Few will not have seen a YouTube video and will share the impression FS2020 must be the ‘game changer’ it is claimed to be, but does the experience match the hype? There is too much to the new sim to cover everything in a single ‘Books & Gear’ review, but these are my initial impressions.
Microsoft has clearly learned from the past and intends that FS2020 will appeal to both the gamer and the serious user. So, is it a simulator or is it a game? Being designed to run on an Xbox, some of the interface to load and configure it works fine and is visually appealing, though perhaps designed with an Xbox games controller in mind, it could have been more compact if only intended for mouse/PC interaction. The interface in the game itself is OK, but does not mirror the short-cut keys of the old FSX sim and this can be frustrating. Mouse-based view control seems great but can be tricky on a slow PC, as there is nothing worse than finding oneself stuck looking at the floor just as the stall warning sounds.
By default, the cockpit echoes the small movements of the aircraft in turbulence and attitude changes, and does so far more than it did in FSX. The experience is more like Xplane, making it at times excruciatingly difficult to keep the cursor over a button or knob on the instrument panel. As yet I can find no 2-D instrument views. This is a problem as it means one cannot use a separate monitor to replicate a flat instrument panel in a multimonitor setup.
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Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av Pilot.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country
