As a flight sim pilot for many years, I must tell you that this is one of the best overall short videos on the subject that I've ever seen. Covering your hardware, software apps used, your methods for both IFR & VFR flight, you touched on all the key points. Top it all off with the staples many of us use every day with Vatsim & SimBrief and you've got it well & done. Thank you for doing this, it's much appreciated. I wish you good health & clear skies!
Three years later and tripped across this video. While the nuances may have changed, this remains one of the best most all-encompassing of high points, reasoning, software add-ons, etc. Thanks!
Ben thanks for being a great ambassador combining the sim world with real world. I'm an ageing retired PPL/IMC/Night rated pilot and have found great solace in flying the sim, like you using XPlane 11 and Orbx scenery. Might see you in the virtual skies someday. Fingers crossed you find an airline to keep you in the real skies.
I came across your channel by accident recently and have been binge watching your "journey". You're an inspiration and I do hope you find a new pilot job in the near future. You absolutely deserve much success given your hard work and love of aviation. I look forward to many more of your flying videos. You have even got me thinking about taking a taster flight to see how I'd like it. Thank you and happy flying. Yes, please do make a video of you using the flight sim.
Tim thanks a lot that’s really kind of you. You should definitely go for a Trial Lesson at your local flying club when this is all over! If you need anything drop me a line.
Thanks Kevin, the video has been highly requested so I'm pleased its helped! I really want some more people to use their home sim as the training offers a lot of value and nowadays they're really realistic.
Hello from a fellow Q400 pilot! I fly the dash over here in the states. Finding myself in a similar situation as you because of the COVID pandemic. Rough times for sure. Great video. I’m also using my home flight sim to help with currency. Can’t imagine not having a quality home sim right now. Definitely agree with having a quality yoke, throttle quadrant, and rudder set up. I use a Yoko yoke. Absolutely excellent yoke setup. I also use Navigraph - great resource. I use Pilotedge for my ATC experience. It’s by subscription, but it is an excellent tool for maintaining IFR currency. For aircraft, I love the Hot Start TBM 900. It’s fantastic. But going to have to check out that Pocket Rocket. Looks fun. Thanks for the tip about the Orbx scenery. Will check that out. Keep the great content coming. Hope everyone stays healthy and safe out there. Take care.
Definitely flight a well developed simulator keeps a pilot on the standards, I retired about two years ago from a professional life an my son helped me to make a flight simulator and I enjoy it almost every day.
That was really impressive, not sure what to expect when I first clicked on to watch, but wow, that is some kit you have !, a true professional Ben, hope you are back flying soon. Stay Safe!
Absolutely love all of your videos. I have been using xplane since series 9 just playing around and now I have it downloaded on a decent laptop but with no setup like yours at all lol I love flying and have been aspiring to get my private license just for recreation in the states for years and now. I’m 35 and I really am looking to take the leap finally and go for it sooner than later. if I can amount to nothing more than flying a small single engine the rest of my life it would be a. Huge accomplishment for me and a big check off my bucket list. Please make more videos yours are so fun and educational!
Oustandingly planned and executed video as always. I hope the Coronavirus situation resolves soon and you can get back up on the line, where you deserve to be.
Hey Ben. Used PC based instrument simulator years ago (1990) when I was training, self improver route, for commercial. Got the licence but never used it :-( However, getting your brain around procedural holds (with 30Kt crosswinds) or NDB approaches, even with a quite basic instrument simulator, was great practice before you got to burn all that money in the air. I fly GA these days but also love my home simulator, XPlane with the fantastic Honeycombe yoke and a 50" monitor at 4K, fast PC with all the sliders near max and an accurate flight model (I'm using the Skyhawk 172 SP REP) What I am really impressed with is that I have just purchased SkyDemon and getting to grips with using it during this lockdown is simple - setup XPlane to send the simulated flight data to my iPad, getting all the alerts, weather and airspace warnings and planning diversions enroute. Real fun when stormy weather, low cloud and lo vis is dialled in ! My wife has had to rescue me with a cup of tea sometimes. I look forward to more of your videos, James.
haha love that James, sounds like you're doing all the right things! I definitely have used the simulator a lot to practice NDB holds with crazy winds!
Hi Ben. I am very late in life to be joining the flying community but I passed my skills test in September 2019. Sadly, I only managed two flights after that before the weather closed in. Being based on a grass field in the westcounrty, I haven't been able to get airborne since so I am increasingly concerned about losing all the skills I worked at and paid for!! So I have reluctantly turned to my PC and XPlane. I was discouraged from using it in my training but, for now, its all we have. I haven't enjoyed flying on XPlane much at all so this video was of great interest and has been a huge help. I have not got my set up a little better, bought the UK South scenery from Orbx and ordered a Honeycomb (I only had an old joystick and pedals!) It is good to hear that my PC and graphics are very similar to yours so should be fine for now but I would like to add my second monitor and I bet that will stretch the hardware too far. While we have been locked down I have watched your channel along with the Flying Reporter, Ben Atkinson and the Jodel Flyer and enjoyed the videos. I must say thank you to you all for the time and effort I know it must take to record and edit all your many flights and they are much appreciated. I did take a single GoPro up with me on my last flight as an experiment. It wasn't very good and I will be able to rig it better next time and will look into the sound as well. Maybe, as there is no flying at all just now, I might edit a few bits from and post them - they will be very poor compared to your excellent set up though. Kind regards
Another great video Ben, very informative as always, I always learn something from your videos. Total respect for the self funding pilot, no cash conveyor belt required 👍
After many years of on/off messing about with flight sims (mostly to do sightseeing and fly under Tower Bridge - yawn!) I've decided to actually properly learn what I'm doing. Currently doing loads of otherwise not very interesting local flights to practice, practice, practice the basics (in a Cessna 152) and I have to say I am having a ball! Long way to go, but I'm slowly getting more comfortable with radio navigation and able to find airports in bad weather! Thanks for a very interesting and inspiring video.
I recognised the Blackpool accent before the aerobatics over the Wyre! Nice film Ben, from a 42yr defence aerospace vet who lived right under that view. Hope all is well for you now.
the single most useful piece of advice and guidance I have ever seen. Well done Ben, I was looking to setup a home sim but wasn't sure about the options. You the man !
Holy moly Ben! I’m going to have to watch this again - you lost me halfway through with the number of different apps… Southend international! Where I did my very first solo nearly 30 years ago 😂
VATSIM is a great place for current or aspiring pilots and those who have an aviation passion and can't take to the skies in real world. I did have the pleasure of controlling you at Manchester a couple of weeks ago, I believe you were in a vision jet if i remember correctly. Anyway keep up the good work, hope you're airborne again soon in real world.
I am 20 hours into flying and did my first solo today (in Australia flying schools are allowed to keep flying). I found using my VR Oculus headset much better for landing practice and my instructor actually took me through some circuits with the setup remotely.
Also I recently started watching your channel and thanks for the content. As someone who is fairly early into their flying it's useful to see this content.
I've been thinking about getting into Flight Sims but have no idea what I need and your video is very informative, thank you. I just need a video for absolute beginners on the actual flying, take of and landing before I take the plunge, LOL.
just learn some basic things online by searching up flight sim basics (actual simulator software, hardware, addons, and learning how to fly planes) if you really want to get into it
This was an outstanding video. I learned more about sim aviation products and how people genuinely use them with this video than I have seen before. Thanks.
This has been a very interesting video to watch. Good too, to get an 'endorsement' for the yoke, pedals and X plane 1. Thanks. I hope you get to fly more in the 'real world' too.
A nice quick and informative flight simulator video for pilots I managed to get a few things out of it which I will add to my home flight sim set up as I try to maintain a level of currency.
I just saw this amongst videos suggested (friend sent me advert of Microsoft flight simulator the other day) Watched this and WOW great presentation with clearly explained detail (all missed on me...but I get it!!!) but WOW great stuff!! good luck after covid and great to see videos like this helping others. Thanks.
Great video, really informative. A mate of mine is part way through his NPPL and is using a flight sim of the aircraft he's training on to keep him as current as possible. I hope that the situation improves for everyone soon.
Y’know what? That, to me, was a fine video with lots of really good information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with us. I saved this video and will refer to it often till I feel confident I have it set up and can get the most out it. Thanks again for sharing this fine set of instructions.
Great video, I am trying to setup an exact replica sim for a client who flies a Lanceair Evolution TP, the iPad is the breakthrough I needed to replicate his redundant G1000 panel THANK YOU! At home I have a very similar setup to yours with XP11 on a 2019 iMac but I installed and run the software and the almost 600GB of addons on an external drive and it runs beautifully on pretty high settings (depending on the scenery) and I don't have to worry about the resources being used up by add ons, I use dual joysticks because most of my training is on sidestick equipped singles and I use the Saitek switches, mini display, pedals, T16000M dual sticks and Saitek Throttle quadrant. Can't wait for XP12 and the Evolution!
So enjoyed this video Ben! Well done! I have the G1000 PFD and MFD on two iPads but had no idea I could get a plugin to control the sim! I’ve been considering getting the G1000 system but it’s quite expensive. Guess I already have it! Though I haven’t browsed your other videos yet I wonder about your doing a video on proper methods for online sim pilots to comm with ATC. I hear so many that have no idea. Back when I was with American Virtual Airlines on VATSIM I was VP of training and held several training courses for pilots to assist them. Made my ATC buddies happy! Again thanks! Stay safe! Ted “Triple3”
So A followup on my comment above. I installed the G1000 Bridge for Windows X-Plane - the latest from Simionic and put it in the X-plane-resources-plugins folder. I can't get the PFD to talk to the computer. I've tried the entire Zip file and just the XPL file and no joy. Both the computer and iPad are on the same home network and there is a proper IP address that shows up in on the Sim Connection page on the iPad. I hit start on the settings page on the iPad and get no errors. The first line of the Sim Connection page on the iPad continues to say waiting for connection. I have searched near and far and can't find a single post that is helping. Hoping you might be able to shed some light. Thank you!
Hi Ben! A fellow pilot here doing CPL at Aeros Coventry (just ground now obviously). Keeping current using XP11 and IVAO! (Some videos in my channel...) 80% of flying on a home simulator is tweaking the computer settings to get acceptable FPS xD
Hi I'm a new fan of your channel from the Phillippines. How I wish I could have a simulator set-up like yours but i can't afford it as of this time. Praying for that day to come :-)
lol you don't need ipads as external monitors. but ya everything else could be pricey. maybe start with the basics, like a computer. then over time u can add other things.
Thank you for your video!!! .....I've been a flight simmer and a real pilot for over 40 yrs here in the US... and to me this was a marriage made in heaven!!! Great for training tool!!!..I am a big fan of Jon Fly and he has been an inspiration for me!!... and I've built several diy simulators from my workshop!!!!...I have used Fsx..Xplane..and various other programs over the years!! ...Looking forward to the "new MFS 2020"...but I am satisfied with what I've got!!!...Great Video...keep up the good work!!!!....🐦🐦🐦...
Ben, thanks for this informative video. I started my 'flying' career with Sierra Pro Pilot around early 2000s, then came different editions of MSFS, then Vatsim. I even used to have water-cooled custom built computer for that very purpose at one stage. But then came the real world flying at which point I stopped flying sims. Now, as grounded wide body pilot I am thinking about going back to the fun of the flight sim world. Thank you for the inspiration.
Great video Ben, as always! I can see this video exploding with views on the next few weeks. I know that home simulators are growing massively since the quarentine began! Well done mate
Cracking video Ben, really enjoyed it and very helpful for someone about to undertake their MEIR CPL. Looking forwards to getting started with VATSIM to help make the experience more immersive. All the best and no doubt your work with the sim will help you with your future employer and flying skills.
Great to see you on VATSIM Ben! I’m a ppl of ten years, poised to start the IR this year when things all kicked off so I’ve been spending a lot of time doing exactly as you suggest and using Xplane to keep as current as possible, albeit probably not as accurately as you! Would love to jump in on a group VFR or IFR flight some time! Stay safe and good luck for the future.
Good luck with all the training, Ashley, I'm sure you'll really enjoy it when you finally get started. Keep an eye out on Instagram for when we're doing the group flights.
I really appreciate the time you put in, very informational. I'm leaning more and more to NOT getting a sim. I have a few hours left and I'll have my PPL. I then need to rack up lots of hours to get to commercial and CFI, through IFR and so forth. I have no hardware, so it's looking like a $2000-$3000 investment to get it up to the point to be useful for VFR, IFR and ATC. I don't mind talking on the radio, and often just listen to LiveATC. I really wish I could talk myself into buying a sim, but I think I'd rather just go fly real planes.
3000 dollars will give you about 10 to 12 hours of real flight time, while that same amount of money will give you years of great flight sim experience
Great vid heard you on vatsim at Birmingham recently let me know when your planning a vfr trip I'll add more traffic to that airfield. Great set up if you ever get the chance to try virtual reality honestly try it adds a whole new level of immersion.
Brilliant video, thanks Ben. Now all you need is the Bremont watch to go with the cup - they just released the Spitfire and Hurricane, I think. Britten Norman Islander was the first model plane I ever built when I was about 10! Keep it up!
Terrific job Ben. Do you know of anyone who sells a complete/working set up as a plug-and-play simulator similar to yours? Ive tried and dismally failed to download even the demo version of XP11. My Mac saying its had an unexpected fault and is sending a report to Apple. My Windows PC that I also use, took 4 hours to download the demo, and a further 1 hour to run. I had a lovely view of a C172 and the sound but trying to calibrate the mouse, screen went blank and the computer locked up. You may be able understand buying a functioning unit is an attractive proposition!
There are some companies out there that sell full systems but I think most of the time people customise it or create their own depending on their budget and needs.
This company works very closely with Xplane. xforcepc.com The owner often has Austin, the founder of Xplane on his RUclips channel. Have a look, it might be a good place to start. Cheers from California.
I am not a pilot so I will have to take your word for it that the system you describe is adequate for instrument practice, but I would have to say that I have tried multiple different sims, and I have yet to find one that actually works for VFR practice. I live in the state of Florida, in the USA. There is a 4 lane interstate highway that runs right up the middle of the state. With every sim I have tried, even with all kinds of addon scenery software, I have yet to find a sim that lets me follow that road from Tampa to Gainesville.
Hi Ben, great to see you practising on the sim. Didn’t know you’ve got all that setup and using VATSIM, it’s brilliant kit isn’t it? VATSIM has a lot of coverage at the moment what with everyone stuck at home. Been doing this for 18 months or so (wannabe airline pilot plus some VFR practise for real world flying), but felt very fortunate to have it to fall back on during lockdown. Hope to see you in the virtual (and real) skies soon - and maybe you could do a live stream of a real world flight, that would get a lot of interest I’m sure! Stay safe 👍
Really inspiring thanks - have been flying on a simulator for years and really enjoy the hobby. Agreed on the yoke - I just upgraded myself and have not looked back. Now researching a private pilot’s licence, if the weather in the UK allows :-)
Ben I’ve just come across your video by chance for the first time. OMG what an instructional video, the best I’ve seen yet. I’m thinking of starting to fly at home and the information you’ve given is invaluable. Thank you for sharing and you have a subscriber. If you require a donation please let me know. God bless and stay safe 😇🙏🏿
Nicely done! Ben, you remind me of when I got back to flight simming. Prob abt 12yrs ago X-Plane 9, then 10. I had a gamer laptop (HP) that barely ran X-Plane. I then upgraded to a self built computer then upgraded again before X-Plane 11 came out so I could use vr. Once you get into VR, there’s no turning back. There’s nothing like turning your head and looking out the cockpit window or flipping switches etc while virtual. And sure! How about a go pro of your RW flight sometime. That’d be ultra special indeed 😎. Thanks for your time and work. Ya gotta new subby too 😉
Hey Ben, I have been following your journey for years !!! Your flight sim set up and all of the extra add ons is very similar to mine. I’m originally from near Swindon in the U.K. but live in Houston, Texas, USA now and have a private pilot license. I’m planning to take advantage of less airline traffic at IAH airport this weekend and go and shoot some night approaches in to a Class B airport. I also fly on my simulator a lot and one of the most realistic payware Addons for GA aircraft is the A2A fleet of aircraft including very a very realistic Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Piper Cherokee, Piper Comanche & a V Tail Bonanza !!! Maybe you can virtually come over to my side of the world and we can do a KDWH-KGLS flight which takes us through the Houston VFR corridor between 2 very busy class Bravo airport airspace !!! Cheers.................Simon.
Great video Ben, some fantastic advice on how to get the most possible out of a home flight sim! I've recently been doing some VFR flying on X-Plane and using Skydemon and had a few tries with VATSIM too. Would definitely be interested on joining in on one of those group flights if you do more in the future.
Great video, Ive been using my sim to keep my eyes and ears in while I complete my PPL. If you ever fly into Gloucester in VATSIM and hear a c152 plodding along in the circuit that will be me. Hoping to get my QXC done as soon as the lockdown is over which will be Gloucester, Cardiff, Halfpenny Green so been flying this route a few times.
I love flying to Gloucester it's such a nice airfield! Good luck with all your training and getting your QXC done, that'll be a really big achievement!
Ben, another great video as usual. Hope you are flying soon when safe to do so. Totally agree, the Saitek Yoke is a waste of money. I've ditched mine for a Logitech joystick. Its basic, but works for IFR/ VFR Nav training. I never manged to replicate the real feel of the C172 yoke with the Saitek. I now fly aircraft with centre stick anyway. Sky Demon also links quite well with Xplane 11 for us GA folk.
@@PlaneOldBen I've been busy with the airplane build and am just not in the frame of mind to fly. Hopefully when the lockdown lifts will go up with an instructor to get current. Hope to see more of your videos. Take care
All my life I've wanted to learn and use flight sim, this video scares me even more and makes me think when tf will I have time to learn all this, jeez this is complicated
Hey, I picked up X-Plane 11 about two weeks ago having never flown a flight sim or a real plane in my life, I’m now able to confidently fly the Cessna 172, Dash 8 q400, 737-800 and the Beechcraft 1900D. I can program the FMC and use the Garmin 500 GPS too, even learned the process of starting the 737 from cold to take off to cruise to landing, It’s not as daunting as you think, just pick up and learn a step at a time, there’s an X-Plane Discord channel, I recommend joining that so you can ask questions from experienced people, super helpful 🙂
As a flight sim pilot for many years, I must tell you that this is one of the best overall short videos on the subject that I've ever seen. Covering your hardware, software apps used, your methods for both IFR & VFR flight, you touched on all the key points. Top it all off with the staples many of us use every day with Vatsim & SimBrief and you've got it well & done.
Thank you for doing this, it's much appreciated. I wish you good health & clear skies!
Thank you very much that’s really kind!
Three years later and tripped across this video. While the nuances may have changed, this remains one of the best most all-encompassing of high points, reasoning, software add-ons, etc. Thanks!
Ben thanks for being a great ambassador combining the sim world with real world. I'm an ageing retired PPL/IMC/Night rated pilot and have found great solace in flying the sim, like you using XPlane 11 and Orbx scenery. Might see you in the virtual skies someday. Fingers crossed you find an airline to keep you in the real skies.
Thank you! I've really been enjoying it lately it's offering a lot of training value for currency.
I came across your channel by accident recently and have been binge watching your "journey". You're an inspiration and I do hope you find a new pilot job in the near future. You absolutely deserve much success given your hard work and love of aviation. I look forward to many more of your flying videos. You have even got me thinking about taking a taster flight to see how I'd like it. Thank you and happy flying.
Yes, please do make a video of you using the flight sim.
Tim thanks a lot that’s really kind of you. You should definitely go for a Trial Lesson at your local flying club when this is all over! If you need anything drop me a line.
Been going around in circles wondering what bits and pieces I need to build a realistic simulator to keep current. That's so helpful Ben, thank you.
Thanks Kevin, the video has been highly requested so I'm pleased its helped! I really want some more people to use their home sim as the training offers a lot of value and nowadays they're really realistic.
Hello from a fellow Q400 pilot! I fly the dash over here in the states. Finding myself in a similar situation as you because of the COVID pandemic. Rough times for sure.
Great video. I’m also using my home flight sim to help with currency. Can’t imagine not having a quality home sim right now. Definitely agree with having a quality yoke, throttle quadrant, and rudder set up. I use a Yoko yoke. Absolutely excellent yoke setup.
I also use Navigraph - great resource. I use Pilotedge for my ATC experience. It’s by subscription, but it is an excellent tool for maintaining IFR currency.
For aircraft, I love the Hot Start TBM 900. It’s fantastic. But going to have to check out that Pocket Rocket. Looks fun.
Thanks for the tip about the Orbx scenery. Will check that out.
Keep the great content coming. Hope everyone stays healthy and safe out there. Take care.
Definitely flight a well developed simulator keeps a pilot on the standards, I retired about two years ago from a professional life an my son helped me to make a flight simulator and I enjoy it almost every day.
That was really impressive, not sure what to expect when I first clicked on to watch, but wow, that is some kit you have !, a true professional Ben, hope you are back flying soon. Stay Safe!
Thanks a lot that’s really kind of you!
This is what you call working from home , nice setup 👍🏻🤙🏻
Absolutely love all of your videos. I have been using xplane since series 9 just playing around and now I have it downloaded on a decent laptop but with no setup like yours at all lol I love flying and have been aspiring to get my private license just for recreation in the states for years and now. I’m 35 and I really am looking to take the leap finally and go for it sooner than later. if I can amount to nothing more than flying a small single engine the rest of my life it would be a. Huge accomplishment for me and a big check off my bucket list. Please make more videos yours are so fun and educational!
Oustandingly planned and executed video as always. I hope the Coronavirus situation resolves soon and you can get back up on the line, where you deserve to be.
Hey Ben. Used PC based instrument simulator years ago (1990) when I was training, self improver route, for commercial. Got the licence but never used it :-( However, getting your brain around procedural holds (with 30Kt crosswinds) or NDB approaches, even with a quite basic instrument simulator, was great practice before you got to burn all that money in the air.
I fly GA these days but also love my home simulator, XPlane with the fantastic Honeycombe yoke and a 50" monitor at 4K, fast PC with all the sliders near max and an accurate flight model (I'm using the Skyhawk 172 SP REP)
What I am really impressed with is that I have just purchased SkyDemon and getting to grips with using it during this lockdown is simple - setup XPlane to send the simulated flight data to my iPad, getting all the alerts, weather and airspace warnings and planning diversions enroute. Real fun when stormy weather, low cloud and lo vis is dialled in ! My wife has had to rescue me with a cup of tea sometimes. I look forward to more of your videos, James.
haha love that James, sounds like you're doing all the right things! I definitely have used the simulator a lot to practice NDB holds with crazy winds!
Hi Ben. I am very late in life to be joining the flying community but I passed my skills test in September 2019. Sadly, I only managed two flights after that before the weather closed in. Being based on a grass field in the westcounrty, I haven't been able to get airborne since so I am increasingly concerned about losing all the skills I worked at and paid for!! So I have reluctantly turned to my PC and XPlane. I was discouraged from using it in my training but, for now, its all we have. I haven't enjoyed flying on XPlane much at all so this video was of great interest and has been a huge help.
I have not got my set up a little better, bought the UK South scenery from Orbx and ordered a Honeycomb (I only had an old joystick and pedals!) It is good to hear that my PC and graphics are very similar to yours so should be fine for now but I would like to add my second monitor and I bet that will stretch the hardware too far.
While we have been locked down I have watched your channel along with the Flying Reporter, Ben Atkinson and the Jodel Flyer and enjoyed the videos. I must say thank you to you all for the time and effort I know it must take to record and edit all your many flights and they are much appreciated.
I did take a single GoPro up with me on my last flight as an experiment. It wasn't very good and I will be able to rig it better next time and will look into the sound as well. Maybe, as there is no flying at all just now, I might edit a few bits from and post them - they will be very poor compared to your excellent set up though.
Kind regards
Another great video Ben, very informative as always, I always learn something from your videos. Total respect for the self funding pilot, no cash conveyor belt required 👍
After many years of on/off messing about with flight sims (mostly to do sightseeing and fly under Tower Bridge - yawn!) I've decided to actually properly learn what I'm doing. Currently doing loads of otherwise not very interesting local flights to practice, practice, practice the basics (in a Cessna 152) and I have to say I am having a ball! Long way to go, but I'm slowly getting more comfortable with radio navigation and able to find airports in bad weather! Thanks for a very interesting and inspiring video.
I recognised the Blackpool accent before the aerobatics over the Wyre!
Nice film Ben, from a 42yr defence aerospace vet who lived right under that view.
Hope all is well for you now.
the single most useful piece of advice and guidance I have ever seen. Well done Ben, I was looking to setup a home sim but wasn't sure about the options. You the man !
Thanks a lot I’m glad it helped!
Great video Ben. This really is a great help thank you. I also completed my PPL with Aeros at Staverton.
Holy moly Ben! I’m going to have to watch this again - you lost me halfway through with the number of different apps…
Southend international! Where I did my very first solo nearly 30 years ago 😂
I've been flying on vatsim since 2006 I love how advanced our little flight simulation hobby has become over the years, invaluable tool nowadays.
It sure is!
Thanks Ben, I found your reviews and recommendations really useful, especially as it's all UK based! Take care.
Thanks James, nice to know it helped!
@@PlaneOldBen
Do You know, by any chance, what programming language was used to create this pilot software system?
VATSIM is a great place for current or aspiring pilots and those who have an aviation passion and can't take to the skies in real world. I did have the pleasure of controlling you at Manchester a couple of weeks ago, I believe you were in a vision jet if i remember correctly. Anyway keep up the good work, hope you're airborne again soon in real world.
haha that's awesome, Ben, say hello next time! Thank you for controlling.
Thank you for the nice presentation. Simple, concise and covered pretty much everything required for novice and experienced simmers.
Thank you, Sam!
Worked on the Q400for Horizon Air for 7 1/2 yrs, 1st as a mechanic, then ground instructor, . Loved that plane!
It was a pleasure to fly.
I am 20 hours into flying and did my first solo today (in Australia flying schools are allowed to keep flying). I found using my VR Oculus headset much better for landing practice and my instructor actually took me through some circuits with the setup remotely.
Also I recently started watching your channel and thanks for the content. As someone who is fairly early into their flying it's useful to see this content.
I've been thinking about getting into Flight Sims but have no idea what I need and your video is very informative, thank you. I just need a video for absolute beginners on the actual flying, take of and landing before I take the plunge, LOL.
just learn some basic things online by searching up flight sim basics (actual simulator software, hardware, addons, and learning how to fly planes) if you really want to get into it
That is the trouble there isn't any real depth videos for absolute beginners unless you know different?
I’ve always used flight sims. A great help for the IR flying and very handy for procedures during a type rating. It’s a great hobby and learning tool!
It’s nice to hear it works for other people too!
Yep....
This was an outstanding video. I learned more about sim aviation products and how people genuinely use them with this video than I have seen before. Thanks.
Thank you Raven, that’s really kind and I’m happy it helped!
Plane Old Ben, hey, love what you’ve done! May I ask what you use to get them displays on the iPads? Thanks.
Excellent times 10 ! Yours' is the best Flight Sim combined with your Real World flying combination I've ever seen. thank you. [subscribed]
Thank you very much!
That's beautiful, Ben. Nice going. I'd fly with you in the left seat any time.
Thanks Eric.
This has been a very interesting video to watch. Good too, to get an 'endorsement' for the yoke, pedals and X plane 1. Thanks. I hope you get to fly more in the 'real world' too.
Great info. Will consider replacing our Saitek yoke with the Honeycomb.
Definitely consider upgrading, the Saitek Yoke works to a point but the Honeycomb is noticeably better for not much more money.
A nice quick and informative flight simulator video for pilots I managed to get a few things out of it which I will add to my home flight sim set up as I try to maintain a level of currency.
Thanks Owen.
VFR at riga on friday! :) Riga friday fun! Would love to see you there
I just saw this amongst videos suggested (friend sent me advert of Microsoft flight simulator the other day) Watched this and WOW great presentation with clearly explained detail (all missed on me...but I get it!!!) but WOW great stuff!! good luck after covid and great to see videos like this helping others. Thanks.
Oh thank you very much Nicholas that’s really kind!
Flew my first solo X country on my sim the day before. Definetely felt more confident doing the real flight :)
That’s great to hear, it really helps doesn’t it!
Ben, good luck to you, you deserve it.
Best wishes from Cornwall.
Thanks a lot, Chris!
Terrific review. I've been using x-plane for a few years and learned a couple of things I didn't know it did! Thanks!
Enjoyed that Ben - great setup you have! 👌🏼
Thanks a lot mate, looking forward so seeing you when all this is over!
Great video, really informative. A mate of mine is part way through his NPPL and is using a flight sim of the aircraft he's training on to keep him as current as possible.
I hope that the situation improves for everyone soon.
Thanks for the comment!
Outstanding tutorial for Mac users. Well done sir. Best I have seen.
Thanks Kevin, nice to know it helped!
Y’know what? That, to me, was a fine video with lots of really good information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with us. I saved this video and will refer to it often till I feel confident I have it set up and can get the most out it. Thanks again for sharing this fine set of instructions.
Great video, I am trying to setup an exact replica sim for a client who flies a Lanceair Evolution TP, the iPad is the breakthrough I needed to replicate his redundant G1000 panel THANK YOU! At home I have a very similar setup to yours with XP11 on a 2019 iMac but I installed and run the software and the almost 600GB of addons on an external drive and it runs beautifully on pretty high settings (depending on the scenery) and I don't have to worry about the resources being used up by add ons, I use dual joysticks because most of my training is on sidestick equipped singles and I use the Saitek switches, mini display, pedals, T16000M dual sticks and Saitek Throttle quadrant. Can't wait for XP12 and the Evolution!
Last time I looked at a home flight sim was 1995 when my Dad had one on his PC and he used to fly from BHX to GIB in real time! This looks awesome!
Things have changed
ruclips.net/video/bTiQhFaSFn0/видео.html
You should definitely consider getting back into it!
Richard Harris sweet set up too! Sub’d
Well done. Hope you're back moving folks around soon!
Thank you very much!
So enjoyed this video Ben! Well done! I have the G1000 PFD and MFD on two iPads but had no idea I could get a plugin to control the sim! I’ve been considering getting the G1000 system but it’s quite expensive. Guess I already have it! Though I haven’t browsed your other videos yet I wonder about your doing a video on proper methods for online sim pilots to comm with ATC. I hear so many that have no idea. Back when I was with American Virtual Airlines on VATSIM I was VP of training and held several training courses for pilots to assist them. Made my ATC buddies happy! Again thanks! Stay safe! Ted “Triple3”
So A followup on my comment above. I installed the G1000 Bridge for Windows X-Plane - the latest from Simionic and put it in the X-plane-resources-plugins folder. I can't get the PFD to talk to the computer. I've tried the entire Zip file and just the XPL file and no joy. Both the computer and iPad are on the same home network and there is a proper IP address that shows up in on the Sim Connection page on the iPad. I hit start on the settings page on the iPad and get no errors. The first line of the Sim Connection page on the iPad continues to say waiting for connection. I have searched near and far and can't find a single post that is helping. Hoping you might be able to shed some light. Thank you!
Hi Ben! A fellow pilot here doing CPL at Aeros Coventry (just ground now obviously). Keeping current using XP11 and IVAO! (Some videos in my channel...) 80% of flying on a home simulator is tweaking the computer settings to get acceptable FPS xD
Vatsim is good, and free, but a better more proferssional and realistic online ATC is PILOTEDGE, subscription based. Great Video by theway, thanks
I don’t know anyone that’s used it before, will have to take a look. I’ve found Vatsim in the UK to be very busy and realistic.
Hi I'm a new fan of your channel from the Phillippines. How I wish I could have a simulator set-up like yours but i can't afford it as of this time. Praying for that day to come :-)
magkano po ang ganyang set up?
lol you don't need ipads as external monitors. but ya everything else could be pricey.
maybe start with the basics, like a computer.
then over time u can add other things.
Great video Ben. Love to see a Blackpool to Barton flight in the PA28. Keep safe.
I'll look into it!
Very nice presentation of your beautiful Sim. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Bob. Pleased you enjoyed it.
How have I not found your channel until now! Great video, love flying with Vatsim.
Thank you for your video!!! .....I've been a flight simmer and a real pilot for over 40 yrs here in the US... and to me this was a marriage made in heaven!!! Great for training tool!!!..I am a big fan of Jon Fly and he has been an inspiration for me!!... and I've built several diy simulators from my workshop!!!!...I have used Fsx..Xplane..and various other programs over the years!! ...Looking forward to the "new MFS 2020"...but I am satisfied with what I've got!!!...Great Video...keep up the good work!!!!....🐦🐦🐦...
Thank you Larry that’s really nice of you to say.
Ben, thanks for this informative video. I started my 'flying' career with Sierra Pro Pilot around early 2000s, then came different editions of MSFS, then Vatsim. I even used to have water-cooled custom built computer for that very purpose at one stage. But then came the real world flying at which point I stopped flying sims. Now, as grounded wide body pilot I am thinking about going back to the fun of the flight sim world. Thank you for
the inspiration.
N4865G thanks for the comment, I hope you get flying again soon!
Fantastic mate, great set up and a comprehensive talk through. Nice one
Thanks buddy, hope you're well!
Great video Ben, as always! I can see this video exploding with views on the next few weeks. I know that home simulators are growing massively since the quarentine began! Well done mate
Thank you that's really kind, hope it helps people get into it!
Fantastic video... get a bruner yoke will blow your mind
Cracking video Ben, really enjoyed it and very helpful for someone about to undertake their MEIR CPL. Looking forwards to getting started with VATSIM to help make the experience more immersive. All the best and no doubt your work with the sim will help you with your future employer and flying skills.
Good luck with your ME-IR and CPL - I really enjoyed the training. If you need any help getting Vatsim setup drop me a line.
Really great video Ben, wish you well and hope you can resume your flying career soon. All the best.
Seamus Whittingham thanks a lot, Seamus!
A student pilot here and have that same yoke. You should get desktop avaition Throttle quadrant, flaps & trim
Great to see you on VATSIM Ben!
I’m a ppl of ten years, poised to start the IR this year when things all kicked off so I’ve been spending a lot of time doing exactly as you suggest and using Xplane to keep as current as possible, albeit probably not as accurately as you!
Would love to jump in on a group VFR or IFR flight some time!
Stay safe and good luck for the future.
Good luck with all the training, Ashley, I'm sure you'll really enjoy it when you finally get started. Keep an eye out on Instagram for when we're doing the group flights.
I really appreciate the time you put in, very informational. I'm leaning more and more to NOT getting a sim. I have a few hours left and I'll have my PPL. I then need to rack up lots of hours to get to commercial and CFI, through IFR and so forth. I have no hardware, so it's looking like a $2000-$3000 investment to get it up to the point to be useful for VFR, IFR and ATC. I don't mind talking on the radio, and often just listen to LiveATC. I really wish I could talk myself into buying a sim, but I think I'd rather just go fly real planes.
3000 dollars will give you about 10 to 12 hours of real flight time, while that same amount of money will give you years of great flight sim experience
Great vid heard you on vatsim at Birmingham recently let me know when your planning a vfr trip I'll add more traffic to that airfield. Great set up if you ever get the chance to try virtual reality honestly try it adds a whole new level of immersion.
Thanks Chis - keep an eye out on Instagram that's where I've been arranging the group flights usually.
I am a flight simmer, and I love your video, Just subscribed.
Thanks a lot!
Brilliant video, thanks Ben. Now all you need is the Bremont watch to go with the cup - they just released the Spitfire and Hurricane, I think. Britten Norman Islander was the first model plane I ever built when I was about 10! Keep it up!
Haha I've got a Bremont Mbii!
@@PlaneOldBen Aha! Good for you - that's my favourite: with the ejector seat second hand (DO NOT PULL IT!!!)
When recommendation is so helpful! I am planning to study at flying school here in our country! this so helpful for practicing!
Very well put together Ben, really enjoyed.
Thank you!
Great set up especially the yoke and rudder pedals..throttles...(Iron Sharpening Iron )
Great video Ben, I have really enjoyed flying with you online and look forward to more group flights
Thanks a lot Alistair, keep an eye out on Instagram for organising them!
Excellent video. Very informative. I look forward to flying with you on Vatsim!
Thanks Will! I’m sure we’ll do some great flights together!
Very useful info Ben, happy flying!
Thanks a lot, Joe, hope you're well!
Hey Plane Old Ben , can you do a video on how we can receive help for ATPL and other things to become a commercial pilot?
Great video Ben. Very informative and totally amazing what is out there! Take care and stay safe
Thanks Tim, hope you're well!
Awesome video, very detailed. Great production quality. Must have taken you a while. Thanks
Terrific job Ben. Do you know of anyone who sells a complete/working set up as a plug-and-play simulator similar to yours? Ive tried and dismally failed to download even the demo version of XP11. My Mac saying its had an unexpected fault and is sending a report to Apple. My Windows PC that I also use, took 4 hours to download the demo, and a further 1 hour to run. I had a lovely view of a C172 and the sound but trying to calibrate the mouse, screen went blank and the computer locked up. You may be able understand buying a functioning unit is an attractive proposition!
There are some companies out there that sell full systems but I think most of the time people customise it or create their own depending on their budget and needs.
This company works very closely with Xplane. xforcepc.com The owner often has Austin, the founder of Xplane on his RUclips channel. Have a look, it might be a good place to start. Cheers from California.
Fantastic clip Ben
Best regards
Dave from Scotland
I am not a pilot so I will have to take your word for it that the system you describe is adequate for instrument practice, but I would have to say that I have tried multiple different sims, and I have yet to find one that actually works for VFR practice. I live in the state of Florida, in the USA. There is a 4 lane interstate highway that runs right up the middle of the state. With every sim I have tried, even with all kinds of addon scenery software, I have yet to find a sim that lets me follow that road from Tampa to Gainesville.
Cool setup, what is your desk dimensions?
Hi Ben, great to see you practising on the sim. Didn’t know you’ve got all that setup and using VATSIM, it’s brilliant kit isn’t it? VATSIM has a lot of coverage at the moment what with everyone stuck at home. Been doing this for 18 months or so (wannabe airline pilot plus some VFR practise for real world flying), but felt very fortunate to have it to fall back on during lockdown. Hope to see you in the virtual (and real) skies soon - and maybe you could do a live stream of a real world flight, that would get a lot of interest I’m sure! Stay safe 👍
Thanks Steve - it's nice to hear you're enjoying Vatsim too. Good luck with all your training.
Awesome video Ben! It's got me thinking of investing in some kit. I really do miss flying. Hope you're keeping well.
Thanks a lot, Daniel.
Absolutely brilliant video, I will be watching it again tomorrow, probably several times over in fact. Keep it coming mate!
Thanks a lot, John!
Wow. Top knowledge imparted ! 🤯 that some is crazy. Must get something to practice basic vfr stuff. Thanks for posting!
Drop me a line if you need any help with it, Ben!
Very interesting & educational. Excellent explanation of the technical info. Spot on Thanks for sharing. . ✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈
Really inspiring thanks - have been flying on a simulator for years and really enjoy the hobby. Agreed on the yoke - I just upgraded myself and have not looked back. Now researching a private pilot’s licence, if the weather in the UK allows :-)
Fantastic, good look with your training!
Ben I’ve just come across your video by chance for the first time. OMG what an instructional video, the best I’ve seen yet. I’m thinking of starting to fly at home and the information you’ve given is invaluable. Thank you for sharing and you have a subscriber. If you require a donation please let me know. God bless and stay safe 😇🙏🏿
No worries, Zed! Thanks for watching.
Thanks Ben, great video and you've got a fantastic set-up there.
It works well I find!
@@PlaneOldBen Thanks Ben, can't get X-Plane to run nicely on my laptop (not much RAM) so trying FSX again today.
Thank you for all the info on the additional apps that you using. I learned about some new ones that I'm going to give a try.
Thanks John.
Great video Ben! Stay safe
Thanks Dan, hope you're well.
Nicely done!
Ben, you remind me of when I got back to flight simming. Prob abt 12yrs ago X-Plane 9, then 10. I had a gamer laptop (HP) that barely ran X-Plane. I then upgraded to a self built computer then upgraded again before X-Plane 11 came out so I could use vr. Once you get into VR, there’s no turning back. There’s nothing like turning your head and looking out the cockpit window or flipping switches etc while virtual.
And sure! How about a go pro of your RW flight sometime. That’d be ultra special indeed 😎. Thanks for your time and work. Ya gotta new subby too 😉
Hey Ben, I have been following your journey for years !!!
Your flight sim set up and all of the extra add ons is very similar to mine.
I’m originally from near Swindon in the U.K. but live in Houston, Texas, USA now and have a private pilot license.
I’m planning to take advantage of less airline traffic at IAH airport this weekend and go and shoot some night approaches in to a Class B airport.
I also fly on my simulator a lot and one of the most realistic payware Addons for GA aircraft is the A2A fleet of aircraft including very a very realistic Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Piper Cherokee, Piper Comanche & a V Tail Bonanza !!!
Maybe you can virtually come over to my side of the world and we can do a KDWH-KGLS flight which takes us through the Houston VFR corridor between 2 very busy class Bravo airport airspace !!!
Cheers.................Simon.
Thanks for the comment, Simon. I haven’t done any flying on the sim over in America yet, will definitely have a look at doing it it sounds awesome!
Great video Ben, some fantastic advice on how to get the most possible out of a home flight sim! I've recently been doing some VFR flying on X-Plane and using Skydemon and had a few tries with VATSIM too. Would definitely be interested on joining in on one of those group flights if you do more in the future.
Thanks Sean, keep an eye out on Instagram!
Great video Ben! Thoroughly enjoyed it 👍🏻🛩️
Thanks a lot, Adam!
Great video, Ive been using my sim to keep my eyes and ears in while I complete my PPL.
If you ever fly into Gloucester in VATSIM and hear a c152 plodding along in the circuit that will be me.
Hoping to get my QXC done as soon as the lockdown is over which will be Gloucester, Cardiff, Halfpenny Green so been flying this route a few times.
I love flying to Gloucester it's such a nice airfield! Good luck with all your training and getting your QXC done, that'll be a really big achievement!
Awesome video Ben! Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge and insights!
Thank you!
Ben, another great video as usual. Hope you are flying soon when safe to do so. Totally agree, the Saitek Yoke is a waste of money. I've ditched mine for a Logitech joystick. Its basic, but works for IFR/ VFR Nav training. I never manged to replicate the real feel of the C172 yoke with the Saitek. I now fly aircraft with centre stick anyway. Sky Demon also links quite well with Xplane 11 for us GA folk.
Thanks for the comment, hope you're enjoying your sim!
@@PlaneOldBen I've been busy with the airplane build and am just not in the frame of mind to fly. Hopefully when the lockdown lifts will go up with an instructor to get current. Hope to see more of your videos. Take care
Nice simulator! Greetings from Brazil! Thanks for the video!
Hello to over there!
That is a super nice setup!
Thanks Vinnie!
Brilliant video Ben!!
Thanks a lot, Jack!
Good information Ben thank you. Gives me an idea on how to build a good simulator to keep current.
Hope you get one sorted!
All my life I've wanted to learn and use flight sim, this video scares me even more and makes me think when tf will I have time to learn all this, jeez this is complicated
LordLorenzo one step at a time, you’ll learn to love it c;
Hey, I picked up X-Plane 11 about two weeks ago having never flown a flight sim or a real plane in my life, I’m now able to confidently fly the Cessna 172, Dash 8 q400, 737-800 and the Beechcraft 1900D. I can program the FMC and use the Garmin 500 GPS too, even learned the process of starting the 737 from cold to take off to cruise to landing, It’s not as daunting as you think, just pick up and learn a step at a time, there’s an X-Plane Discord channel, I recommend joining that so you can ask questions from experienced people, super helpful 🙂
@@danbaldwin2432 👍
Lol it’s easy just start with infinite flight on ur phone it’s super simplified
@@danbaldwin2432 is there still an x plane discord?
Hey Ben great video I have just got my S1 for vatsim looking forward to seeing you on the network
That's awesome well done!! Message me when you're controlling and I'll try and come online.
@@PlaneOldBen will do happy to control
you where do i message you Instagram ?
Yeh drop me a line on there!