Realworld vs. FSX Foreflight

[ceranes]

I have been watching the V3 instructional video with the use of Foreflight. I understand you can use your iPad with Foreflight in the real world, but I'm not sure if there is a different version of the program to use with FSX. I understand you need FSXFlight to make the connection between the iPad and FSX. Do I also need to purchase the real-world Foreflight for $80/year, or is FSXFlight all I need?

[Acroshaw]

You have to pay, but it is totally worth it , you will be blown away by foreflight. However I would recommend not using the software to connect it to fsx, it makes it a little too easy to cheat on vfr flights, half the fun is navigating visually after all, and if you can see yourself as a little plane symbol motoring across the iPad map, it does ruin it a little just my opinion of course !

[zerofay32]

FSXFlight is only a PC module that is the go-between for FSX and Foreflight. You still need a foreflight subcription.

Here is a free module that I use. http://www.flightsimgps.com/

[ceranes]

Thanks...I'll check this out a little more. From what I've seen on YouTube...it looks like a great service, even though it may be "cheating" Acroshaw! At least I can feel like I can fly VFR a little easier. If anything, IFR is much much easier in my opinion.

[Kyle.Sanders]

Thanks...I'll check this out a little more. From what I've seen on YouTube...it looks like a great service, even though it may be "cheating" Acroshaw! At least I can feel like I can fly VFR a little easier. If anything, IFR is much much easier in my opinion.

Elaborate. What is easier about IFR vs VFR? I hear this more often than not (especially on other sim networks) and it is always a misunderstanding of what you can/cannot do.

[Nelson L.]

Thanks...I'll check this out a little more. From what I've seen on YouTube...it looks like a great service, even though it may be "cheating" Acroshaw! At least I can feel like I can fly VFR a little easier. If anything, IFR is much much easier in my opinion.

Elaborate. What is easier about IFR vs VFR? I hear this more often than not (especially on other sim networks) and it is always a misunderstanding of what you can/cannot do.

I'll say that as a "sim-only" pilot, so proper safety, preflight, etc... regulations notwithstanding, IFR is undoubtedly easier in SOCAL (for me at least). File a plan (which in my case happens to almost always already be on a Notepad document), get a clearance, have ATC tell you what to do from gate-gate, etc... VFR, for me, is a nightmare because of the complex airspace around LA and the fact that I refuse to use a GPS to navigate airspace - I try to use landmarks (i.e. lakes, roads, etc...), fail miserably, get yelled at (repeatedly). Seems backwards to be more comfortable in a 737 as opposed to a King Air... Maybe I'm just bad at visual navigation

[HRutila]

Flying VFR in a King Air around SOCAL would be quite taxing. I'd suggest a slower airplane like a Cessna before flying a twin turboprop around here.

[Nelson L.]

Flying VFR in a King Air around SOCAL would be quite taxing. I'd suggest a slower airplane like a Cessna before flying a twin turboprop around here.

C206 was just as bad, it just made less $ on FSE My problem is trying to visually locate the airspace boundaries, even with a sectional on the second screen. Might just be a quirk of mine, but I don't like to use the XP GPS because 1) it's no fun 2) it's not accurate and 3) technology fails. As a quick side-note to RW pilots - how feasible is it to actually navigate SOCAL airspace VFR 100% visually? I assume most pilots use GPS in conjunction with FF, though it'd be interesting to hear if others have as much trouble as me. I watch Chris's FSE streams: oh, here's that lake. There's the valley, the road is there, *insert random airport here* is over to the right, and that little divet in the dirt is over yonder. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to find a mountain

[HRutila]

Not a SOCAL pilot, but navigating complex airspace visually is entirely practical. Let me take it one step further -- I'd suggest eliminating the proposition of any turboprop flying until you can master visual navigation in a piston.

[Kyle.Sanders]

Nelson, try constructing a flight plan (route) just like you would IFR but it will only take you through airspace that you want... So if you want to avoid a class bravo airspace, construct your route around it.

Just because you are VFR, does not mean you MUST navigate visually, it just means you need to stay in VMC... You can even file a route in a flight plan (ATC won't care about it and will pay it no attention but it is there for you if needed and PE simulates not even getting it like they wouldn't in the RW).

Now fly your plane just like you would IFR but you are also free to deviate from that filed route and checkout the nice scenery., climb and descend as you wish (within legal limits).. Or even land at a random airport, then depart it again..

VFR is very much misunderstood.