Questions tagged [flight-simulator]

Use for flight sims as they relate to real-world aviation; software support, resource location, and shopping are off-topic

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How does increasing the angle of attack increase the lift?

When the pitch of a plane increases (facing upwards), it has a positive angle of attack, and when it decreases to face downwards, it has a negative angle of attack. Increasing the angle of attack ...
planes's user avatar
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3 votes
8 answers
697 views

How does the lift force stop increasing itself after a certain point?

I am currently trying to create a basic flight simulator and am very confused by the concept of lift. This is the equation of lift shown below that I found on the internet. $$ F_l = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^...
planes's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
114 views

What are the flight formulas for aircraft

I am making a 2D flight "simulator" (trying to be as realistic as you can for 2d) and I need flight formulas for lift, speed and pitch. I have tried a few sites but I do not understand what ...
wvzack's user avatar
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0 answers
50 views

How to convert LVLH-relative angular velocity to ECI-relative angular velocity?

Suppose I have angular velocity of the LVLH frame relative to the Body frame, expressed in LVLH, how can I know what is the angular velocity of the Body frame relative to ECI, expressed in ECI? I also ...
Tombombadilly's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
141 views

How to convert body frame-relative aerodynamic coefficients to wind frame-relative aerodynamic coefficients

I have a rocket flight simulator that takes in aerodynamic coefficients defined relative to the vehicle body frame axes (Cx, Cy, Cz). These are in a lookup table based on mach. I have some aerodynamic ...
Tombombadilly's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
168 views

Are distress calls used in simulators?

Would a pilot flying in a flight simulator with VATSIM make a mayday call in a scenario in which a pilot in a real plane would?
Someone's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
208 views

In FSX's Learning Center, PP, Lesson 4 (Taught by Rod Machado), how does Rod calculate the figures, "24" and "48" seconds in the Downwind Leg section?

So in Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition / Boxed Version, the Learning Center incorporates a section for Flight Lessons, taught by Rod Machado. In Lesson 4: The Traffic Pattern, (in the ...
Iceman's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
3k views

What happens after crashing in a commercial flight simulator?

If you crash in a commercial flight simulator (the type used to train airline pilots), what happens? Do you get a pop-up window in front of you saying "You have crashed"? Does it just show ...
Someone's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
751 views

Is my procedure correct for simulated flight approach using this IAP after complete STAR?

I usually "fly" with flightsimulator (FlightGear, because is O.S. and freeware). I try to make the fly real as possible, and I try to use IAP, is this procedure correct to approach RWY 28 of ...
elbarna's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
6k views

Is there a somewhat realistic FOSS flight simulator for Linux? [closed]

Are there any free and open source flight simulators for Linux that are fairly realistic (i.e. if I play one for a while, I will have some idea of how flying a real plane works)? The only "flight ...
Someone's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
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What do the letters "h" and "i" next to TCAS ND symbols mean?

What is the meaning of the letters h and i seen behind the relative altitude on the TCAS ND indication:
Anatolie's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
398 views

Extrapolating Oswald Efficiency Factor from CL^2 vs CD Graph

I have plotted this CL^2 vs CD graph for a glide test performed in a flight simulator. I want to find the Oswald Efficiency Factor, e from it and I assume I can do that from its gradient. With a wing ...
SpeedBird789's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
186 views

Most bizarre/easiest to fly X-Plane aircraft? [closed]

I’m currently trying to get my little brother into flight sims. When we were little, we got to crash planes on our grandfather’s computer, which has kind of gotten us both into flying (…kind of ...
AGreatUsernameChoice's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
4k views

Does dual given in an approved AATD/FTD under Part 141 count towards the total sim time allowed for ATP in 61.159(a)(6)?

Reviewing 61.159(a)(6), it mentions that an applicant cannot credit more than 100 hours in simulator towards their total aeronautical experience as long as it was conducted as part of a 141, 142, 121, ...
Jacob Doore's user avatar
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1 answer
187 views

Specifying Climb rate in the Boeing 747-400 FMC

In the Aerowinx Precision Simulator PSX documentation for the FMC, I do not see how one can program a climb rate after takeoff. I'm more interested however in the actual airplane. Suppose after clean-...
Sharat V Chandrasekhar's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Why do some planes drift to the left in flight simulators?

In different flight sims I've experienced the same effect on certain planes: when accelerating on the runway, the plane drifts to the left as if the rudder was set to yaw left. You can counter this by ...
Better not tell's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is it realistic that a plane reacts very quickly to rudder input as shown in a MSFS video?

Microsoft Flight Simulator is supposed to be a "simulator", so following the laws of physics. However, I'm looking at a gameplay video (at 2:17) and it shows a plane reacting really quickly ...
MWB's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
936 views

What are the boxes around the airport on the IVAO Approach (APP) screen?

I play IVAO and I sometimes get curious about different positions that different controllers play on. Let's take this airport, Birmingham UK, this is what the APP (Approach) screen looks like What do ...
H4rryTheDev's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
215 views

Does throttle equal power on a turbocharged piston engine?

On a normal piston engine powered airplane, throttle equals power. If I set the throttle to 50 %, I will get 50 % of the power the engine can develop at the current altitude, temperature, etc. In a ...
TheEagle's user avatar
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21 votes
3 answers
9k views

What happens after a professional unintentionally crashes in a simulator? Can they be disciplined?

I was wondering about what happens if a professional pilot who's training to fly a major commercial airframe unintentionally crashes during flight time in a simulator? I'm not asking about some ...
cfx's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
422 views

Is there a standard button layout on a side-stick for software-based flight simulators that matches what would find in real life?

My son wants to become a pilot so we started him off with the FlightGear Simulator and a joystick with lots of buttons so he can get his feet wet. Is there a standard layout for buttons on a joystick ...
KJ7LNW's user avatar
  • 113
5 votes
1 answer
889 views

Can I log simulated IMC time in a simulator without a CFII?

I am working on my instrument rating under part 61. I need 40 hours of simulated IMC and 20 of those hours can be in a certified AATD simulator like a redbird. Do I need a CFII to sign off on those ...
Pilot Joe's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does simulator time count towards Flight Time Limitations under EASA?

Does flight time in a FFS (Level D) count towards the maximum flying hours permitted under flight time limitations? e.g. you spend 4 hours in a simulator. Do those 4 hours come off your maximum flying ...
Curious's user avatar
  • 51
28 votes
6 answers
12k views

Do pilots intentionally crash in a simulator?

Are pilots allowed to intentionally crash inside the simulator? It is good for stress relief and seems like a fun way to do something you would never do on an actual aeroplane, with little to no ...
56independent's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
684 views

Calculating angle of attack during bank

I'm programming a flight dynamics simulation and am running into issues with calculating the angle of attack during banked flight. I know what I'm doing wrong, but I'm not sure what I should be doing ...
Exudes's user avatar
  • 31
1 vote
0 answers
198 views

Why does the A320 transponder's CLR button do two different things, depending on how many digits were entered?

I have to admit I've only flown in simulators but everyone of them implements the "CLR" button of the transponder in an A320 (maybe also others) the following way: It removes the fourth ...
xZise's user avatar
  • 111
8 votes
2 answers
813 views

What is the lifespan of a level D simulator?

We have a few interesting questions about the normal ways aircraft end their lives. What about simulators? How long do they typically last? What is the typical reason for retirement? I am ...
Anonymous Physicist's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
937 views

Have there been accidents involving flight simulators?

Have there been any accidents which have happened to/in flight simulators? I understand that simulators are used to simulate general accidents for training purposes (engine failure, birdstrikes etc), ...
BtureP's user avatar
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32 votes
4 answers
11k views

Do Flight Simulation Instructors stop the simulator before a simulated crash?

There has been debate in healthcare simulation communities around whether or not to allow a simulated patient to die during training because it might negatively impact the intended training outcomes. ...
BtureP's user avatar
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1 answer
128 views

What is "ACO transition"?

In MSFS2020, I frequently hear terms like "Cleared to ACO transition" and I can set an ACO in my flight plan. What exactly is an ACO and its obviously not a unique point because they seem ...
john's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
219 views

With flight dynamic equations, how do I return to positive alpha if alpha is always negative with negative w?

I'm coding a flight dynamics simulation, but my simulation runs into a problem with negative angles of attack. Once alpha is negative, it is impossible to get back to a state where the plane is ...
Exudes's user avatar
  • 31
1 vote
2 answers
311 views

Where do flight sims get their data on aircraft flight characteristics?

Flight sims offer very realistic simulations of how a particular aircraft feels, claimed by pilot interviews on youtube. But how do sims get their data? First, does all this data even exist, i mean ...
user1584421's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
276 views

What were the rules for logging "simulator" instrument time in 1994 (non-full motion)?

Long before the FAA updated the rules of BATD, AATD, FFS, and FTD, what were the rules for logging simulated instrument time in a synthetic trainer? Specifically, this question came up, an older pilot ...
Devil07's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
672 views

How to log Flight Training Device (FTD) and Full Flight Simulator (FFS) time in the US?

I just completed the ATP CTP Course in the US as a pre-requisite for taking the ATM Written Exam. During the course, according to the syllabus, I have flown 4 hours of B733 in a FTD (fixed-base) and 6 ...
Francesco C's user avatar
  • 1,487
0 votes
2 answers
111 views

Looking for techniques to model resistance to roll rotation in a very simple, force-based flight model

I'm new to flight dynamics programming and am curious to know how people model an aircraft's resistance to rolling in very simple force-based flight models (not CFD, etc.). For example, after a full ...
Matthew Harmon's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why do I get an overspeed warning at 250kts below 10,000ft in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

I'm flying the Cessna CJ4. I get overspeed warnings at 250kts when below 10,000ft, and the speed indicator has red lines at 300kts. Are these warnings triggered because it'll damage the plane to go ...
Nick Heiner's user avatar
-2 votes
3 answers
303 views

Thrust is going towards the earth, but the plane is going upwards, Why? [closed]

Dears, I am trying to develop a flight simulation, but I am facing a problem when the plane goes downwards towards the earth. As shown in the picture below: In equilibrium state before the plane ...
Ahmed Elhamy's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
43 views

General advice on flight simulator hardware [duplicate]

I am new to flying and have only had a couple of lessons in a Cesna 152 but want to get some practice on a simulator as I'm quite old and don't learn quickly compared to youngsters. My instructor wasn'...
old boy's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
12k views

What are some "FAA approved" simulators for home that I can log time on?

I'd assume xplanes on iPhone or Android would not be log-able, but wanted to know if there is a affordable simulator kit for home usage that'd help me logging time for IFR requirements?
sahmad's user avatar
  • 313
0 votes
5 answers
790 views

How much simulator training for general-aviation?

How much training/refreshing is necessary/desirable for instructing general aviation pilots? All I see is commercial pilots been trained in simulators. A real general aviation airplane might be not ...
Quora Feans's user avatar
  • 3,682
0 votes
1 answer
225 views

Why are heading in PFD and map off by exactly 10 degrees? [duplicate]

I was flying on my X-plane 11 flight simulator today and noticed something quite unsettling. This was a VFR flight between KIAD and KDCA. I pulled up my map for reference and noticed I was flying ...
William R. Ebenezer's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
920 views

How can I calculate the C.G height for an Aircraft?

before I continue I would like to thank you guys beforehand for the help. I am new to this forum and in aviation in general. I am helping my professor to obtain the C.G coordinates in x, y , z for a ...
Kaelan's user avatar
  • 63
3 votes
2 answers
538 views

How do I follow an ILS glideslope on the ADI in Falcon BMS?

I'm currently flying the ILS landing mission in Falcon BMS, I'm practicing landing using the instruments (head down) and although I'm mostly OK with the LOC, I struggle to maintain a 2.5 degree ...
LittleWing's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
249 views

How many significant digits should I use for simulating aircraft equations of motion?

I have coded the equations of motion in Matlab, and I am using the ode45 function to simulate the nonlinear dynamics of F/A-18 Hornet without any controller (just the airframe). I have given initial ...
Pavan's user avatar
  • 461
0 votes
1 answer
116 views

Procedure for simulating nonlinear flight dynamics

I am trying to simulate F/A-18 Hornet on Simulink. So, here is how I have made the model: Firstly, the initial flight parameters(Alpha, beta, V(magnitude), rho) are being calculated based on the ...
Pavan's user avatar
  • 461
4 votes
1 answer
378 views

What frame of reference should I use for my Simulink simulation of the F/A-18 Hornet?

I want to simulate the Equations of Motions for F/A-18 Hornet (12 states & 6 DOF) on MATLAB using Simulink. I have the Aerodynamic model, from which I will get CL, CD, CY, Cl, Cn, Cm that are ...
Pavan's user avatar
  • 461
4 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why can’t level D simulators produce a G-force effect?

From what I know so far, simulators can’t simulate this feeling, I’ve heard some say it will never be possible. Is that true? There’s really no way of producing this in a simulation?
George Clooney In a Mooney's user avatar
23 votes
5 answers
4k views

How "full-motion" is a full-motion simulator?

How "full-motion" are simulators? Do they just simulate the major motions of the airplane in response to the flight controls, or do they also simulate the minor forces of the flight, such as the ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 5,096
4 votes
3 answers
431 views

Can PC joystick simulate aerodynamic lock in spin?

I never explored joysticks for playing simulators on PC. Can some kind of joystick simulate aerodynamic lock during spin? You do hands off control stick and it stays there, won’t center as usual. I ...
Radim Kolář's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
124 views

How to learn the back end of flight simulators? [closed]

I am an engineering student very passionate about aviation and especially flight simulation. I want to know more about how a flight simulator is coded but unfortunately there's not much available on ...
Dhruv Bhatt's user avatar