Matt_W
2045
I built a new PC back in April or May. It’s an RTX2080 Super.
I actually caught up to SeedyL (who I think is also @MarchHare) for a few minutes here! Most of the time I couldn’t see him. Different player population slice I guess.
[…]
It was a fun flight up until then. Thanks @MarchHare!
Yes, that’s me! Glad you enjoyed the flight. It’s a shame we had some technical issues, but hopefully Microsoft/Asobo gets those ironed out soon.
Thanks for the screenshots Matt. That looks like a gorgeous journey.
You should have mentioned, that the closed beta VR signup is open! No guarantees of getting in. Need a WMR headset.
In order to have access to the VR Closed Beta Sign Up Page, you need to either already be a MSFS Insider or sign up to be an Insider. Once logged in, follow the link here to submit your DxDiag. You must re-submit your DxDiag if you have already uploaded it in the past in order to express your interest in this Beta. You do not have to be a previous Alpha/Beta tester to sign up. You are not automatically enrolled if you have been an Alpha/Beta tester in the past.
In order to participate in the VR Closed Beta you must meet or complete the following:
Matt_W
2049
For sure. Like everyone else, my avionics display reset itself about 90 times during the flight.
The VL-3 is a fun little plane to fly, but like you I really enjoy the DV20 for this kind of flying. I posted some screenshots up there a ways.
Skipper
2050
I did not get to fly in but did get a small amount of time watching the twitch stream. Sorry @MarchHare!
Had I gotten to fly though, my favorite sightseeing plane of late is the Pipistrel Virus SW 121. It’s a good combo of great visibility, slower flight, great modern avionics, etc.
Spock
2051
@MarchHare I was also unable to fly in because I had to make an unplanned trip to the dentist. (Ugh.) But I watched some of the recording of the stream. Looks like it was great fun! @Matt_W has super screenshots as usual. Sorry to hear about the technical issues, but it looks like it was successful all the same. Well done!
Spock
2052
Neofly looks fun, but I might give it a patch or two to bake. This Youtuber found a couple bugs but still had fun with it.
Not as fun as scenery pictures, but ai did get my pedals setup!
Skipper
2054
Dude I’m jelly. That’s a badass looking sim pit you’ve got going on. Of all the things you have there though, any difficulties with the keyboard/mouse on that small stand?
How well are all the stand mounted to or near the floor? Just worried about everything being top heavy.
schurem
2055
Also, a chair on rollers and pedals, how does that work for you?
I should note the stand doesn’t support the pedals out of the box. I had to buy $20 of hardware to mount it.
The mouse area is small and I find that slightly annoying. My keyboard / mouse set is the Razer Turret for Xbox, made for couch gaming. The mouse is slightly magnetic, which helps it stay on the metal plate. Keyboard is held in by rubber covered pegs, which works well. I’m still getting my MSFS legs but using the keyboard was fine. I was having to look over at it though.
The stand is really heavy - about 35 pounds - plus the significant weight of the HOTAS gear. It isn’t an issue.
I rest my heels on the horizontal metal bar of the stand. Isn’t a problem so far, but I can move everything back slightly to brace against the chair behind if necessary.
Spock
2057
Awesome setup, @Mellified . I have the same yoke-holder stand you do, except you’re using a joystick while I’m using a yoke. I like it. Like you, I have pedals along with a chair on rollers. I don’t have to push the pedals very hard, and the chair is on a carpet, so I don’t get any significant instability.
The biggest nuisance for me is pushing aside the yoke when I want to do other things with the PC. I like to leave it connected to the PC’s USB ports, to avoid any issues with re-recognizing the hardware, but the yoke’s USB cable is short. I have to be careful not to stomp on it when I’ve pushed it aside.
Editer
2058
@Mellified, nice setup! You really need to get one of these and put some rollers under it…
Thrag
2059
Hah! I actually have their half cockpit for my racing setup.
https://nextlevelracing.com/products/next-level-racing-wheel-stand-dd-for-direct-drive-wheels/
One of the reasons the Wheel Stand Pro is nice for the joysticks is it folds up enough to go in a closet. The racing stand takes up a ton of space by comparison.
Spock
2061
I rented a TBM in OnAir, and I still find it hard to get used to. For one thing, the autopilot seems much riskier than with slower aircraft. Sometimes if I switch to an exterior view, the autopilot immediately starts a very sharp turn. Still, I had two entertaining flights, one from the Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the next from San Juan to Anguilla. I’m making my way down the islands with shorter jobs to help pay for my level 5 missions delivering cargo to Barbados.
Final approach into San Juan’s smaller airport. I’ve been to the larger airport at San Juan, and mostly I remember a very urban approach like this one.
On the ground in San Juan.
The airport at Anguilla.
Oh man, those San Juan screen shots make me want to go there right now, what a great shot.
Matt_W
2063
Is this in this sim? Amazing screenshot!
The aircraft handling programs–roll, pitch, and level–just don’t work. But I’ve never had any problems with nav, heading, altitude or vs mode. And FLC mode works for ascents (TBM ascent speed is either 124 KIA or 170 KIA depending how fast you want to get alltitude.) Approach mode works too, but you have to be lined up and near glideslope before you engage it, and you have to disengage the altitude hold manually.
Matt_W
2064
I have a procedure I run through when starting the TBM in OnAir.
- Load up the aircraft on the runway.
a) If nighttime, push Shift+L to turn on your flashlight
- Set up passengers and cargo in the weight tab.
- Shut the engine down. (Push the throttle to the right to feather it, then all the way down with your mouse.
- Configure lights: strobe and pulse on, nav off, landing/taxi off
- Start tracking in OnAir.
- Start the engine:
a) Push starter switch up for 2 seconds.
b) When Ng%=13, push the throttle up to idle
c) When Ng%=51 (in the green region) push throttle up and left to the taxi region. (I do this by pushing the throttle lever on my joystick all the way up–which forces it left into the power region of the throttle control–then all the way back down.)
- Once the engine is running, configure lights: nav on, landing/taxi to landing. Cabin on if night.
- Ensure inert sep switch is off and fuel switch is auto.
- Set up autopilot
a) Push heading to set the heading bug to the runway heading and click the HDG button to set heading mode
b) Set cruising altitude (30,000’ for long flights) with the Alt Sel knob.
c) Turn on VS mode and set VS to +1000fpm
- Set wind indicator: PFD->PFD Options->Wind->Option 3 on the control screen above the throttle lever
- Set flaps to Landing. (I actually hate this. The TBM doesn’t take off well with full flaps. It won’t get enough speed for any kind of climb. But OnAir requires it.)
- Release the parking brake and slowly increase throttle, keeping an eye on torque so you don’t overtorque the turbine.
- Takeoff
a) Rotate at ~70kts.
b) Retract landing gear.
c) At 300’, set flaps to TO.
d) At 500’ engage autopilot.
e) At 120kts set flaps to 0.
f) Once clear of the runway, and check terrain clear, engage nav mode.
g) Once at 170 KIA, engage FLC.
- Climb to cruising altitude. Make sure to turn off landing lights between 10,000 and 12,000’
