Grampaw
Posts: 496
Joined: 10/31/2002
From: Opelousas,
LA, USA
Status: offline
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This is a bit long, for which I apologize up front, but I do get carried away sometimes, especially on a subject I really like.
I searched the Forum List for a place to Post this, and finding nothing, or maybe I missed it, so will lay it on you guys here. I have a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 Sim. I got it for my Birthday a few years back and have really enjoyed it. Yeah, I know, it's not RC, but in some ways it is similar. If you don't fly the plane chosen properly, it will crash, just like an RC model. And I don't have to clean up a greasy model after an afternoon of fooling around. But onto why I came here with this.
I really do enjoy setting up a plane on the Simulator, and Taking Off from some airport to explore the world around that area. Sure, it's all a Simulated trip, but the graphics and sounds are so realistic it lulls you into thinking you are really there, until you realize there are never any people down there to wave up to you as you buzz their boats in an old two winged Jenny! Programing the start of the flight at a particular airport which can be almost anywhere...even some remote Forrest Service Strips out in the middle of god knows where. It is fun to get into most of them, and even harder to get out of some of them. The three dimensional aspects of locales (like baseball and football stadiums) that you can fly a plane down into and around inside if you wish. Can't do that in real life. I could go on and on, but better get on as to why I am posting this in the first place.
I have a wide choice of several aircraft, from the Wright Flyer, a Lear jet, a 747 or a Curtiss Jenny, plus many more. My two most used are the Piper Cub and the twin engine Beach 59, and as I live down here in the swamps of Louisiana I am used to seeing Cessnas on floats popping in and out...oil company planes you know, so now and then I program a flight out to some isolated spots with a lake or river nearby using the big Cessna Caravan Amphibian. Now that is a powerhouse alright, and fun to fly. Mentioning that airplane brings me to the basis of this post. Perhaps even the culprit.
Every airplane, even models have their own pecularities, and this one is no exception. I have played with it on the Sim.
for the past four years and enjoyed it very much. A few nights ago it began to act up.
I was decided to fly under a few bridges, so I started out at Seattle (I have an old Marine Corps buddy who lives just up river from there) so I was planning to fly up to his area and check out the Sailboats usually on the water. After Take Off I flew up river to where all the freighter ships dock, near the Stadium. There was a bridge on the way so I throttled back and began my descent to a water landing then to taxii on up river and go under the bridge. Normally this plane makes great water landings look so easy, but the other night as soon as the floats touched water it shot straight up to about 1200 feet, bucking around like a Rodeo Bull! Usually if a plane on this simulator hits an obstacle that would mean sure "repackaging" and they respond by going straight up like I just said. I can regain control and continue on, but the other night after getting the bashful Cessna lined up over the river again, I eased it down and had it sinking at a good rate for a landing, and it happened again! Touched the water, and Up it went!. I tried it several times and every time got the same result. Now, I've used this plane many times on water scenes with no problems, but now, it's just goosey on water...unless I lower the wheels first, then it will land on water. Go figure. No kidding, I have to have the wheels down to make a successful water landing! I know, it's only a Simulator...but it is the only plane I have on floats dammit!
I was wondering if anyone else here has an MS Simulator, who might have experienced the same thing with the Caravan Amphib, or any other weird "symtoms." It's probably some problem in the system, yet everything else seems to perform normally. I'd like to hear from anyone who, like me, often goes flying late at night, in his shorts with a late night snack on the side. Anybody?
< Message edited by Grampaw -- 6/30/2008 6:53:32 AM >
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Flight Simulator Question - 
