|
|
Flight Simulating The Avro Lancaster Bomber On Your Personal Desk
The day I write this I am 64 years old and so is the peace that followed the Second World War. This means that I'm "post war", which is the way I want to keep it! It also means that I only saw Roy Chadwick's Avro Lancaster bomber in peaceful 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 not even a dozen people who get to fly a real Lancaster from the left seat every once in a while.
The closest us sorry ground hogs can come to flying Lancasters, is via flight simulation. I am dedicated to Microsofts Flight Simulator X, in which I fly "my own" version of the B1 Lancaster, a hybrid based on the "Wings of Power" version for exterior and flight model, and for the 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 that I collected during the years, I created a completely individual panel.
Panel redrawing required!
I've got two reasons to design my own panels. Initially because there's no out of the box Lancaster panel available that is to my liking. Secondly because available panels put the simulated captains eyepoint somewhere in the middle of the cockpit, like straight behind the throttle and propeller levers. That's no good: it takes away much of the illusion or immersion. Although my real world flying experiences are sadly confined to single engined pipsqueeks 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 much more natural pilots position, and considerably enlarged gauges. Simulation, including flight simulation, is simply illusion - and I don't really care about the panel lay-out being realistic: I want it to look and feel realistic within the confines of a computer screen!!
The controls and such
In order to produce 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 additions are available in a wide price range, from very strong but equally expensive, to somewhat wobbly but easily in the affordability sector of most of us.
Now, bashfully I have a confession to make. Some six years ago I got the cheapest yoke and pedals available, and I'm still using them without a problem and to my continuing satisfaction! In those years I must have bought 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 it is far from necessary yet.
A very flustered face!
I will never say that a relatively simple computer simulation like MS Flight Simulator X can ever give you the joy of flying the real thing, but sometimes it comes pretty darn close. I've made many a simulated landing 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 historic Raid of the Dam Busters. Those jet pilots and "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime" types left their specifically constructed after their hours long flight with a healthy respect for flight simulation, and for the good old Avro Lancaster. You won't see them looking down on "that game" or "that old bomber" anymore!
Taking A Look At Buying Inexpensive Airline Tickets: Finest Approach To Save During Travel
In today's world, everything and I mean everything needs to be budgeted accordingly. You need to spend money wisely and well, that is because it is so hard to earn, yet very easy to spend. It's a disproportionate ratio that shows how unfair life is.
Five Most Popular Manchester Airport Parking Lots
Open twenty four hours a day it is no wonder so many people choose to park their car in Manchester Airport parking lots.
Car Park Newcastle Airport Tips And A Practical Guide
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.
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.
Things You Ought To Know With Regards To Terminal 1 Heathrow Airport Parking
Airport car parking remains to be elusive for most passengers. Airport car parking at heathrow is always in demand because Heathrow airport is the most important airport in London.
Newcastle On Air-Port Parking The Rates And Saving That You Might Have
There is no doubt that when it comes to Newcastle on airport parking, the rates have nowhere to go but up which is why finding affordable parking fees is quite important to those who are after decent savings during their travels
Newcastle Airport Parking Affordable Deals And Offer Where Can You Get Them
With the Newcastle Airport as one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom, it's not surprising that there will be a lot of people making their way through the airport.
|
More Articles
Blogroll
|
