|
By Ben Chiu
Greetings, Pilots!
It's never been more exciting to fly the virtual skies of the Zone! We've discussed ForkBoy2's ZPlanes in a previous installment of Flight Zone. Since then, I've received word that a couple of Zoners have taken up the work that ForkBoy2 began, and they've expanded the ZPlanes inventory.
Keeping in step with Microsoft's version naming conventions, Zplanes have been updated to ZPlane99 status. Some of the many new plane sets that have been released or will be released in the next few months include:
- ZPlanes99C -- the next generation of commercial planes for FS98.
- ZFighters99 -- the first set of Zplanes designed for fighter planes, which of course, makes them both FS98 and CFS compatible.
- ZVehicles99 -- includes vehicles for FS98 designed to make scenery "more active,”, especially for Virtual Airlines.
- ZPlanes99M -- modern military aircraft.
- ZPlanes99L -- the "L" stands for "Lite." This is a subset of planes from all of the other ZPlane packages. This set of ZPlanes will likely be the most popular choice for those with limited hard disk space.
NOTE: As with all downloads off the Internet, please be sure to scan everything for viruses before installing anything on your computer. You can never be too safe in the air or with your computer.
NOTE NO. 2: Due to the transition that hosts of Zplanes99 are dealing with, Ben has volunteered to host the older Zplanes98 files on his personal Web site. Although they're not the most current incarnation of Zplanes described in this edition of The Flight Zone, it should suffice until FSHangar98.com is back online. Click here to download Zplanes98!
Didja get the yoke?
Here's the latest and greatest? CH Products has done it again. Following their highly successful Virtual Pilot and Virtual Pilot Pro flight yokes, CH has released the standard PC version of their new Flight Sim Yoke. Its most notable feature is that the yoke's action doesn't have a center detent for pitch or roll axis movement. This provides much more realistic flight control action and feel than either of its predecessors.
The CH Products Flight Sim Yoke (in the PC version) has been released!
Other features shared by the Flight Sim Yoke's older siblings are an analogue throttle lever, a 4-way hat switch, and various button functions that include a gear switch, a bi-directional flap switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and three push buttons. The CH Flight Sim Yoke sets the new standard in value, functionality, and realism for yoke controllers. Check out CH's web site for more information.
USN Using FS98 for Pilot Training
"Navy now requiring use of program adapted by NAS student" was the lead-in from The Corpus Christi Caller Times written by Stephanie L. Jordan. The "program" referred to is none other than our very own Flight Simulator 98. Although flight simulations haven't reached the point where they can totally replace actual flight time (yet!), I've been a firm believer that flight simulations like FS98 can be a great tool for helping people learn many of the concepts and skills required to become a real pilot.
The US Navy has discovered FS98! The prospects for "mil spec" add-ons in the future are very exciting. (Aircraft by Terry Hill)
Perhaps this news isn't so surprising to some of us since several PC-based purpose-built simulations have already received FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) approval for flight training credit, so this may have been one of those "just a matter of time" things. But what's really exciting is that the Navy has recognized the value and potential of Flight Simulator. Who knows, perhaps this will accelerate Flight Simulator's acceptance into other branches of the armed services? I don't know about any of you, but just the thought of having mil spec add-on aircraft gives me goosebumps!
Learn to fly here?
On a related note, I regularly receive mail from Zoners interested in receiving flight training here on the Zone. We've been kicking around the idea of starting some sort of formal program for quite some time, but there seems to be some doubt about how much something like this would be of interest to Zone Pilots overall.
Inventing new "stupid airplane tricks" can be lots of fun, but serious precision flying can be just as satisfying.
The concept is to provide Zone Pilots a way to receive help on learning a basic set of piloting skills and flight operation procedures. If a program such as this were offered, it might help provide a way for more serious pilots to find other pilots of equal skill levels for cooperative flying. While there's certainly nothing wrong with buzzing around boring holes in the sky or inventing new "stupid airplane tricks" (which I do quite often!), there're also times I like to fly IFR to keep up my instrument scan proficiency.
As many of you already know, either of these types of activity are fun (although perhaps in different ways), but that's really what counts the most in the end -- having fun. Everyone is interested in helping you have fun on the Zone, and something along the lines of a Flight Simulator proficiency standard may be an answer for some of you. If you have any suggestions or opinions either way regarding this we'd like to hear about them. Please e-mail +RON_USMC a note with your comments and where, if anywhere, we might be able to take this. Stay tuned for developments!
See you in the Zone!
Have a comment or suggestion for the Flight Zone? Write to Ben!
|
