5-Step ILS Landing Guide for Flight Simulator

Disclaimer: This guide assumes that you're familiar with using Autopilot controls

Trying to use an Instrument Landing System (ILS) in a flight simulator can be a daunting task if you've not tried it before, or if you're not familiar with instruments and aircraft systems however the whole process of setting up and landing a plane is very basic once you know how. I've designed a simple 5 step process which I would like to share with you.

When flying, Air Traffic Control will normally direct you towards the airport and runway you'll be landing on by telling you to fly a certain heading and giving you certain altitudes. This takes away the pressure of navigating to the airport when approaching it, giving you time to set up the plane for an ILS landing. Hopefully you will be familiar with using the auto pilot and will be flying to ATC's instructions with the Autopilot enabled.

Step 1: Gain information about the runway you'll be landing on.

ATC will tell you which runway you will be landing on. Let's say for this example you've been told to land on runway 04. There's two pieces of information you need to find out about that runway, its ILS Frequency and the Runway Heading. You can normally find these in a simulator by going into the Map and double clicking on the airport. Make a note of the frequency and heading, we'll use these in a moment.

Step 2: Make sure the plane's set to Navigate by Radio

Most planes have two forms of navigation, they can navigate by using a GPS system or they navigate using Radio frequencies. In the cockpit, there's a switch which allows you to choose between the two systems and you want to set this to "NAV" so that the plane is using Radio frequencies to navigate.

Step 3: Enter the ILS Frequency into the Nav1 Radio

Take a look at the radio stack and find the "Nav1" settings, you'll see two frequencies. One is Active and one is Standby. You can easily tell which is which because you can only change the Standby frequency. Change this to the ILS frequency you made a note of earlier then make it the Active frequency.

Step 4: Change the Omni Bearing Selector to the runway heading

On smaller planes the Omni Bearing Selector will be a dial, on larger planes it will be a knob on the Autopilot panel. You want to change this so that it's showing the runway heading. In our example we said we would land on runway 04 so the heading would be 040 (but this could be anything from 035-045).

Step 5: Activate the Approach Hold autopilot switch.

Very simple final step, just press the Approach Hold button on the autopilot and the plane will take care of the rest. As you fly in line with the runway, provided you've done all the above steps, the plane will automatically turn and line up with the runway. Also when you get close enough it will also start to descend automatically. Then when you're happy with the approach and can see the runway, you can disable the autopilot and land the plane manually.

And there you have five straightforward steps to landing a plane using an Instrument Landing System! Easy huh? If you're a more visual learner, please see this video which uses this guide.

http://youtu.be/Ji1Lpu1A120

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Aircraft Flight Simulator Games - Software and Hardware

You may have heard about the flight simulator peripherals. With the assistance of these hardware, you can really have an authentic flying adventure in front of your PC or Mac. If you are looking around for the best RC (radio-controlled) flight sim, at that point you need to really devote some time comprehending the numerous attributes of different software and hardware that are accessible in the market. One of the most convenient things about the RC flight simulator is that you can have the flying adventure and at the same time, learn from it without going bankrupt. This is the reason why many people who are into the aviation industry have a tendency to like studying the fundamentals of flying via flight simulators.

Flight simulator components such as yokes, joysticks, controls, pedals and so on can be connected to your desktop computer. Some RC flight sim suites enable you to maneuver the aircraft with the keyboard. A lot of these games are readily available in the market and current releases have featured an array of new amazing attributes such as astonishing graphics.

Some of the most realistic sim programs come with a lot of new graphics and world scenery such as waterways, villages, towns, paths, roads and mountains. You can even fly over your own home and create your own world landmark, new buildings, and even a brand new continent. You can also design rivers, lakes, plains or add railroads and new airports to the already existing thousands of airports to the games. You can literally change the entire world with some flight simulation programs.

The real purpose of any type of flight simulator suite is to provide the end-user with the magical experience of soaring the skies as an aviator. The gamer can undoubtedly make the whole process of learning fairly simple since most of these software are meant to provide a user-friendly experience for the gamers. Furthermore, the user has the choice to treat the game as a training devise if he/she truly wants to study how to fly. The user needs to have access to the most technologically advanced flight sim programs if he/she really desires to understand the craft of flying in the virtual as well as the real world. The serious user must look at these kinds of simulators a lot more like training equipment than simply a computer game. For these reason the user must be cognizant of the fact that if they are serious, hardcore gamers and/or pilot trainees, they need to avail themselves of the best kind of flight emulator peripherals such as yokes, rudder pedals, joysticks and so on. However, as stated above, you can successfully fly many flight simulators using the keyboard alone.

You can make use of the yoke to lift the plane and drop it and you can use the joystick to pivot and control the aircraft. The rudder pedals, meanwhile, allow the gamer foot control of the craft. So when it pertains to picking the right flight simulator you must make the correct decision because there are plenty of them being released in the market every once in a while. The one that you choose must in fact fulfill your every need and meet all your desires. Many of the models available in the market right now concentrate a bit too much on the glitz of the graphical presentation but they leave many end users with a sour taste in their mouth as far as the realism of the flight experience is concerned. And this is why the serious user needs a simulator which really makes them feel like they really have been up there in the cockpit piloting an aircraft.

Therefore if you really have the wish of sitting in the flight simulator cabin and savoring the close-to-real-life take off of your aircraft, at that point you really must go for the appropriate kind of RC flight sim and if you're really, really serious about it, you must also go one step further and avail yourself of the best hardware in order to train yourself as an aviator in the real world.

I'm an internet enthusiast who enjoys blogging, aircraft flight simulators, reading, and sports.

To read more about aircraft flight simulators, visit this website:
http://flightsimulator.3500tvchannels.com/

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What to Look For When Getting a Flight Simulator Yoke

Several years ago, the flight simulator yoke was not what's used to control an aircraft for flight simulation but a keyboard. While it provided fun, it could be frustrating to make sure you find the right keys to control the plane and make it function accordingly. It was quite a challenge for beginners who had to master the keyboard controls first before they could enjoy "flying".

Then the joysticks took over the keyboard and control became better. Controlling the throttle, elevators, pitch and ailerons became more realistic. Today however, the experience is by far better with playing inside your "cockpit at home".

To make sure there are no loopholes in your flying experience, here are the things you need to look for when getting a flight simulator yoke.

Compatibility

Check to see that the aircraft you own or plan to buy can be controlled by a yoke. There are jets and aerobatic planes that are joystick-controlled and may not be compatible with a yoke.Make sure that using a USB flight sim yoke to control the plane may be used in your flight simulator software.Your flight simulation program and gaming console specifications have to match that of the yoke.Because yokes bring out the best performance of certain aircraft, take the type of plane you wish to use a flight simulator yoke into consideration. Planes that are given realistic elevator and aileron controls include:

- P-51 and P-16 fighter planes
- Piper Club
- Extra 300
- Boeing 737

Type of Programmable Controls

Because what you are after is a more realistic aircraft flying experience, you might want to look for something that offers a wider range of programmable controls. This is through control manager software which allows you to program an up to 5 control axes and 20 buttons and switches. With more control on different vital functions, you can enjoy over a hundred switching functions including 2 bi-directional flip, 2 bi-directional rocker switches with a flight simulator yoke.

Easy Installation

When getting a yoke, look for those that don't require complicated installation that will work well on your Mac or other operating system. Ensure that when you position the yoke, you are can be provided comfort and ease of access. There is a yoke that has a 7-foot USB cord to provide this. Also, check your available space at home so that you there will be no constricting your movements.

Durability and Stability

When looking for a yoke, find one that is made of durable materials that will provide years of fun and enjoyment. It has to have a solid, sturdy base to it stays firmly in place as you have fun playing.
Check out models that come with a warranty of at least two years.

If you must command the skies inside your cockpit at home, choose the flight simulator yoke that gives you the closest thing to reality but fits your budget whatever the flying style you choose. While the yoke is not the real thing, it is the closest thing that replicates real controls and will definitely hone your flying skills.

Adrian Fields enjoys helping people understand the benefits of popular and useful products, such as Flight Simulator. Learn more about selecting the right one, and why you should consider having a Flight Simulator Yoke.

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