GWJ FBO: Flight Simulation Catch-all

Now that I am giving thought to buying the Kodiak and maybe a twin (the C310R), I've started to think that maybe I should update my throttle situation.

I'm still using my CH FS Yoke, which has a 3-axis throttle setup.

IMAGE(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NENPpGRzL._AC_.jpg)

Between the reverse thrust & feather on the Kodiak, and wanting to control twin engines separately, the Honeycomb Bravo is starting to look interesting to me.

Apparently the supply shortages have subsided, as it looks like I can get a Honeycomb Alpha/Bravo bundle on Amazon for $500 (from "Gulf Coast Avionics Corp") or for $520 (from "Focus Camera LLC"). Both list this as "In Stock".

I listed the one that is $20 more expensive because 1) they are a Prime seller, and 2) they listed the brand as "Honeycomb Aeronautical" while the other place lists it as "Honeywell".

The funny thing is that other than insufficient throttles, my Yoke still works pretty well despite reaching the end of its second decade. What doesn't work well are my pedals; the toe brakes are dead and I haven't bothered to try to take them apart to see if the problem can be fixed easily.

Funny thing is I just pulled up the email for when I bought the yoke; it cost me $120 back in December 2001. I can get one on Amazon today for $176.

Maybe I was too influenced by watching a SimHanger video about how to configure the Bravo to work with the Kodiak and Twotter.

The Alpha/Bravo combination is great. I do know MSFS doesn't make custom datarefs (called LVARS in MSFS) visible to users, so the only way to access them is through a payware app that exposes them (it's mentioned at 16:30 in the video above). Basic levers all work but if you want to get into using the various AP buttons and other functions, if they're not mapped to standard MSFS functions you're out of luck, so you may end up with a bunch of switches and buttons (that you paid for btw ) that don't do anything. So in the CRJ7, if I recall, you can control heading, VS, maybe even speed via the AP knob, but you can't set the altitude bug! That's pretty important!

Now of course in Xplane, all the custom datarefs are exposed (or are exposeable), and you can use lua scripting language to combine functions, or access special functions. That does require effort but it means you can make every button/switch do exactly what you want to do vs. MSFS which lets you only do what it tells you you can do.

Either way its an amazing piece of hardware, and hey you'll be all set when you upgrade to X-plane 12

Also if you have any concerns on the vendor, two of the bigger pilot supply stores, mypilotstore.com and sportys.com also have the set in stock for $500. I've bought plenty of gear from both, and are reliable.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to that.

Carlbear95 wrote:

Basic levers all work but if you want to get into using the various AP buttons and other functions, if they're not mapped to standard MSFS functions you're out of luck, so you may end up with a bunch of switches and buttons (that you paid for btw ) that don't do anything.

I actually hadn't watched that video all the way to the end, since I was more interested in the Kodiak than the Otter, so I didn't catch that little note about the LVARS. I am somewhat acclimated to using the clickable cockpit now, even for some things that I have mapped to buttons on my gear, but you're right that it would bother me to have fancy new buttons that don't do anything useful.

I've never had to care about LVARs before, though. I'm used to the CH Control Manager, which lets me program any of the buttons to either pass through as DirectX buttons or as keypresses.

By "standard MSFS functions" is that essentially anything that shows up in the Controls settings?

Carlbear95 wrote:

Either way its an amazing piece of hardware, and hey you'll be all set when you upgrade to X-plane 12 :)

I'll add that right to the top of my list of "pros" for the Honeycomb.

Carlbear95 wrote:

Also if you have any concerns on the vendor, two of the bigger pilot supply stores, mypilotstore.com and sportys.com also have the set in stock for $500. I've bought plenty of gear from both, and are reliable.

Cool, thanks for the references to Sporty's and mypilotstore. I've actually heard (positively) of Sporty's so I'm sure they've been around for a while. Both of them seem to charge a fair bit for shipping (especially MPS - $25!). Sporty's seems reasonable ($12.57), at least for ground shipping.

Hrdina wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to respond to that.
I actually hadn't watched that video all the way to the end, since I was more interested in the Kodiak than the Otter, so I didn't catch that little note about the LVARS. I am somewhat acclimated to using the clickable cockpit now, even for some things that I have mapped to buttons on my gear, but you're right that it would bother me to have fancy new buttons that don't do anything useful.

I've never had to care about LVARs before, though. I'm used to the CH Control Manager, which lets me program any of the buttons to either pass through as DirectX buttons or as keypresses.

By "standard MSFS functions" is that essentially anything that shows up in the Controls settings?

Correct, only controls in the Controls settings can be mapped, but more importantly, the aircraft has to use those standard controls. So back to the CRJ example, there is certainly a "+ altitude bug" control in MSFS that's used for all sorts of aircraft from the C172 to the A320 but the Aerosoft CRJ uses a custom LVAR so even if you map a control to +altitude in MSFS it doesn't actually do anything.

I haven't really kept up, so maybe there are free resources available that can access them. The one I know about is payware called Axis and Ohs. Its got a snazzy GUI to help map everything. I'm guessing any free tools (if they exist) requires some scripting effort/knowledge and an ability to read and find those lvars.

With the Bravo and Alpha you get a lot of buttons and switches, and even if its a function you just flip on once, or maybe its the lights, its a lot more satisfying to flip a switch or press a hardware button, than to use M+K controls.

I mentioned to my wife tonight that "I'm thinking about buying some new airplane toys".

"Good", she says. OK, then.

Anyone interested in a slightly-used, 20-year-old CH Flight Sim Yoke (free to a good home)?

That Axis and Ohs application, from what little I've read about it, reminds me somewhat of the CH Control Manager application. I could use that to combine any combination of my CH gear into a "virtual windows device" for sims that had trouble with a whole lot of HW. Strangely that didn't work well for me with MSFS, and its native support for the CH gear was good enough that I didn't spend too much time trying to make it work.

Carlbear95 wrote:

With the Bravo and Alpha you get a lot of buttons and switches, and even if its a function you just flip on once, or maybe its the lights, its a lot more satisfying to flip a switch or press a hardware button, than to use M+K controls.

Funny thing I found with MSFS is that I frequently prefer to control most things using the clickable cockpit buttons, rather than the buttons I went through all the trouble to map. Maybe that's because it was just arbitrary buttons on my CH throttle, rather than buttons that were actually intended for use for lights, etc. That surprised me a bit.

Hrdina wrote:

Funny thing I found with MSFS is that I frequently prefer to control most things using the clickable cockpit buttons, rather than the buttons I went through all the trouble to map. Maybe that's because it was just arbitrary buttons on my CH throttle, rather than buttons that were actually intended for use for lights, etc. That surprised me a bit.

I am the same, actually. I like looking down, finding the switch/knob and hitting it. Sure it's less tactile, but somehow it feels more immersive.

I was probably the same way. However the fact that you have actual knobs and levers and switches instead of buttons goes a long way. Perfect example, for stick based airplanes (Diamond, airbus) I use a t16000m and I don't have any of the 12 buttons on the base of that thing mapped because they are in arbitrary places that don't map to anything natural in a cockpit and don't look or feel like the real thing. However the Bravo is completely mapped. Using that gear lever to lift the gear is significantly more satisfying than pushing a gear button. I have the 3d printed flaps "detents" so use an axis for that instead of the flip lever on the bravo, and that's also game changing.

Its kinda like trackIR a radio panel or even rudder pedals. You don't need them, but once you start to use them you realize how much they add to it.

Unfortunately because it only works "good enough" in MSFS instead of great like it does in Xplane, it may not convince you the same way... but one of the main reasons I remain in xplane, is because I can get it to work perfectly there.

DonD wrote:

I am the same, actually. I like looking down, finding the switch/knob and hitting it. Sure it's less tactile, but somehow it feels more immersive.

Yeah, I think that's (mostly) what has driven me this way as well. I like the idea of learning the idiosyncrasies of each aircraft's cockpit.

Carlbear95 wrote:

However the fact that you have actual knobs and levers and switches instead of buttons goes a long way. Perfect example, for stick based airplanes (Diamond, airbus) I use a t16000m and I don't have any of the 12 buttons on the base of that thing mapped because they are in arbitrary places that don't map to anything natural in a cockpit and don't look or feel like the real thing. However the Bravo is completely mapped. Using that gear lever to lift the gear is significantly more satisfying than pushing a gear button.

I also agree with this. Last night I started to write something similar, but ended up with only "that's because it was just arbitrary buttons on my CH throttle". I really use the throttle as a button-box for three things:

  • Lights
  • Track IR pause and reset
  • View management - switch between cockpit and external/drone views, and instrument views

I found that I rarely use the buttons for controlling lights and preferred the cockpit clicks. I suspect that I would happily use the Alpha buttons for these things, but won't really know that for sure until I try.

One thing that really gets my attention about the Bravo is the trim wheel. One thing that is really non-immersive about my current setup is using the rocker buttons to try to control elevator trim.

Carlbear95 wrote:

I have the 3d printed flaps "detents" so use an axis for that instead of the flip lever on the bravo, and that's also game changing.

Is that the thing from 3DSimMods that FSElite reviewed the other day? That looked neat but geared toward aircraft larger than any I plan to fly any time soon.

Carlbear95 wrote:

Its kinda like trackIR a radio panel or even rudder pedals. You don't need them, but once you start to use them you realize how much they add to it.

Unfortunately because it only works "good enough" in MSFS instead of great like it does in Xplane, it may not convince you the same way... but one of the main reasons I remain in xplane, is because I can get it to work perfectly there.

I understand what you're saying about TrackIR and pedals. I didn't know I needed them, but now that I've used them I know that if either were to fail I would replace them immediately. My pedals are almost at that point. Any word on the Honeycomb Charlie pedals?

"Fortunately" for me I don't have XP for comparison so I probably won't have reason to be disappointed. Almost all of the Alpha/Bravo reviews I've seen have been geared toward MSFS use, and those reviews have been universally positive.

In any event, I'll figure it out for my self soon enough since I ordered the bundle (from Sporty's, thanks!) and it should be here by 30 March. I might not actually get to fly much with it until next weekend, though.

...of course now that I am lined up to get a TQ that can make flying twins more interesting, I am starting to pay more attention to them.

In addition to the C310R, I've been interested in both the Big Radials Grumman Goose and maybe even the Flysimware Cessna 414 Chancellor.

The Goose looks like a lot of fun if you're into vintage aircraft, loud engines, and landing in the water.

The Chancellor is being released beta/early-access. From what I've seen it looks extremely well done, although I think that the 310 might be more more speed right now.

Naturally, since I'm looking into twins, a new tri-motor is also coming soon from BlackBox.

Hrdina wrote:

One thing that really gets my attention about the Bravo is the trim wheel. One thing that is really non-immersive about my current setup is using the rocker buttons to try to control elevator trim.

Trimwheel is a bit hit-and-miss. Its not registered as an axis in windows, so its just another keypress. In MSFS the problem is key presses have built in acclerometers, like your keyboard so if you move it anywhere close to how you would move it in the real aircraft, it sort of goes out of control. It doesn't help that the trim control is already not great in MSFS, but in some ways this makes it worse. You can just get used to it, but you need a lot more trim wheel IRL to get it to do what just a touch does in MSFS. Its kind of the opposite in Xplane as there is no acclerometer for keypresses, so it can be way too slow in most aircraft there. Like I said though in xplane you have a number of options to fix that. Don't feel bad about the buttons on the yoke for trim most aircraft have electric trims, and in the Alpha, you can actually set it so you actually ahve to press both left and right rockers like you do in most small aircraft to activate it.

Hrdina wrote:

Is that the thing from 3DSimMods that FSElite reviewed the other day? That looked neat but geared toward aircraft larger than any I plan to fly any time soon.

Nope, I actually meant the flaps detents https://www.freesimstuff.com/downloa.... There is a set for pretty much every flaps configuration out there. You use one of the 6 axis as a flap lever instead of using the toggle thing on the far right. It won't work with twin props if they have mixture/prop levers but as long as you have 2 spare axes (one for the inset, the other for the actual lever), it works great.

Hrdina wrote:

I understand what you're saying about TrackIR and pedals. I didn't know I needed them, but now that I've used them I know that if either were to fail I would replace them immediately. My pedals are almost at that point. Any word on the Honeycomb Charlie pedals?

I haven't heard re: Charlie. My sim flying generally tends to be airliners, so once you're off the ground, you really don't need the rudders... I suppose crosswind landings its helpful, but rudder action in sims (and this includes xplane) seems to be quite off from what I now know, that I guess I dont' really care anymore. I use them mainly for nosewheel stearing on the ground. I think some tweaking to curves may help make it more realistic, but I haven't taken the time to figure it out... besides in MSFS, any aircraft I've flown barely has any left turning tendency, except maybe on the TO roll You fly the payware piper, so maybe that one actually has p-factor in the climb. Maybe I just need to try better rudder pedals like the Charlie, but for me at least, its not an investment I'm willing to make.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond with so much detail!

Carlbear95 wrote:

Trimwheel is a bit hit-and-miss. Its not registered as an axis in windows, so its just another keypress.

That's too bad about the trimwheel; I guess I had assumed it was implemented as an axis. On my CH yoke, you can see the elevator trim on top of the left handle. This shows up as two separate buttons (buttons 11 and 12) so it sounds like the Bravo wheel might work about the same then (although on the CH trim seems very slow).

IMAGE(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NENPpGRzL._AC_.jpg)

Carlbear95 wrote:

Nope, I actually meant the flaps detents https://www.freesimstuff.com/downloa.... There is a set for pretty much every flaps configuration out there. You use one of the 6 axis as a flap lever instead of using the toggle thing on the far right. It won't work with twin props if they have mixture/prop levers but as long as you have 2 spare axes (one for the inset, the other for the actual lever), it works great.

Ah, so you have a 3D printer, or at least access to one for the flaps mod then? The one that I linked was one being sold. Seems neat; have Honeycomb expressed any kind of opinion on using these kind of things?

Carlbear95 wrote:

I haven't heard re: Charlie. My sim flying generally tends to be airliners, so once you're off the ground, you really don't need the rudders...

Yeah, I do tend to use the rudders a fair bit, both in the air and on the ground.

I'm not entirely sure about p-factor simulation in my Pipers, but I definitely have to adjust rudder a fair bit as I increase speed during TO. From what I've read that's more due to deficiencies in Asobo's ground handling than to anything else.

In any event the only reason I would look at new pedals is for braking since I'm currently using buttons on my yoke to do that and I would rather go back to using axis controls for it if I can.

yeah, the trim wheel has no stops so it can't be an axis.

For the flaps detents, I just downloaded the files and outsourced to a local maker space here. Paid way too much, but whatever. If you just want one or two sets and the little flaps thing, you can probably ask in the GWJ 3-d printers forum here and i'm sure someone will hook you up for just the cost of shipping. The materials costs for something that small are basically zero. Honeycomb, I don't think has any official position, but since it does include a labeled "Flaps" attachment, and the typical Boeing flaps indicators are printed on the unit, they certainly expected people to use a flaps axis. Without some sort of stops though, its almost impossible to use an axis for flaps, particularly for any aircraft that has more than 4 flaps positions.

Carlbear95 wrote:

Nope, I actually meant the flaps detents https://www.freesimstuff.com/downloa.... There is a set for pretty much every flaps configuration out there. You use one of the 6 axis as a flap lever instead of using the toggle thing on the far right. It won't work with twin props if they have mixture/prop levers but as long as you have 2 spare axes (one for the inset, the other for the actual lever), it works great.

So, funny thing is that I was watching a "free stuff for your sim" video, which points to flapmodster.com. The site they show looks just like the site you listed, so it's no surprise that it now redirects to freesimstuff. I guess they (he?) changed the name to be more general than just flaps.

Carlbear95 wrote:

For the flaps detents, I just downloaded the files and outsourced to a local maker space here. Paid way too much, but whatever. If you just want one or two sets and the little flaps thing, you can probably ask in the GWJ 3-d printers forum here and i'm sure someone will hook you up for just the cost of shipping. The materials costs for something that small are basically zero.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind and will have a better idea of what might be fun once I start using the Bravo.

The Arrow, for example, has four-position flaps but in the real aircraft they are controlled using a handle mounted between the seats. The throttle (which freesimstuff has) is huge compared to the prop & mixture handles. The mixture handle is shorter than the prop and is angled to the right as well.

Carlbear95 wrote:

Honeycomb, I don't think has any official position, but since it does include a labeled "Flaps" attachment, and the typical Boeing flaps indicators are printed on the unit, they certainly expected people to use a flaps axis.

The reason I asked about Honeycomb is that at least in the FSElite video I saw (about 3DSimMods, not freesimstuff), they showed that the detents caused some scratching to the Bravo, and one commenter claimed that these voided the warranty.

Yeah Freesimstuff and flapsmodster are both operated/sponsored by Russ Barlow who is a long time sim junkie.

I saw that printed throttle detent thing, and yeah that was pretty bad. The flaps mods I have fit perfectly. I'm sure some small amount of material dropped off and into the housing of the Bravo, but we're talking specs of dust. I've had none of that crazy scratching that I saw in the throttle detent video.

The other thing I'm considering getting is this clipboard mod for the alpha:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/7655509...

Great for taking notes, particularly if flying on VATSIM.

Packages were waiting on my front porch when I got home.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/9wSR7Dn.jpg)

Unfortunately all I had time to do was admire the boxes, and take a peek at the Bravo.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/BlSsnMU.jpg)

Congratulations on your now lifetime supply of Sporty's catalogs that will come in your mail at least once a month

Carlbear95 wrote:

Congratulations on your now lifetime supply of Sporty's catalogs that will come in your mail at least once a month

Haha, the first one was wedged between the two boxes!

Carlbear95 wrote:

Congratulations on your now lifetime supply of Sporty's catalogs that will come in your mail at least once a month

Truth

Carlbear95 wrote:

Yeah Freesimstuff and flapsmodster are both operated/sponsored by Russ Barlow who is a long time sim junkie.

I had not previously come across any videos from Russ, but I like the way he presents so I've subscribed.

Did a first flight with the Alpha/Bravo last night, taking off from Wallops (KWAL) then flying down the VA Eastern Short and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to Norfolk (KORF).

I didn't have to spend too long configuring the gear pre-flight. MSFS has default configurations that essentially implement a complex twin. I de-programmed the five buttons on the Bravo that are duplicated on the Alpha, then added a couple of things I wanted (left/right brakes, PTT, parking brake) and jumped into my Turbo Arrow IV.

I haven't (yet) bothered with anything like Axis and Ohs, AFC_Bridge, or Better Bravo Lights, so no fancy lights or complicated controls yet.

First, I very much like the feel of both the Alpha and Bravo. The throttle levers are nice and tight which made it pretty easy to make fine adjustments. I was lazy and left the Bravo in a twin configuration even though I was flying the Arrow, so I kept grabbing the wrong handles. Next time I'll set it up for a single.

The trim wheel was not as great as I had hoped, but maybe a bit better than what I was already using so that's still a plus. I liked having the AP buttons, although I only tend to use two of them with the Arrow (AP, HDG). I didn't try using the rotary. I sometimes found the flaps lever to be awkward because I have to reach around the levers. Hopefully that will improve with familiarity.

Do most people set up their Alpha & Bravo right next to each other? Sometimes I feel like the Bravo should be farther to the right, but I would have to

Regarding the Alpha, I really like how the yoke feels with the bearings. It feels a lot better than my previous yoke with its plastic shaft, although that could have been improved a little with proper lubrication. I find the switches for the lights to be a little small but I'm sure I'll get used to those. Likewise the Master Alt/Bat switches are reversed from what I have in the Arrow so that confused me for a few seconds.

The Arrow seemed fly more steadily for me, too. Maybe that's due to better pots or maybe because the Alpha pretty solidly returns to center, or maybe a bit of confirmation bias.

So, overall after just one short flight I am quite happy with this purchase. I suspect that I'll be interested in flying a wider variety of aircraft in the near future.

With a little sadness I went and put my CH Yoke back into its box. If any GWJer is interested in moving to a yoke, send me a PM and I'll happily send it along gratis (in the US anyway).

I've flown a couple more times with my Alpha/Bravo properly configured for a single and I'm still quite happy with it.

I briefly thought that the Alpha was behaving very strangely, but then I remember that the last time I flew my Arrow IV I had put some cargo and a copilot on board.

For those of you who like passenger aircraft, have you seen the Boeing 247D from Wings42? I had not even heard of this until I saw it posted over at OO.

I'm not really into pax aircraft (yet) and I have a dislike of tail-draggers dating back to to IL-2, but this thing looks amazing, especially considering it only costs $20.

If you want to see a flight with a couple of (unintentional) failures:

I bought the B247D and I really like it. Know going in, however, that there is no GPS, no autopilot and no VOR navigation. It has an older form of navigation called radio navigation, which I haven't tried yet. The basics of it is you hear signals from 2 stations, and which ever is louder you are closer to. When both are the same volume, you are equidistant between them.

The aircraft is incredibly well modeled, the textures look great, it sounds great. There are lots of small details like the wobbling of the dials as the engines rumble.

I've done half a dozen flights in it now, all VFR flights. The first two flights resulted in the engines bursting into flames. Since then, I've been a lot more careful with it and the flights have all been great. Last night, I did a VFR flight from EWR -> PHL. It was my first time flying it at night, and I have to say that it was a real challenge. It wasn't a challenge to fly the aircaft -- it was a challenge to navigate VFR at night.

The aircraft flew beautifully. I was impressed by the cockpit lighting, and was surprised by small details such as the cockpit lights dimming when you raise/lower the gear, or dimming slightly when you turn on more lights. It's the kind of stuff that you wouldn't notice if it wasn't there, but it is, and it shows a real attention to detail and immersion.

I'm heartily endorse the aircraft. Know that you will not have an autopilot. Know that you either have to fly VFR or learn a very old navigation system (or use LittleNavMap or other flight tracking software). But if you are at all interested in it, it's a really, really nice aircraft. I won't even say 'for $20'. It's just a really nice aircraft with quality that far exceeds the price.

Ah, I'll add one more thing. There is a clipboard that is sort of your EFB for loading fuel, oil, passengers, working the ground crew, but they also added a box there for you to set your squawk and mode C for use on VATSIM. I've taken it online, and vPilot gives a warning that the aircraft isn't in the database so other pilots will not see your aircraft accurately, but once online, everything works properly from my end. There is an old com radio in the aircraft you can use, but I just used the .com1 command to set my frequency in vPilot. There is enough going on after takeoff that I want to keep my head above the dashboard.

DonD wrote:

I bought the B247D and I really like it. Know going in, however, that there is no GPS, no autopilot and no VOR navigation. It has an older form of navigation called radio navigation, which I haven't tried yet. The basics of it is you hear signals from 2 stations, and which ever is louder you are closer to. When both are the same volume, you are equidistant between them.

The aircraft is incredibly well modeled, the textures look great, it sounds great. There are lots of small details like the wobbling of the dials as the engines rumble.

I've done half a dozen flights in it now, all VFR flights. The first two flights resulted in the engines bursting into flames. Since then, I've been a lot more careful with it and the flights have all been great. Last night, I did a VFR flight from EWR -> PHL. It was my first time flying it at night, and I have to say that it was a real challenge. It wasn't a challenge to fly the aircaft -- it was a challenge to navigate VFR at night.

Great to hear that you like the 247D as much as the reviewers I've seen. I think every one of them has mentioned "engine fire" at least once.

Funny thing is that my day job is working on GPS, so you would think I could figure out how to navigate with radio.

It's pretty cool that they have essentially updated the world to add the radionav stations just to support this one aircraft.

DonD wrote:

The aircraft flew beautifully. I was impressed by the cockpit lighting, and was surprised by small details such as the cockpit lights dimming when you raise/lower the gear, or dimming slightly when you turn on more lights. It's the kind of stuff that you wouldn't notice if it wasn't there, but it is, and it shows a real attention to detail and immersion.

I'm heartily endorse the aircraft. Know that you will not have an autopilot. Know that you either have to fly VFR or learn a very old navigation system (or use LittleNavMap or other flight tracking software). But if you are at all interested in it, it's a really, really nice aircraft. I won't even say 'for $20'. It's just a really nice aircraft with quality that far exceeds the price.

Yeah, I don't really understand how they can put that much obvious attention to detail into an aircraft like this and only charge $20 for it. Maybe they expect to sell a lot of them, but it seems to me that a vintage bird like this is a niche aircraft within a niche market. I really hope I'm wrong about that and the market is bigger than I imagine.

Regarding the autopilot: the other day I was flying my Arrow IV up the Potomac toward DC. I turned on the AP, and the Arrow immediate went to max nose-up trim. I managed not to crash, but it took me a little while to get things figured out. If I re-enabled AP after getting back to level flight it would go right back to 100% nose up trim.

Of course the Arrow AP can control roll but not pitch, so this was a bit of a surprise. Actually there is a magic click spot where you can enable an ahistorical Altitude Hold mode, but nothing for altitude changes. I'll have to figure out if this is some weird effect from the Bravo or just standard MSFS wonkiness.

And DONE! Temporary Airman Certificate secured, and I'm a new Pilot! I didn't post on it for a while because I actually missed a few items the first time, but the good thing about the Practical is that you only have to re-test the parts you failed, so it was real quick to get it all wrapped up.

It all started with xplane. I had no interest in private aviation and just picked that up because I had an X56 HOTAS which was only used with Elite and I wanted to try something new.

I actually haven't really touched either simulator since the fail as I didn't want anything to mess up my RL flying feel.. as great as the Alpha is... i didn't want to touch it to screw up my real life feel for the controls.

Excellent, congratulations Carl!

Congrats Carl. It's something I wanted to do at one point in my life, but I didn't have the time/finances to make it happen. For now, I'm content with simming.

If you've never done it I strongly recommend taking a Discovery Flight at your local small airport. You'll hop into a small aircraft (probably a C172) and fly around for an hour or two. You will get a chance to fly the plane so you can get a feel for what its like. When I did it I was put into the left seat, but that's because I knew my instructor, not sure what the usual way is.

If you've never been in a small plane before, it really is indescribable.. a little un-nerving the first time, but so much fun.

I did do the discovery flight, loved every minute, but that's as far as it went. It was about 15 year ago in a C172, and I was in the right seat. Flying is an expensive hobby to pursue and I can't justify the expense at this point in my life, so virtual flying and virtual ATC fit the bill nicely for now. I know it's a far cry from the real thing, and I'm ok with that.

Congrats Carlbear!

I too took an initial lesson 14 years ago in a c172 as well. I figured, at the time, that while I had the time I didn't have the funds. Funds improved, but time dissappeared. Then time reappeared, but funds were needed elsewhere. Getting the itch again but at 40 I better act soon.

The MSFS PMDG 737 has been released to streamers. No announcement yet on pricing or release date, but I can't imagine it will be more than another week or two.

I know Chewwy and Flying Fabio had streams up today. I caught a little bit of Fabio's today. He straight up says this stream isn't about flying properly, it's just getting familiar with the aircraft, but he spends an inordinate amount of time interacting with chat rather than running checklists and getting moving, so I didn't really get to see a whole lot of the aircraft's systems, and I completely missed out on the FMS, which is what I'm most interested in checking out.