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== Making your first flight == | == Making your first flight == | ||
One of the most frequent questions novice pilots ask about any flight sim, but more so to FlightGear, is "why is my aircraft turning left all the time?" Although it could be due to wind gusts crossing the runway, it is more likely due to the | === Realism === | ||
One of the most frequent questions novice pilots ask about any flight sim, but more so to FlightGear, is "why is my aircraft turning left all the time?" Although it could be due to wind gusts crossing the runway, it is more likely due to the [[Understanding Propeller Torque and P-Factor|propeller torque and p-factor]]. | |||
In certain other flight simulators, despite marketing slogans to the contrary, some settings are turned down to make the aircraft easier to fly. This reduces effects such as the above. The realism is always turned up in FlightGear. | |||
FlightGear | Here are some of the FlightGear realism points, which may be confusing to first time pilots: | ||
* "Left turning syndrome" for the previously mentioned reasons. | |||
* Compass turning error: A compass, when subjected to the forces of flight, tends to turn in the opposite direction for a brief period before settling on the correct heading. This is not a malfunction ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_compass_turns more on this].) | |||
* The Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) is also subject to error. | |||
* The Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) is driven by a gyroscope (that is why it's sometimes called a Directional Gyroscope), which is subject to ''gyro drift'': the indicator will drift from its current heading and must be periodically (every ~15 minutes) calibrated to agree with the magnetic compass heading. | |||
Many forces act on an aircraft in flight as well as on the [[avionics and instruments]] used for control and navigation, and may be counter-intuitive. Pilots must learn to recognize these phenomena and compensate for their effects. ''FlightGear models instrument errors that exist in the real world''. | |||
=== Airports and navigation aids === | |||
When you first start FlightGear, whether from the command line or the graphical interface, you may wonder how to determine what airports are available. FGRun displays a list of airports, but you will not see details such as tower or [[ILS]] frequencies. You will not find a map showing [[VOR]]s and their frequencies. What can you do? See [[Getting aeronautical charts]]. | |||
=== | |||
In-sim, there is a map you can use in ''Equipment > Map'', which will allow you to see navigation data and the position of airports and aids. For more help with navigation see [[Understanding Navigation]]. | |||
=== Flying using the autopilot === | |||
Some aircraft require you to use the [[autopilot]] available from the ''Autopilot'' menu, which is the original FlightGear autopilot. This is a ''generic'' autopilot and as such, many aircraft come with their own ''specific'' autopilot, frequently a model of the real life one. | |||
For aircraft that provide their own autopilot, you must use the autopilot controls available in the virtual cockpit. This means clicking on the instrument panel in the virtual cockpit. The Autopilot menu will be grayed out and unavailable when the aircraft supplies its own autopilot (generally). | |||
[ | The Cessna 172 comes with a [[Bendix/King KAP140 Autopilot]] in its virtual cockpit. You cannot use the ''Autopilot'' dialog from the menu with this aircraft. You must use the autopilot device in the panel. | ||
== Getting help == | == Getting help == |
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