Archived from groups: alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim (
More info?)
"Stephen F." <ferguson@NOJUNKbluewin.ch> wrote in message
news:426dd419$1@news.unibe.ch...
> I'm curious what kind of odd "what-if?" scenarios people try out
> spontaneously, just for laughs. Last night I downloaded an X-24 lifting
> body (there's a bit of Steve Austin in all of us... and to be pedantic,
yes
> I know it wasn't an X-24). I positioned myself randomly with slewing at
> 40'000 feet then had to find and land at an airfield, without charts or
GPS.
> The first time I had to land on a motorway - I'm sure that would make the
> news - but the second time I managed to land safely at an airfield in
> Nowheresville.
>
> I sometimes quite enjoy the "game" aspect of FS.
>
>
> Entertainment purposes only.
I have downloaded all the approaches from www.fsimcafe.com
I find them a challenge and amusing.
(FS2004)
SNIP....
These approaches have been set-up for entertainment purposes only. They are
not, and I stress not, standard terminal arrival routes. If you have the
proper charts, there is no reason why you cannot set-up your aircraft to fly
these types of approaches if you so wish.
Aircraft set-up.
I have tried my best to set-up each approach with a suitable aircraft to do
the job. I have also tried to place the aircraft at an attitude, altitude,
and distance at a point which I considered to be geographically sensible,
so that you, the simulator pilot, could complete the approach in a skilled
and professional manner. My intention has not been to make your task
impossible, that exercise is plain stupid and immature, but encourage you to
fly as near a perfect final approach as possible, so that you can bring
about a safe and proper landing. My reward is believing that you can do it.
Your reward is knowing that you can do it.
Seat up.
You can raise your pilot seat by pressing (Shift + Enter). To return your
screen back to normal again press the (Spacebar). You can raise your seat by
as many as (13) levels, although you should never have the occasion to need
that many. This is a great tool for peering over the flight panel on
difficult approaches so that you get a better view of the landscape. But
while it can be a great tool at the beginning of an approach, it can be a
real hazard if used throughout the flight. It is all too easy to forget that
you have it on! In my opinion the best way to use it is to turn it on as
soon as you find it necessary, then as soon as you think that your aspect
could be viewed in normal mode better, turn it back straight away. If you
leave it on throughout the flight it will give you a distorted view. For
example, if you are making your final approach with your seat well raised,
you may get the impression that you are descending, but when you scan your
instruments, to your horror you'll most likely find that you are level
flying, or worst still, climbing! So treat this option with caution, Used
sensibly it is an asset, used insensibly it's a liability.
Runway/Elevation Details.
You will be supplied with runway length and elevation details for each
approach in the flight description page. Once you start your approach these
details will no longer be available to you unless you stop your flight
(which is a pain) and go to Map View and retrieve them there. Instead, I
suggest that you keep a small notepad beside your computer and jot down the
runway/elevation details before you start your flight. You will soon learn,
if you haven't already, that these details are essential information in
order to complete your approach in the best and safest way possible.
Approaches.
I have tried to make these approaches as interesting and as varied
impossible. For instance, in these volumes you will land your aircraft on
over a dozen different types of runway surface - some will amuse you, some
will amaze you. I won't spoil your fun by telling you what these surfaces
are, but I can assure you they are all very interesting and highly
enjoyable. You will travel all over the world visiting every difficult and
dangerous airport MSFS 2004 has to offer - that right, the lot! Some of the
approaches in these volumes are absolutely awesome, and although I have
flown them on countless different occasions, I never tire of them, I'm still
overwhelmed by their spectacular originality. You will fly in all types of
weather conditions, from clear blue skies to thunderous cyclones. You will
fly standard stock aircraft supplied by Microsoft in the original package.
If you have altered the configuration of your aircraft from the original
version, I imagine that your newly assigned aircraft will appear on your
screen in their place. If an 'error message' appears carry on regardless and
select an aircraft of your choice. Which brings up another point; to
increase your enjoyment of these approaches try using all sorts of aircraft
from your drop down menu; bend the rules a little and take things to the
extreme. Push yourself, your aircraft, and FS 2004 to the max.
Best way to fly them.
In my opinion the best way to fly these approaches is to start with the
first one in each volume and work your way through them progressively.
Repeat each approach until you feel you have mastered it, then move on to
the next approach and so on. If you don't do it this way I'll tell you what
will happen - you'll end up with up with a whole bunch of approaches that
you have only half completed and not truly mastered. You may find that some
approaches need to be practiced three or four times before you come to terms
with them; others will take you a dozen or more attempts.Whether you believe
this or not, I've got some approaches in store for you that will take you
all of day and half of the night to figure out - and you still won't be able
to get a handle on them! Just you wait and see? You don't believe me do you?
Well, watch out for the ~ (STAR) ~ approach in volume 9, it's absolutely
mind blowing! Then try and tell me I was exaggerating?
Final Word.
There are usually (10) approaches per volume, and some volumes contain as
many as (12) if I thought both ends of a runway deserved recording. But
based on a (10) runway volume, and assuming that each approach takes six
minutes (which is a reasonable average,) it would take you and hour to
complete each volume. If each approach is repeated until you get it right,
it's quite conceivable that there's several hours of entertainment wrapped
up in each volume. Here's another suggestion for your consideration. Once
you have mastered every approach in each volume, why not adjust the settings
to make them more difficult to accomplish. Each approach can be changed I'd
say a minimum of about four times, and before you know it you'll have forty
approaches per volume on you hands. Change the settings randomly, and for
goodness sake don't 'save' the files or you'll have them coming out your
ears - remember I've got a lot of volumes yet to release and you'll end up
with thousands of files if you save them all! Surprise yourself with your
own inventiveness, and if you happen to develop some really good weather
settings write them down in a notebook for future use and perhaps share them
with friends.
I have received an enormous amount of pleasure putting these approaches
together for you. This project has given me quite an education, and I'm a
far better simer now than when I first started. Quite frankly I've improved
out of sight, and so will you too. If you get the same amount of pleasure
practicing these approaches, as I have had putting them together, then it
has all been well worthwhile.
Look for volume 2 of Doherty's Difficult and Dangerous Approaches at your
favourite website coming soon.
END SNIP.