Well, I bought AFPD a couple weeks ago (with the USB Game Commander controller) and I'm enjoyiing it. It really is pretty nifty.

As I expected, I'm finding it much more useful for practicing 3D and other close-in stuff, as well as practicing gross control inputs for point rolls, knife edge, etc. -- but as with all simulators I find its utility for pattern/IMACS/etc to be somewhat more limited, since it's so difficult to keep ground references in view. But I'm still experimenting - certainly don't regret the purchase.

As a matter of fact, using one of the photorealistic sceneries and well modeled aircraft supplied with the sim, it feels startlingly lifelike -- almost to the point where gathering everything together to actually go out to the field almost starts feeling like a hassle. Anyway, the sim is great fun and it feels like flying -- this aspect shouldn't be overlooked in all the arguments about accuracy of flight modeling, etc.

I'm just beginning to experiment with a little basic 3-D and am finding maintaining a hover in the sim much easier than with my Funtana. I'm still experimenting to figure out why, but one reason seems clear: In the sim, there is no distance related delay (that I can tell) in engine sounds, so the cues are immediate. In real life, since I'm maintaining a reasonable altitude to practice, there is substantial delay in the engine sound cues, which you really have to learn to adapt to (and to some extent, tune out). I'm surprised this characteristic doesn't seem to be modeled in the sim, which would seem relatively straightforward.

The other little nit is that controller calibration seems to drift fairly quickly. After only 5 or 10 minutes of flying I find that there is an increasing aileron roll to the right tendency which I fight with trim. Using the sim for 30 or 40 minutes or more usually calls for another calibration. (Have not seen anything similar to this on other sims or other joysticks). Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this?

-- Mike

Check to see if the cable is getting warm, the black part.

If they drift or acts like you are taking hits, they can replace it free of charge.

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to do some testing to flesh out the details of the problem and, partly based on how aggravating it becomes, will investigate what kind of solution is available...

BTW, I can't detect any particularly warmth in the cable, and it is all black, so not sure what you mean by the "black part" reference.

Thanks again for the time and the forum....

-- Mike

Don,

Note he is using the Commander version, was the "is it warm" comment directed to that version?

I also have the Commander and find that I have to recalibrate every time I fly. Not too annoying, but I do wonder why.

- Eric