|
|
Simflying The Avro Lancaster Bomber On Your Personal Computer
The moment I write this I am 64 years old and so is the peace that followed World War II. This means that I'm "post war", which is exactly the way I want to keep it! It also means that I only saw the Avro Lancaster bomber in peacetime fly-by's which is a scarce enough happening anyway, considering that there are only two (!) flyable Lancasters left in the whole wide world. There's very little airtime to be shared among the eager crowd, so there are probably less than a dozen people who get to fly a real Lancaster from the left seat every once in a while.
The closest us lowly earth dwellers can come to flying Lancasters, is via a flight simulator. I am dedicated to Microsofts Flight Simulator X, in which I fly "my own" version of the Lancaster B1, a hybrid based on the "Wings of Power" version for exterior and flight model, and for the 2-D panel on just about everything up to and including not only the kitchen sink but also the bath tub, the toilet bowl and the hot water boiler (grin)!. Out of many existing panels and gauges that I collected in years of flight simming, I created a my personal panel.
Panel rearranging required!
I've got two reasons to design my own flightsim panels. Initially because there's no ready made Lancaster panel available that's even remotely to my liking "looks-wise". Secondly because existing panels put the simulated captains eyepoint somewhere in the center of the cockpit, like straight behind the throttles. That's no good: it takes away much of the illusion or immersion. Although my real world flying experiences are sadly confined to single engines like Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee, I know that Lancaster pilots did not sit with their precious crotch shoved painfully into the throttle quadrant of their Avro Lancaster bomber!
My panel redesigns produce a more natural pilots position, and considerably enlarged gauges. Simulation, including flight simulation, is simply illusion - and I don't care much about the panel lay-out being realistic: I want it to look and feel realistic within the confines of a computer screen!!
The physical controls
In order to realize a acceptable amount of realism, flying your digital Lanc with the keyboard or mouse won't do. If you can even remotely afford it, a steering yoke is an absolute must, with a set of pedals coming in a close second. Fortunately these things are available in a wide price range, from very strong but equally expensive, to somewhat wobbly but easily affordable for most of us.
Concerning this subject I have a confession to make. Some six years ago I got the cheapest yoke and pedals available, and I still have and use them without a problem and to my continuing satisfaction! In those years I must have bought for more than a couple of thousand dollars worth of other flight sim equipment, but I never saw any reason for discarding my old and faithful pedals/yoke set! Sure, eventually I'll replace them, even if it is only on account of normal wear and tear from almost daily use, but I'm not holding my breath in either hope or despair.
A very flustered face!
I will never say that a relatively simple computer simulation like MicroSoft Flight Simulator can ever give you the joy of flying the real thing, but sometimes it comes pretty darn close. I've made quite a lot of sim landings under conditions that turned my brow sweaty with concentration, and sweaty with almost real fear! Nor am I the only one with such experiences. I think it was around 2004 that an RAF flight crew trained for, and eventually flew, an MS-simulated Dam Busters raid. Those jet pilots and "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime" types left their specifically constructed after their exhausting final flight with a healthy respect for Microsofts simulation software, and for the good old Avro Lancaster. You won't see them looking down on "that game" or "that old bomber" anymore!
Tips And Advice For Affordable Car Parking At Manchester Airport
There are lots of alternatives for car parking at Manchester airport. This article from a frequent flyer offers tips and advice on getting the best deal.
Newcastle Airport, A Modern-Day Wonder For North Of England
How hard is it for you to carry all the baggage that you need to the airport? Truly, it can be very tedious to bring all of the things that you need. And if you think about it, you cannot solely rely on public transportation to help you out
Newcastle Car Port-Tips On How To Obtain The Top Deals
Looking for the cheapest deals in airport parking? Newcastle parking deals will guarantee that you will be able to enjoy your trip without the hassle of looking for airport car parking.
Airport Parking Newcastle Airport A Manual To Getting Cheap Deals
Located just in the centre of Woolsington, in the City of Newcastle, the Newcastle Airport is the eleventh busiest airport in the entirety of United Kingdom.
The Best Deals On Manchester Airport Hotels
While planning your budget for your next vacation or business trip, you have to check the rates offered by Manchester airport hotels as soon as possible. And leaving your car in their parking facilities will only cost you a fortune.
You Can Definitely Trust In The Airport Parking Heathrow To Take Care Of Your Car
Car parking and Heathrow Airport have somewhat become synonymous with each other. With all the passengers that come in and out of the massive airport, it is only fitting that you look intently at the airport parking services that will be offered to you.
Great Thing About Newcastle Airport Parking Facilities
Is there no one to drive you to the airport at 3am? If your answer is no, then you don't have to worry because you can just drive yourself to a car park Newcastle airport. These facilities offer cheap parking rates.
|
More Articles
Blogroll
|
