If you have good internet and an okay computer you can try to install the X-Plane 11 demo at home from link https://www.x-plane.com/desktop/try-it/ . (It runs okay in 2022 on mid-level imacs from 2015, though it takes a few minutes to load. Newer computers will load faster and allow higher resolution images.) {Also see article about tons of physics improvements in upcoming 2022 X-Plane 12.}
01.starting-xplane-w-glider https://youtu.be/DdndLKCP8Ic (Video 1 is 35 seconds. How to choose a glider with clear skies at Seattle.)
02.glider+map.fly! https://youtu.be/olZvKunOmbY (Video 2 is three minutes. How to use the map to put your glider in the air while paused. Then you can take control, stop pausing, and start flying. )
Note: Mike likes to go into X-Plane's keyboard settings and change the defaults: Mike likes ASD keys for rudder (left,center,right) and [] brackets to lower and raise throttle. (Default throttle is F1 = less power, F2 = more power.) See more settings info.
Best glide: 90 km/h; land with top of dashboard almost touching the horizon.
normal landing approach = 60-70kias (70-80mph), with 20° flaps. Land with top of dashboard almost touching the horizon.
Landing: with 100% flaps, approach 145 kias, touchdown between 126 ... 139 kias (faster than that is beyond what nosewheel steering can handle). GUMPS!
140 kt landing (and takeoff) in 737 Max. Flaps 15 or 20 or 30. Keep 60% power until last 20 feet.
150 kt ±10 Takeoff and landing. Half flaps for takeoff, full flaps for landing.
Touchdown between 185-195 kias. When ten miles out typically at 12,000' & 300+kias. Speed brakes (4-on, 3-off) are key!
We will start our flying with X-Plane 11's glider "ASK 21"
(Oops, no longer available: There were some files for x-plane 10 and 11's "Output/situations" folder.
With ILS dialed into nav radio: 3nm ILS through clouds (AGL) (clouds stick with scenario!) and starting crosswise to intercept ils, from Applications/X-Plane 11/. Try with glass cockpit. And/or HUD! How does flight school hard-wire radio calls and vectors? I want to do the xplane training ils and vor scenarios in clouds! Sky hoops would be fun!
Yes, demo x-plane can save and/or load situations!
Need to know more about flight training scenarios in x-plane! Check out (which platforms?) x-plane flying tutorials from CFI, cool!
Alternative virtual flight instructor is FSFlyingSchool but only for WINDOWS (boo!), except for their macXplane add-in that will put your plane onto downwind or final at any airport in your x-plane: https://store.x-plane.org/FS-Instant-Approach-for-X-Plane-11-12-macOS_p_1705.html
(x-plane 10 & 11 PC: http://store.x-plane.org/FSFlying-School-2018_p_727.html https://store.x-plane.org/FSFlying-School-2019_p_916.html (see plugins, below)
Try flying in formation over the network!
X-plane Manual and Customizing: see https://www.x-plane.com/manuals/desktop/ and https://developer.x-plane.com
There was a legacy (now gone) “X-Plane Glider” app for ios which had multiple gliders
https://www.x-plane.com/files/manuals/X-Plane_Mobile_manual.pdf
X-plane carrier landings (see https://youtu.be/XNVUyiHITKk ) and formation flying!
31 oct 2018: re-brief re traffic pattern including direction & afd (online == https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/dafd/ ), glide rate, descent rate, stall horn, rudders, ground effect, Vg, turn rate, stall speed with bank, how turns work, 2 ways to kill engine (mags (fn-f7), mixture (alt, bat: rocker electric doesn’t kill)), attitude indicator! dg vs compass (we lose dg & ai when motor stops making vacuum), TC turn coordinator. TASKS for c172 dead engine (fn-f7): * straight in from 2100?, * in from side to base(show q/w/e look around), * in from side to midfield downwind, * full pattern from above.
Nov 7: Engine w/ tach + throttle + mixture + mags + fuel tanks & gauges! With power we can review attitude indicator! dg vs compass (we lose dg & ai when motor stops making vacuum), TC turn coordinator. (+ Glass cockpit + HUD!?) Watch YT pilot pov a320 into sfo. Study approach plate for ils 28r & L with axmul etc (including go around!) Soon x-plane TO & pattern & landing tutorials! more from gleim = https://www.gleimaviation.com/xplane/ (800) 87-gleim = 874-5346, $99 and fully supports x-plane 11 as of spring 2018. See youtube video (https://youtu.be/eJW0dgK2xXM) and gleimaviation.com/shop/xftcpplauncher
18 oct 2018’s assignment (fly glider from KSEA sea-tac to KBFI boeing field) was genius: students had to use their airspeed, compass, altimeter, map, energy mgmt: all at once, intently. For future class ( ) let’s loop and check speed and g’s.
Alexander W. had bird strike in X-Plane that broke his canopy!
24 oct 2018 assignments: C172 start 2300’ on 3nm final and start 3000’ above airport, engine off (fn-f7 kills mags), and glide down to landing. Use rudders! c172 power out 3000’ agl above airport (yes can do & save scenario in demo xplane 11).
Nov 14: shift-W gets HUD, explain HUD (differs in various aircraft? glider shows more(?) than c172 =? airliner?
Cool Flight Simulator online that Raimi B. found: https://www.geo-fs.com/geofs.php
For Ipad: works in chrome in 2024 after minute of loading: use its "mobile optimized controls" with touchstick. (Orientation is bad.) Look for "Option" or sandwich menu. If some menus go off buttom of screen you can drag on the right-side ad to pull down screen. This sim doesn't seem to work in iPad safari, though safari has the required webGL 2.0. Doesn't work on iphone Safari, and is unusable in iphone chrome since an ad takes up half the screen.
For Desktop computer: "Options" along the bottom allows one to fly with mouse or keyboard or external joystick (or touchstick on ipad. "Orientation on ipad is bad.) Important: (with mouse fly, the Number keys control the throttle, and "P" is pause. "N" brings up a map.
The "Location" tab along the bottom is fun, and it puts your plane in the air. (I'm enjoying Courcheval airport in the Alps, and USA Grand Canyon, and Aircraft carrier. Otter is a nice plane, with good cockpit view.)
The "Camera" tab along the bottom is cool: "Follow" from above and trailing is better than cockpit for beginners, and be sure to re-aim the follow cam. More info https://www.geo-fs.com . (Requires browser to have WebGL 2.0)