airports from v4.0 can be used with v4.5?

Second question -- I am so new that I have not yet "actually" flown my R/C airplane. This will save a ton of money in crashes, I've already learned.

But my question concerns the placement of the "pilot" in the simulated airports - can you move your software self with respect to the glide slope? Basically, my toughest challenge is orienting the aircraft spatially to land on the pavement. I'm usually too far beyond the pavement or making wild last second manouvers trying to arrive over it. I would imagine it is easier to stand right by the runway and have the aircraft come more directly at you (that's what I'm planning to do when I fly "live").

Thank you,

Gary

[jeffpn]

Yes, in a 3d field, not in a photofield, you can place the pilot spawn where you want. Open the airport editor to do that. The photofield pilot spawn must be where the photographer stood to take the pictures. By the way, when you're standing near the runway with your plane coming toward you, let me know. I'll be far, far away. And grass is softer than pavement, anyway. At my field, people take off from the runway, and usually land on the grass.

[rccardude04]

You can also press the W key to enter walk mode, and walk around.

If you're on a photofield, you can't do it. But if you're on a 3D field, you can roam around all you want similar to a FPS video game.

To exit walk mode, I usually go up to "view" and select camera type then "fixed position." Otherwise, it won't follow your plane with the field of view. You'll have to move the mouse to move the camera view around.

-Eric

[Garcon31]

Outstanding advice, thank you. It was very interesting to hear that other folks use the grass -- that just got me 80 percent closer to feeling ready to fly for real.

The W mode is also a great tip. I've been so taken with the realism of the photo fields I haven't really used the others -- and my modest PC seems to perform better in the photofields as well (less stuttering).

[opjose]

3D fields have many advantages.

Try dropping the foliage density to about 20% or less to improve performance in 3D fields, also turn OFF particle effects and focus effects.

I tell students to line the plane up right along a barrier fence we have along the tarmac, to keep people off the runway, as they are coming in for a landing... do the same in G4.

At first students are very afraid of doing this, and getting the plane so close to the fence.

However it let's them master aligning the plane with the runway as they can more easily sight down the fence line that is practically at their sides.

Just before they are over the threshold I have them turn slightly to align with the actual run way... works every time...

3D airfields also let you practice something that you should only do in a sim at first, but will save many a plane at the airfield...

That is learning to fly the plane NOT by what you see, nor depth perception, but rather how the plane reacts to your inputs.

Take a plane up on G4 and then fly the plane out as far as you can.

Turn OFF zoom ( backspace ) and turn ON smoke.

Now learn to fly the plane through manouvers when it is nothing but a dot in the sky.

Try flying it inverted, etc.... since you have no visual cues, you'll learn how to determine orientation by the response to your stick movements.

Once you think you've gotten it, turn off the smoke and try again...

Much more difficult now huh?



Why do this?

Because sooner or later you'll get disoriented with the real plane in the air.

The best and quickest way to re-establish control is to know how to react to the plane's reactions, even when you do not know which way it is pointed or oriented.

You'll save many a plane if you can master this in the sim!

[Garcon31]

That is great info, thank you.

I've been contemplating the "dot in the sky" phenomena which I assumed I'd be faced with -- probably first day of real flight.

Still, feeling the plane's response to the controls? What a concept! I guess I'll need some real time to know what this means. I imagine seeing the dot rise or sink is about all I'd be able to discern. I can't imagine how I could tell if it is coming toward me or not -- flying off into oblivion, or the center of town, is what I half expect.. ha ha

Anyway, thanks again for the great input.

[opjose]

That is great info, thank you.

I've been contemplating the "dot in the sky" phenomena which I assumed I'd be faced with -- probably first day of real flight.

Still, feeling the plane's response to the controls? What a concept! I guess I'll need some real time to know what this means. I imagine seeing the dot rise or sink is about all I'd be able to discern. I can't imagine how I could tell if it is coming toward me or not -- flying off into oblivion, or the center of town, is what I half expect.. ha ha

Anyway, thanks again for the great input.

Yes exactly!

At first it seems impossible... but the smoke helps you get the hang of things...

After a while, if you keep at it, you'll be able to determine if a plane is upright or inverted, flying towards you or away from you, just by how that "dot" moves when you move a stick.

e.g.

If you push the stick foward and the plane climbs, the plane MAY be inverted, but which way is it facing? Add a bit of aileron and repeat, and you'll have a much better idea.

After a while you'll find that seeing the tail or the nose of the plane becomes unimportant.

This skill translates directly into the real world....

You'll be flying a plane doing stunts, and at some point realize that you no longer know which way the plane is oriented... if you fall into the same pattern you practiced on in the sim, you can quickly re-establish orientation.

I typically can figure it out in less than a second, usually about half a second... all thanks to the sim.

all it takes are some very quick and light stick moves to re-establish orientation...

Not quite enough time to get the adrenaline fully pumping, but just enough to get you a bit anxious.

[wjkssmd]

At first in the sim, I walked the pilot forward to the edge of the field. Problem is that you need to practice what you will experience at the field. You don't want a propeller bearing down on you to slice and dice you.

Learn to fly to a position in the sky before turning for home. Learn that position by taking off and flying straight out from the airstrip. After a while you will be comfortable about where to turn from base and this will mean less adjustment on final approach. Try to get to a point where you make a single turn maneuver and fly it to the ground. The more that you adjust on final (wobbly wings), the less confident you are, and the more sloppy your flying looks. It looks great when you hit it right and make slight alignment adjustments with rudder. Of course, the turn point will change with wind direction and speed.


Hi all,

But my question concerns the placement of the "pilot" in the simulated airports - can you move your software self with respect to the glide slope? Basically, my toughest challenge is orienting the aircraft spatially to land on the pavement. I'm usually too far beyond the pavement or making wild last second manouvers trying to arrive over it. I would imagine it is easier to stand right by the runway and have the aircraft come more directly at you (that's what I'm planning to do when I fly "live").