PC Flight simulator

[Mudge]

Not sure if this is appropriate on this forum but here goes.
I'm looking for a good flight simulator (preferably combat) and the controls to go with it. (Joystick and rudder pedals.) I don't necessarily want to learn to fly. (Yeah...yeah...I know on this board that's heresy.) I just want to get the "feel" of what the controls do (and don't do).
I know a few of you are closet gamers so if you can help me out with suggestions , I'd appreciate it. If you want to remain "in the closet",:wink: email me.
I have Windows XP with USB ports.
Thanks,


Mudge the gamey
(Did I say that right?)

[Jack Cook]

OFF-LINE MICROSOFT COMBAT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2 IS GOOD ENOUGH AND CHEAP.
ON-LINE ACES HIGH IS GREAT TAKE THE FREE 2 WEEK TRIAL.
I USE A LOGITEDC EXTREME 3-D PRO JOY STICK. NO RUDDER PETALS YOU TWIST THE STICK FOR RUDDER.

[Rob Mears]

I think the best combat flight simulator going is probably IL-2 Sturmovik. Don't let the name fool you. There are dozens of aircraft types to choose from. It's set primarily in the European theatre, but they have a new add-on version coming out covering the Pacific theatre too.

CH Products offers an 'F-16 Fighterstick', as well as Pro Pedals and Pro Throttle. It's a fair investment to get the whole setup, but if you want the full simulation experience it's the only way to go. All of them plug right into your existing USB ports.

I was a big fan of WarBirds II back in the late 1990s. I haven't touched it in a while, but I hear Il-2 is light years ahead of the older games. It will consume you so be careful!

[Mudge]

Thanks Rob,
The CH pro stick and pedals would be my first choice. Saw the Sturmovik CD
but wasn't sure I wanted it. You've changed my mind. Some places add on only $5-6 for the CD while others ad up to $15.
Regards,

Mudge the appreciative

[dj51d]

I use a Saitek X45 which has a seperate throtle with a finger tip rudder control, though expensive(about $75) I would highly reccommend it. I have stayed away from rudder pedals as they are quite expensive, around $150.

IL-2 is an excelent combat sim if you don't care about the audio. The grpahics are excellent, the flight models are good, but all the round engines sound like the M-14P.

[Mudge]

OK Dan...I'll keep that in mind when I'm shopping.
Regards,

Mudge the educable

[mike furline]

Mudge,


IL-2 is the way to go. Simply the best WW II flight sim out there. I've owned and played them all. The Microsoft stuff is pretty lousy in comparison.
With the IL-2 series there are about 120 different planes/versions you can fly from USA, Britain, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan, fighters, bombers, float, dive bomber, carrier landings, etc.

There are four differnt games/disks for the game and several more are due out.

Here's the order of games in the IL-2 series,

1. IL-2 Sturmovik
2. Forgotten Battles
3. Forgotten Battles Ace Expansion Pack
4. Pacific Fighters

As far as joysticks go, get one with Force Feedback. It makes the game all the better.

http://www.pacific-fighters.com/en/home.php?skin=S2

Regards,
Mike

[mike furline]

Here are some joystick manufacturers. You can always check ebay as well.
Microsoft used to make joysticks. They're pretty good for being a few years old. I like them, still have one.
They made a couple of force feedback sticks. Only version 2 of the joystick will work with Windows XP.

http://www.chproducts.com/

http://us.thrustmaster.com/index.php

http://www.logitech.com/?languageid=1&countryid=19

http://www.saitek.com/

Regards,
Mike

[Downunder]

Hello, To get the most out of what ever you play, make sure your computer is set up properly.512 MB Ram,Good graphics card and a BIG
screen for starters.Oh, and turning off any programs running in the background (that are not needed) will help keep your framing up.

[Mudge]

Thanks for all the help, troops. You guys helped me finally make up my mind. I got the Saitek Cyborg Evo Force joystick and the CH Pro Pedals w/ the IL-2 Sturmovik CD.
Yeah, my computer's heavy duty enough to handle 'em.

Mudge the appreciative

[mike furline]

Mudge,

To go on-line and fly, your version of the game has to be the same as everybody else's.

Hyperlobby is a good forum/server for flying on-line.

http://hyperfighter.jinak.cz/

Just about everybody has Pacific Fighters these days. You can still fly all the planes from IL-2 in it.

You probably won't be able to get on-line with just IL-2. As most people have added Forgotten Battles, Ace EP and PF. You would be the only one with IL-2 and wouldn't match up with any server.

If you send me a PM, I could call you and help in getting things set-up.
I live relatively close, Ashburn,VA.

Regards,
Mike

[Mudge]

Thanks Mike, but I don't really have much need to get online.
Regards

Mudge the hermit

[wendovertom]

Per Rob - go to barnstormers.com andd look under the warbirds index in the A-10/Warthog section. There is a very complete looking A-10 cockpit simulator fron Hill AFB. And only $9000!!

Tom P.
www.wendoverairbase.com

[Mudge]

Geez Tom, I wish I'd have known about that sooner. I'd have jumped right on it.


Mudge the frugal

[jaybird]

For anybody else that wastes a late night hour here & there with MS flight sim 02 or 04, there are several websites with hundreds of free downloadable fighters (and anything else that flies)

my favorite is simviation.com

...that wasted time of mine (night owl) is usually spent sim flying every downloaded plane 50 ft inverted down the Vegas strip at night