Stumbled across this add-on for MS Flight Sim, wondering if anybody has used it and if it's junk or worth the $30 as something to play around with?
http://www.abacuspub.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=30 (http://www.abacuspub.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=30)
(http://www.abacuspub.com/shop/images/s752s.jpg)
I was thinking it might be a fun way to fly through some of the principles in the Mission Aircrew Reference Text, like aural, metered, wing shadow ELT searches, etc at home before going out and burning real avgas... but I dont know if the simulator actually models that level of realism?
I've used it and it works pretty well. I understand that they use it at NESA to "Pre-fly" the training sorties. It's a good way to get comfortable with the different types of search patterns for new Mission Pilots and also get you used to flying in different areas other than your home turf...
http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=16352.msg295437#msg295437 (http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=16352.msg295437#msg295437)
http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=7373.msg135658#msg135658 (http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=7373.msg135658#msg135658)
http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=2914.msg56750#msg56750 (http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=2914.msg56750#msg56750)
http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=7253.msg133838#msg133838 (http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=7253.msg133838#msg133838)
Well I went ahead and bought the download. So far I'm very underwhelmed.
There's an advertised 25% CAP discount but no way to apply it during checkout. I'll email them about getting the discount retroactively applied, but really I might just ask for my money back and delete this thing, it's pretty lame.
The aircraft models stink, the 182 model is just the MS 172 with a different skin a real joke. None of the ELT DF gauges are even integrated in their own provided instrument panels, you need to load them as separate views.
The G1000 is a very weak superficial representation, few functions work.
The mission builder basically places a beacon on the map and builds a flight plan for you. It's supposed to add some visual search object (crashed plane, car, firetruck, capsized boat, person, etc) to the scenery too but so far that hasn't worked.
As for searching, ELT homing works ok.
Wing shadowing does nothing.
Metering seems to be pretty much all or nothing so far, as is aural.
I did get some signal cut out with a simulated crash in the mountains, so there must be some sort of terrain-based RF logic built in.
Really you could accomplish the homing practice with an ADF/NDB you just dont get to listen to the whoop-whoop-whoop and spend the money on a decent G1000 sim and be further ahead I think.
I'll play around with it a bit more but so far it's a regretful purchase.
You have to bear in mind that the Abacus software is about 10 years old and the most recent version of
MS Flt Sim is about 6 years old and discontinued.
Not exactly cutting edge applications.
Quote from: Eclipse on January 13, 2013, 04:04:59 AM
You have to bear in mind that the Abacus software is about 10 years old and the most recent version of
MS Flt Sim is about 6 years old and discontinued.
Not exactly cutting edge applications.
True enough, but nowhere near the quality level of some other paid add-ons I've purchased for MS Flight Sim in the past, actually I've used free stuff that's better quality. Oh well, not a big loss.
There was a way, at one time to put a CAPID in at purchase. Which I have to suspect was a possible improper use of data as downloading CAPWATCH to just get a list of valid ID's at any one time .. vs. accepting any six digit number..
Even as a manual thing, I can see where a vendor just searching for CAPID validity for self serving purposes would be iffy at best. Since data is to be used for official business only, and Abacus, Coradine Aviation, etc, typing in a CAPID for purposes of extending a discount that ultimately benefits a non-CAP entity with a sale, as anything resembling official business. OTOH, providing them with a copy of your ID card is a different story. OTOH, as a consumer, I don't know. I just got the discount when I got it.
As for the software. I dunno, given Flight Sim's functionality, I found it quite useful at the price for table top like exercises.