Scratching the IFR Itch

[chopper_nut]

After massively upgrading my hardware and inbetween testing XP helicopters, I have managed to get into MSFS finally. Contrary to popular belief, I actually do have an interest in flying heavy (ier) metal and I do dabble a little in the IFR world. I have mostly been flying the Citation Longitude in MSFS and now that there is a whole world covered in relatively good scenery, I have flown it, in stages, across the Pacific to the US and am just exploring a few places that I have and would like to visit. Today was Bryce Canyon in Utah.



Not the perfect sim by any means but overall pretty good. The Longitude isn't complete and is missing VNAV integration and the ability to change the scale on the altitude selector which is a bit annoying. Also missing a whole bunch of the little things in the avionics suite. Also also tends to float like crazy down the runway even when you're on speed which makes places like Bryce Canyon particularly exciting. I am enjoying the sim experience overall though. The bugs in the default FMS though and the default ATC... That stuff really needs to be fixed.

If anybody sees the username MD530FF flying about, that's me.

[jpreou]

I harbor a strong suspicion that the MSFS code base isn't all entirely new.
Based on some of the same bugs, and same behaviors, that we see in FSX, P3D and MSFS I am convinced they have re-used a whole bunch of code and it isn't the 'ground up' re-build that many claim.
Either that or they have used the same 'concepts' or 'mechanisms' that have resulted in the same bugs and behaviors.
Overall, a pretty good sim though and it will have the longevity that even P3D won't get; as seen already by a number of add-on developers dropping support for the older sims to concentrate on MSFS.
That's good news, as we should see the sim improve significantly over time.

[chopper_nut]

There is still a bunch of ESP code in the sim. The developers haven't really hidden the fact but they don't publicize it either. The FSX flight model is still lurking in there for some reason. The new flight model is a whole lot more realistic in most areas than the FSX / P3D one and they do seem to be making improvements every month. There are just a few things that really need fixing before they worry about the minutiae. The 'flyback' bug when you put an approach in the FMS is insane. I have taken to putting the whole flightplan including SID and STAR into the flightplanner to avoid problems and then if the wind switches around at the destination then I just fly the approach by hand. I am enjoying it overall though.

[Splitpin]

Looking young Nick ...but more please

[chopper_nut]

I don't even think about screenshots usually but I'll try. I need to see if I can change where it saves screenshots to

[chopper_nut]

Question for the IFR guys, I probably should put this in RW Aviation but it is related to what I'm doing in the sim. Probably going to Hillsboro on the next leg and was looking at the plates.



How would one turn inbound at DUCKA if approaching from UBG? Make the turn and accept that you're going to blow through the centerline or do a lap of the hold? Probably a dumb question but I realise that one day, I'm probably going to have to do my IFR rating and I'd like to start getting my head around it.

[emfrat]

Well, I would continue to DUCKA, turn R to 352, hold that for 1 min, then turn 180L to 172 and hold that to pick up the 127 radial.
But I am not a licenced pilot, and that might be very naughty.

ATB

[chopper_nut]

What I did at Bryce Canyon was track from the VOR straight to the hold for one lap and then onto the inbound track. The track from the VOR was almost the reciprocal of the inbound so I figured that was the best way. More or less what you're talking about Mike but on the published hold.

[emfrat]

[cowpatz]

To be strictly correct you would fly from UBG to DUCKA, as per the missed approach procedure, then a parallel entry into the hold (but as in a reversal turn only. No hold unless required).
It is one of those places that you would most probably be vectored on to the final approach course.

[ZK-DWF]

I usually set this up in my flight plan.

With the destination being Hillboro, and the approach is RNAV 13R

I have the autopilot guide me in on APR mode.
It will take me all the way thru the waypoints DUCKA, COUVE and DOLLA.
But it's up to me to be at the assigned altitudes at each of those.
So, I've got to be at 3900 ft at DUCKA, 3300 ft at COUVE, and 2900 ft at DOLLA.
At DOLLA, the maltese cross on the chart signifies that I should be able to pickup the glideslope (in APR mode).

If I don't pickup the GS, then if the gauge shows that I am below it I keep flying until I hit it. If too high, then descend.

If I don't pick it up at all (and that happens quite often), then cut the Autopilot and fly in manually.

If I have picked up the glideslope, sit back and enjoy the descent, getting ready for landing. At about 200-500 ft altitude, the centre line 'should' be right in front of you. Cut the Autopilot and land.
I say 'should', because I have had occasions where the RNAV has taken me to either side of the runway (courtesy of Asobo bugs)

[chopper_nut]

To be strictly correct you would fly from UBG to DUCKA, as per the missed approach procedure, then a parallel entry into the hold (but as in a reversal turn only. No hold unless required).
It is one of those places that you would most probably be vectored on to the final approach course.

Thanks, that's kind of what I've been doing in these situations. I guess you go into the hold for a reversal turn just when the angle is too accute to make it onto the inbound course. There's a lot to this IFR caper... not sure my small helicopter brain is ready for the real thing

[cowpatz]

Thanks, that's kind of what I've been doing in these situations. I guess you go into the hold for a reversal turn just when the angle is too accute to make it onto the inbound course. There's a lot to this IFR caper... not sure my small helicopter brain is ready for the real thing

It could be worse. You could be flying IFR in a heli!

[chopper_nut]

It could be worse. You could be flying IFR in a heli!

That's what I'm going to end up doing...

Thanks for the diagram, turns out I wasn't quite doing it right...

[chopper_nut]

So I ended up doing the flight through to Hillsboro. Winds changed at some point so I had to adjust the plan on the fly. MSFS did it's usual 'send you back to the start of the flight' bug but I got it there in the end. Had to fly the teardrop into the hold to come back onto the inbound, worked a treat. The only issue is that I couldn't get on the vertical profile on the approach because I would've been way too close to the trees West of Hillsboro so I had to do that part myself before it captured the slope quite close to the runway.

[cowpatz]

Rescue heli?

Have you got this:

Longitude mods

[chopper_nut]

Rescue heli?

One day yeah but I'm going to the US first and IR seems to be almost a requirement to do anything over there... thanks insurance companies

[cowpatz]

Bugger.

This mod too:

https://www.workingtitle.aero/packages/g3000/

[chopper_nut]

I have both the mods but I had issues with the G3000 one making the Sim crash. The screens never came up.

[chopper_nut]

I also have their mod of the CJ4 which will require a whole lot more learning due to the FMS and stuff. I probably should get onto that at some point.