Best choice of Sim

[Jim Heffelfinger]

We are setting up a FS sim station in the chapter hangar and are looking for best recommendations for programs. Our objective is to have a youth flight station. We do not have wifi and this makes MSFS less a choice. We also have zero need for commercial or military airframes. What is the best method of updates ?
Thanks.
Jim Heffelfinger
C 52 Sacramento

[rwanttaja]

:-)

Ron Wanttaja

[Jim Heffelfinger]

:-)

Ron Wanttaja

Thanks but actually not really helpful.

[rwanttaja]

Thanks but actually not really helpful.

Then how about this one? :-)



Going serious here, consider your market...you're looking for a "youth flight station". Most of your customers probably have their own PC flight simulators, and you need to offer them something beyond what they might have at home.

Best setup I ever saw was at Space Camp in Huntsville. They had cockpits set up with seats, stick, etc. and a monitor that showed the panel, and used a separate projector to display the outside view in front of the cockpit.



I'm showing a rather primitive cockpit in the drawing, but obviously, you could really fancy the thing up.... realistic fuselage, paint, etc. Jay Honeck did something like this about ten years ago for a local museum in Iowa, and the kids loved it. I believe he later posted about building a different one using a big-screen TV instead of a projector.

His original simulator used Microsoft Flight Simulator X. SOMEbody in your chapter probably still has a copy, and all you'd need is an old PC running Windows XP (shoot, I've got two of them sitting around). That'd get you clear of the need for an internet connection.

Ron Wanttaja

[CHICAGORANDY]

Whatever software you end up using, just wanted to share my desktop PC "cockpit" as an idea for your chapter.

[Jim Heffelfinger]

Nicely done gives me ideas as well.
Thanks

[Russ-]

I think the better question would be what are the certified simulators using for software? AFAIK, at least one is based on Xplane11. I'm a MSFS user and I like it, but if I were wanting a simulator that allows time building and training that would be the path I would follow. As far as updates go, consider using the sneaker net (thumbdrive between computers) and validating the license using a cellular hotspot.