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Aviator90 Episode 7
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Chris, great video again!
Just wondering, what are the NAV lights for and when do we have them on? Thanks!!!
Hey Houston,
The nav lights are on the tips of the wings and help other pilots spot your aircraft in night operations. But, to put it simply, they are the first to get turned on and the last to get turned off.
Here’s a post I did a while back about lights.
http://www.flyaoamedia.com/blog/flightsim-tips/proper-usage-of-virtual-aircraft-lights/
I haven’t seen anyone do the 360 degree turn before (I never knew they did it at all) – is it common for the uncontrolled airfields? Also, if there was traffic at the same airport behind you, would you still do the run-up and 360?
A great video, yet again!
Yes. Really only for uncontrolled. BUT, always check the final, even at a towered airport. Even controllers screw up.
The ’360′ action isn’t a 100% need, but it’s a cool idea that I threw in there. It’s how I learned.
Used to do the 360 at KPVU all the time before they got the new tower in. I’ve seen too many faster moving Lear and Cessna Citations surprise slower piston/prop aircraft out there back when it was uncontrolled.
Nice work Chris. I look forward to more of your work.
When I did my private, I wasn’t allowed to fly into Provo (my instructor forbade it) because of all the problems down there.
Alan, you live in Saratoga, right?
Yes, I’m in Saratoga Springs. My father was director of flight ops for then UVSC and played a part in getting that tower in.
Oh, and I like the new look of the site!
Thanks! We hope to keep improving it.
Great video; I also love the colors: sky, grass, runway, aircraft internals: perfect! How is that I get cartoonish colors in my FSX? Aircraft internals are also too uniformly white, as if their is too much light everywhere. Maybe I am missing some hidden variables? Or you did some clever post production on the video?
There wasn’t much post production. It’s a mix of the great carenado 152, the new PNW scenery from ORBX (www.fullterrain.com) and a plugin called the ENB Series that gives an HDR look to the sim WHILE you’re flying.
Can you tell us more about this “ENB Series”? I’d like to fly like that…
Take a look at http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=257462 and http://enbdev.com/download_en.htm
It’s not specifically for FSX, and there have been varying reports as to performance ranging from great to terrible.
Jon, thanks for getting on that. Hope it works out for you, Andrew.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Hey Chris,
Just finished watching episodes 6 and 7.
I like how you did the communications the real way instead of the MSFS default ATC way. It should be better for those wishing to fly on VATSIM.
Moreover, it’s great that you emphasize being thorough with the procedures even where they likely “don’t matter” in flight simulator.
Your voice sounded a bit tinny in this episode compared to the previous ones (might just be me). Not a huge deal, at any rate.
Lastly, I think the new format of the blog is pretty nice.
Thanks Jon,
Great points. I also did notice the voice issue, and tried to fix it, but the files were already overwritten with that ‘sound’. But I learned from it and it won’t happen in episodes 11-the rest.
Thanks for the compliments. Always great to have you around.
Throttle On!
That’s awesome!!! I LOVE these videos!!!
Wow, Chris I just want to tell you how much I appreciate these videos. I learn about things I did not know before.
On that ENB Series addon, where do you get it? I tried to google it but maybe im overlooking it. I see alot of GTA stuff or something. Also is it freeware?
Anyways, keep up the great work! I look foward to the rest of them!
Hey Cody, look at comment 11. Jon was kind enough to grab the link before I could get on it.
Chris –
Was wondering if you could share what your computer set-up is (i.e. processor, ram, video care… and any other pertinent hardware).
Thanks for the very informative (and visually beautiful) videos.
- Brian
Hey Brian,
I have a QX9650 processor overclocked to 4.0, 4GB Ram at 1300 mhz and FSB at 1300 mhz. Video card is GTX280x2.
FSX is all in the settings, my friend!
Wow! It never ceases to amaze me the seemingly small yet important details which come to light with a good, clear and concise review. You are an effective communicator Chris and you make it seem so easy :>) Calling “clear final” just prior to entering the runway, I heard it so often during my days in the Navy, but never once in flight simming online. My real world experience in the flight station of P-3s and cockpits of experimentals flying out of a friend’s airpark did not expose me to some of what you demonstrated as applies to GA ops with non-controlled traffic, for instance the airpark was strictly VFR and I can’t recall once using the radio unless we were leaving the area usually to some controlled altitude or airspace for purpose of navigation or testing. Sometimes calling the field to check if lunch was ready. LOL
I am truly enjoying this series. Another Outstanding video! Thank You.
Best Regards,
Bruce
I’m glad you’re finding bits here and there that are very useful. The ‘final clear’ thing is VERY important, even at towered airports.
Nothing wrong with calling to see if lunch is ready
We can all have fun, but we’ve got to be safe as well. If I recognize a voice on the frequency, I’ll say hi.
Glad this is enjoyable for you!
Hi
Klicking on episode 7 but it shows episode 6?????
Jack
Fixed
Sorry Guys, my misstake! I thought episode 7 was the latest but it is from the 13:th and today, the 15:th. Today the 15:th it should be episode 8.
Jack
We had a problem encoding the video so it took a bit longer. It’s up now! Just click next episode up top.
Once again Chris, superb! I LOVE the way you present this in a flight sim neutral way. You can repeat what you do in about any sim of your choice.
I also like how you tied in the topic of lights camera action. The current issue of AOPA Flight Training talks specifically about lights. It’s a great article!
(Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong here….) For the budding new folks — I’d like to throw this in because I didn’t know about this until I started listening to the StudentPilot Podcast and also when it was one subject on FSBreak.net. That subject is how runway numbers work. The numbers represent the reference to the first two digits of the degrees of an imaginary compass. (Represented in 10ths). So, on the radio when Chris states “… Cessna 6828 Kilo taking 13 for departure…” he is pulling on to runway 13. This means that after pulling on to the runway, with the nose wheel on the center line, he is FACING 130 degrees in relation to that compass; facing southeast.
This ALSO means the other end of the runway is 310 degrees (180 degrees OPPOSITE). So, the opposite end of that same runway is runway 31.
As for radio work, I often listen to ATC via the internet, via my scanner at home, and will also sign on to VATSim to help improve my understanding of what’s going on in the sky. But, one thing that’s clearly becoming apparent to me is my ability to decipher/understand radio communications. . I would be one of those people who frequently would have to have something repeated for me to understand it. So, I am still not comfortable enough listening to hope on VATSim. But, I try to perform the radio tasks with my headset even when I fly at home (whether I’m drilling holes in the sky or following along trying to learn to do it the right way). And, I pretty much use the CTAF frequency in uncontrolled airspace when doing so.
I do think PART of that could be familiarity and the ability to handle/sort traffic heard on the radio (commonly referred to in Amateur Radio as traffic handling when there’s a control operator). When I listen to CTAF, I can pretty much follow and understand what’s going on about 95% of the time in uncontrolled airspace. It’s when I listen to ATC handling many aircraft that I get lost and lose track of what they are saying. This could be due to the fact that, in real life, I would be “keyed” into listening to my tail number. Where, as a casual listener, I’m just listening to “everything”.
Anyway, again…. SUPERB stuff Chris!
Awesome video’s Chris! Keep ‘em coming!
greetings from Holland
Greetings again from Calgary, Alberta Chris. Nice work as usual. I have a question concearning “Action” in the Lights, Camera, Action phase of take off.
If I were in a C210 or C206 (Centurion or Stationaire 6 seaters), would you still do that 360 degree “on the spot” turn before the final clear and pull onto the runway? Or are these larger planes too big for that? Are some run up areas and Taxiways too small for planes of that size to spin around.
Thanks!
Charles.
Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to do the ‘action’. Like you stated, if the taxiway is closed, your aircraft is too large, or you’re at a towered airport. These are some instances where it wouldn’t make much sense. During the ‘action’ part of the checklist you could still look around, and also pause for a moment and ask yourself what you’ve heard on the radio.
The key here is to be EXTRA vigilant in making sure another aircraft isn’t in conflict on your runway.
The other day I was headed into Durango Colorado (real life) and there was a CRJ holding short 21 and I was in the process of landing runway 3 (opposite direction). He said something about taking off and departing northbound, with no regard to my radio calls. I continued to call in and made more radio calls than normal to make sure he heard. They finally called in and said they’d be staying where they were for the landing aircraft (when I was about to go wheels down).
Had they decided to take off, there wouldn’t have been anything I could have done to stop them, and I would have had to avoid. It’s just the way it goes sometimes. You’ve got to be defensive and make sure that you’re clear.
Hope that helps!
Mr. Chris,
I hope you are fine, really ur doing a great job by feeding the great knowledge, your videos are very useful with very good quality, for learning,
thank you very much for your great cooperation.
with best regards
Jacoob
Thank you very much sir. It’s great to get comments like this to keep me going. Thanks for taking the time to give us a thumbs up. Throttle On!
Your videos are good and can make flight simming a much fuller experience, but I don’t want to overlook your solid and clear enunciation when speaking in the vids. Good job and thanks.
Chris
Thanks man, I appreciate that!
Throttle On!
Hi,
Just FYI VFR squawk code varies. In most European countries, it’s 7000.
Very true. I think Paul actually mentions this in the comments above.