744 Forum

Apron => Tutorials => Topic started by: brian747 on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 22:45

Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 22:45
Hi, folks!

I have created a 64-page tutorial, aimed very much at those new to PSX, which aims to shorten their learning curve as they get to grips with the sim. I am hugely grateful to Hardy, who has been kind enough to read through the text and suggest many corrections and improvements (just as he did for 'The Big Tutorial', back in the days of PS1).

The tutorial covers four main areas:

* Creating your own 9pack of layouts

* Assigning the optimum set of controls for your hardware

* Flying a very short trip to become familiar with PSX as you test your layouts and controls

* Creating a situation file for your own use


It can be downloaded from the "Miscellaneous" page of the Aerowinx site —

http://aerowinx.com/html/misc.html


I hope some people find it useful.      :D

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Roel Raeven on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 23:01
I just had a short (sneak) preview but must say: Great job Brian

Thx,
Roel
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: noels7 on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 23:07
Hi Brian

Many thanks for taking the time to produce the new tutorial.
I am sure it will be appreciated and of great assistance to us
mere mortals recommencing our love affair with the Queen.

Regards

Noel Southam
noels7
noels7@bigpond.net.au
YPAD
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: CarlBB on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 23:14
Hi Brian,

Good timing - it will help whilst I wait for my copy  :)

I'll have a read and hope I can get some more tips to get going as soon as PSX arrives.

It will also save some more wear and tear of Hardys demo # 1  :D

Thanks

Carl
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers on Mon, 1 Sep 2014 23:17
Remember Carl: NO DRAG REQUIRED      :mrgreen:
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: cdpohl on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 07:50
Brian,
I've been using your 'The BIG Tutorial' for PSX. It was recommended to me, and I found it very helpful. Great work I must say. Your new Tutorial, however, is just what I need. It covers many additional facets of PSX that are very helpful. Again, great work. I do appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: MalcolmT on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 08:03
A big thanks here too, Brian.
Cheers
Malcolm
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: simbro on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 08:13
Also a very big thank you from me.

This is exactly what I've been looking for as I've been feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer complexity of PSX.

Regards
Simon
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: tim96 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 08:45
Hi Brian,

thank you so lot fot that useful tutorial.
Great work  :D Very Good overvieving for all that i need!

Regards
Volker

EDDK
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: John Golin on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 09:10
Hi Brian - great doco!  Quick note - AdaptPSX does support the EFIS buttons and Captain and FO ECS... :)
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: 744kid on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 09:27
Thank you, Brian (and Hardy). It looks very good. Another fine example of the wonderful support on this forum. I only wish I could make some really positive contribution rather than just learning from all the great info on this forum. One day...  :D
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: funkyhut on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 10:05
My thanks too Brian. A great guide which I wish I'd had to read after setting up all my USB buttons and then removing a numeric keypad only to find when I rolled down the runway for takeoff TO/GA did not and the elevator was dud.

Not that I could add much, there is one thing which might be helpful if you are just starting out.
For me, I've found the important things to assign to buttons are:

TO/GA,
AP Disconnect,
AT Disconnect,
Trim Up and Down,
Flaps Up and Down,
Gear cycle and the
PTT button.

I have a Saitek Yoke and 3 axis Quadrant with Saitek Peddles so with the above all set on the Yoke, I have 2 buttons left over on the Yoke which I've assigned to the Next Checklist Item and Previous Checklist.

Why? Because they are all things you need to do while climbing out or at critical points during and approach when you probably don't want to be mousing around looking for stuff.

I've also found that with PSX, the handling of the Throttle and Speedbrake with the mouse really is intuitive and easy. On Takeoff it's just a push forward on the throttles, easy to do with a mouse. I also have them assigned to a Throttle Quadrant but find myself not using it.

That leaves 6 more buttons on the Quadrant which I've not yet assigned.

Hope this helps.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: cagarini on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 10:27
Excellent tutorial! Thx Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 11:22
My most sincere thanks for your kind comments, gentlemen!     :D

Naturally, having asked Hardy to post it last night, first thing this morning I found a couple of typing errors in it , so there will be a v1.01 at some point. Apologies to those who have downloaded v1.0, although TBH the differences are tiny. But once an Editor, always an Editor, I guess, so I couldn't leave it alone....     ;)

[Later edit: v1.01 has replaced v1.0 and is available now. Many thanks, Hardy!]    :mrgreen:


Just a few specific responses:

@Carl

While you're waiting, why not do some hard thinking about the best way to lay out your controls? Getting them optimised precisely for you will improve your simming experience significantly. See the section on controls, and appendices 2 and 3 (and perhaps 4, as an example). See also funkyhut's comments, above.   8)

@John

My Aerosoft Australia MCP lacks the EFIS and Comms additions, unfortunately. I think perhaps you may have overlooked my sneaky way of wondering whether you were going to extend AdaptPSX to talk to the VRinsight MCP combo kit (those models incorporate EFIS and Comms in a single unit), at some point. Unless ( <*gasp*> ) you already have????     ;)

@Chris

That sounds great, Chris. You've obviously thought it through.   :)

All the best,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Horst on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 12:50
Hi,
I can not download the manual, only loard it online.
It is also passwort protected.

To chance the pdf format in a word format,  is impossible.

Is there anyone to publish the manual here in the forum in a word format?

Thanks
Horst
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 13:10
Hi Horst!

It is easy to download (right-click on "Getting to know PSX" and then use "Save target as"); and it can then either be viewed onscreen or else printed out in high resolution.

But no Word version, I'm afraid.

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: CarlBB on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 13:48
Hi

@Brian - yes I'm expecting this matures into less keystrokes and therefore more use of existing hardware as I see what is possible. I see a lot - I remember - being the same from PS1.3.

I hope to expand on a similar way that I use X-Plane for the runway entry/exit procedure.... e.g., in X-Plane, Num 7 is my main view. Num 8 is part of glare shield and landing lights. Thru PSX I will hopefully be able to access all relevant items for the runway entry/exit procedure, e.g., lights, strobes, transponder, EFIS (to quickly switch on terrain or WX radar), clock, seat belt sign to 'ding' the cabin prior to take off etc..

@Hoppie - yes indeed. I even have a special copy of PSX where the DRAG REQUIRED message will never appear  :D

Thanks

Carl
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: cagarini on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 13:54
Brian, HH

Can I post a message at the Avsim Hangar chat forum with a link to your Guide?

For those in the fence I am almost sure they would have the chance to find out why PSX can offer...
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Horst on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 13:57
Hi Brian,
Thank you, it was a wrong setting in my pc system ....Cheers
Horst
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Frans Spruit on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 15:14
Hi Brian,

Thank you very much for your tutorial.

Kind regards,

Frans Spruit EHAM
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 16:29
Hi folks!

And many thanks for your comments.


@Horst!

Phew, that's a relief — you had me really puzzled! I'm delighted you fixed it.    :D


@jcomm

No problem from my point of view — but Hardy is the man who is kindly hosting the file, so it has to be up to him.    8)


@Everyone

As a celebration at having finally finished the tutorial, this afternoon I hooked up PSX with AdaptPSX (for my Aerosoft Australia MCP) and VisualPSX (to see some FSX visuals), all running on my three-screen single computer. As you can see, I simple-mindedly dumped an FSX window over my PSX outside view for the test.

Heartiest congratulations and thanks to both John and Garry, since both add-ons worked beautifully first time. Here's a very small (500 px wide, to conform to forum rules) picture of the Gatwick take-off from the situ file in "Getting to know PSX" —

(http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s325/brian737747/Gatwicktakeoff500pxwide_zps36b013ca.jpg)

If you'd like to see it full size (3800x1160 px), please download it from the following link (I'll leave the link live for a few weeks at least — click the Download button top right, or else right-click the picture and "Download original"):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ob2v3rwwflosu0h/Gatwick%20takeoff%20%283800x1160%20px%29.jpg?dl=0

Now I'm about to try Martin's PSX Earth.... This is fun!    :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 17:25
Hello again!

Just to complete a great afternoon, I have just tried Martin's PSX_Earth, which uses the Google Earth plugin in a browser to show you the scenery.

Once again, it ran perfectly first time: the only difference is the absence of the waits for FSX, the heavy CPU usage of FSX, and so on. Different tools for different occasions, obviously, but this one is superb, too.

For completeness, here once again is a small pic, this time as I'm approaching the localizer for Heathrow rwy 28R:

(http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s325/brian737747/PSX_earth500x195px_zpsda1e2eb6.jpg)

And here is a download link for a larger version of it (2850x111 px):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9emezwrmx203twn/PSX_earth%20%282850x1111%20px%29.jpg?dl=0

I have to say that it was great to be able to recognise the area I was flying over!

So my sincere congratulations and thanks to Martin, too.     :mrgreen:

Come on, guys — you're spoiling us! (But don't stop...).

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Will on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 18:08
Brian, thanks for your tutorial! I joined the Aerowinx community back around the day that PS1.3 was released, and your Big Tutorial back then was very helpful and fun to read.

And the current one is great. The illustrations are excellent.

Two suggestions: First, it looks like there was some kind of global search-and-replace error leading to vly/vlying, instead of fly/flying, in version 1.01?

Second, you strongly encourage (p. 6) people to get a numeric keypad, including a pluggable USB keyboard if their main keyboard doesn't have one included. However, another solution which some people may find even better is to use a hat switch on a controller plus one extra button. After setting that up, I wouldn't dream of going back to the keypad. So for users who don't have a numeric keypad, but do have a hat switch and a button to spare on the controller, they might want to try a 9pack with that philosophy before they go to the store.

I've posted this elsewhere in greater detail, but in sum:

Hat switch up: moves up, like you're tilting your head upwards (overhead, P7)
Hat switch down: moves down (center console, communications and CDU's)
Hat switch left: big slice of the cockpit viewed from captain's seat
Hat switch right: ditto, for the F/O
The additional button: "home" panel, suitable for most routine flying tasks

Then just "above" the home screen is one that is optimized for landing and hand-flying.
Just "below" the home screen is one that is optimized for long-range cruise on autopilot.

So the hat switch is intuitive and is like looking around the cockpit, but if you ever get lost, one tap on the "home" button and you're back to the default screen for normal flying.

It takes a lot of words to explain but is very intuitive to actually use, and if your controller has the buttons, can save someone from buying a new keyboard. Just a thought. :-) And sorry for the long post.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Jeroen D on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 18:54
Brian,
Many thanks for the tutorial. You did it again, much appreciated.
I haven't had the chance to read through in all its details but it looks impressive and very useful


Jeroen
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Horst on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 19:21
Quote from: brian747@Horst!

Phew, that's a relief — you had me really puzzled! I'm delighted you fixed it.    :D




Hi Brian,
after using your manuel: Thank you very much. I had the same (old one) tested with  PS 1.3.
cheers  :mrgreen:
Horst
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: pcpilot on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 19:53
Hi Brian,

Great tutorial.

Excellent tip re "JoyToKey" utility, exactly what I was after.

Many thanks.

Graham.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 20:07
Hi, Will!

And thank you for your kind comment.    :)

> "... it looks like there was some kind of global search-and-replace error leading to vly/vlying, instead of fly/flying..."

Not so, in fact - merely different terminology (which is explained in the text, at each first occurrence). I tend to differentiate between flying and virtual flying (vlying).    ;)

Thank you also for your renewed explanation of the virtues of using a hat switch for switching layouts, which I have followed with interest in your previous posts. However, a numeric keypad or full keyboard has other uses apart from switching layouts, and is also more familiar to most beginners, hence my recommendation.

Now that the tutorial is complete and I at last have some time for some serious vlying, I will definitely give your hat switch approach a try.    :)


@Graham

Thank you: I like simple solutions.    :mrgreen:


Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Will on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 20:08
Whoops, I missed the part about "vlying" being intentional. Sorry about that!

I'm going to make one (final) explanation of the hat switch idea, with an updated downloadable 9pack file, and a screen shot (500 pixels max) of each one of the layouts in order. Just FYI. Look for it tonight or tomorrow.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 20:12
Sorry, Will.

Most of my friends put my strange sense of humour down to the fact that I was born in Liverpool, but who knows...?     :roll:

I look forward to seeing the latest incarnation of your 9pack system, too.    :D

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Hessel Oosten on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 21:09
Brian,

Your avatar here, just symbolises what we all think about your new:  "Small.. Tut";

Thumbs UP !!![size=14][/size]

Thanks !


Hessel
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Phil Bunch on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 21:45
Quote from: WillWhoops, I missed the part about "vlying" being intentional. Sorry about that!

I'm going to make one (final) explanation of the hat switch idea, with an updated downloadable 9pack file, and a screen shot (500 pixels max) of each one of the layouts in order. Just FYI. Look for it tonight or tomorrow.
Will,

Thanks for posting your layouts - I'm finding them to be very useful.  I also very much appreciate the upgrades and refinements provided by the most recent versions.

I believe I will also settle on the joystick hat+switch mechanism instead of the keypad method.  In the meantime I'm getting closer to buying the Cougar Hotas joystick, also based in significant part on your recommendation.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Phil Bunch on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 21:55
Quote from: Hessel OostenBrian,

Your avatar here, just symbolises what we all think about your new:  "Small.. Tut";

Thumbs UP !!![size=14][/size]

Thanks !


Hessel
Heck, I'd welcome a 10,000 page "introductory tutorial"!   It would take at least that much to begin to cover the 747 FMS!
-------------------

Brian's writing style is delightful and most enjoyable by my American mind and senses.  

I've observed for many years that most Americans practically worship certain British accents as well as the best British writing styles.   "Real" English has little in common with the American language,and it is much more refined and subtle.

Interestingly enough, I've usually had greater difficulty being understood by spoken language in the UK vs other European countries.  Something about my Southern USA accent (I grew up in Atlanta, but have lived in the North all of my adult life) really clashes with the "King's English"!
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 22:35
Hello, Phil!

(Or perhaps "hello again", since we last exchanged comments in the days of PS1).   8)

Thank you for your gracious comments, my friend. During my life I have lived and worked in the U.S. for only a few short months at a time, but was invariably overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the charming people I met.

I think the trouble with accents is that Over Here we have so many of them, and still take them far too seriously. Alan Jay Lerner observed us only too well in his superb lyrics for 'My Fair Lady':

'An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him,
The moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him'.

So an accent from Somewhere Else is pretty much bound to confuse many of my fellow-countrymem, I'm afraid. Please forgive us, we're still struggling with change, as ever.    :roll:

Anyway, I thought a "BBC" English accent was strictly for villains (according to Hollywood)?    ;)

All the best,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 22:52
Hi Hessel!

(Hmm, something odd going on, I thought I had posted to you before, so if a duplicate should also arrive then please accept my apologies).

Thumbs up indeed! Hardy is indeed amazing man, and we all benefit from his amazing knowledge and talent.

So I will be extremely happy if my small contribution helps anyone to enjoy PSX even more.    :D

Cheers and thanks,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: John Golin on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 22:54
Quote from: brian747@John

My Aerosoft Australia MCP lacks the EFIS and Comms additions, unfortunately. I think perhaps you may have overlooked my sneaky way of wondering whether you were going to extend AdaptPSX to talk to the VRinsight MCP combo kit (those models incorporate EFIS and Comms in a single unit), at some point. Unless ( <*gasp*> ) you already have????     ;)


ahh... cunning... :)

I won't have a lot of time in the foreseable future - we've got a lot of stuff to get done with the SimStack prior to and after Worldflight... hopefully someone else can step up...
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Tue, 2 Sep 2014 23:01
Hi John!

 I tried to sneak it past you but you were too good for me.    :?

Ah well, I'll try and keep hoping.

All the best for an even better (PSX-powered?) Worldflight!

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Mundyas on Wed, 3 Sep 2014 13:15
Hi Brian
Thanks so much for this. I used Big Tutorial for PS1 too!
Very helpful with the 9pack and routes.
 
I am going slowly with my learning of PSX and today bought PFPX.

 I am getting there - but make haste slowly
Thanks so much. Thumbs up. Andrew
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Wed, 3 Sep 2014 15:29
Hi Andrew!

Thank you for that!    :D

Hmm, EGKB? So if you can master the art of vertical takeoff, you can omit the first third of the tutorial flight, then!    ;)

You certainly have your work cut out if you're learning PFPX *and* PSX at the same time.   :shock:   If it's any help, I wrote a review of PFPX which people have been kind enough to say was useful in helping them to learn about it — and the review also included several links to other written tutorials and videos about PFPX, too. I won't be so impolite as to link directly to another forum from here, but here's a fairly strong hint — if you were to go to Mutley's Hangar and find the Reviews Home page, you can use the Quick Review Finder to search for "Professional Flight Planner X" (in full). Or just search on my name.     ;)

Good luck, and have fun!

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Mundyas on Wed, 3 Sep 2014 16:27
Hi Brian
Thanks for that very very slight hint that will help a lot. Smile. First route done, Wow, and copied to the !-! flying machine.

Was thinking of flying  EGKK with a very difficult  touch and go at EGKB before landing the ferried 747-400 at Heathrow, slightly tired.

 Perhaps a sit file(slightpilotoverload)  in yr next update.

Seriously this forum has such knowledgeable people on it, who are happy to share their knowledge and experience with rank amateurs like me.

When i first got PS1 I took ages to figure out anything at all. PSX learning curve high but its enjoyable learning a little every day.

A
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Wed, 3 Sep 2014 19:56
Learning has never been such fun, though.    :D

Thank you for your kindness. But please bear in mind also that when I wrote that PFPX review it was in the shadow of the release of a certain 777, so ETOPS was at that point very much the name of the game. 'Nuff said.

A 744 touch and go at EGKB? That might get some of the local NIMBYs in a tizz.   :mrgreen:   As a veteran of PS1, though, you may perhaps remember some documents about a touch and go at Sondre Stromfjord (BGSF), written by someone whose initials were (and are) HH, which might help you in that respect.    ;)

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: funkyhut on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 01:51
While going through the latter section of Brian's outstanding guide (thanks!), I have created a .situ file which I'd like to share if anyone is interested.

It puts the airplane at Gate 57 at Gatwick (EGKK) in a cold & dark state with just about everything in the wrong positions. Ground power is connected.
You can download it from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5aN13PaH6miMXVYQk5RWDJ0aDQ/edit?usp=sharing
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: B747-400 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 10:47
Hi Brian,

thanks for sharing this realy helpful tutorial with us!  8)

BR Hans
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Sylle on Fri, 5 Sep 2014 00:00
Great job indeed Brian!

Cheers,
Sylvain
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Dennis B on Fri, 5 Sep 2014 16:49
Brian, I did not dare to hope for a new tutorial from you.  But here we go, and this one is even better. I hope this will be the beginning of a series of small tuts, there is so much to know. And your writing style is both precise and entertaining.
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Berndo on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 06:31
Brian,

thanks for the tutorial!
Naturally I tried to land manually (first time in PSX) and floated and floated and floated. :)

The plane feels overly responsive on aileron and rudder inputs, I wish there was a possibility to turn the sensitivity of my Logitech 3D down (or I haven't found it yet). Have to move the stick constantly or I'm not following the ILS anymore. I'm used to FSX on rails.

The half-size X-Plane window (1920x768 ) where I'm losing another title bar worth of pixels from PSX lets me flare much too early. Guess I have to trust the radio altimeter and/or get used to it.  :P

Nice job,
Bernd
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Flying Mick on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 18:37
Brain,

YOU did it again -- Thank You so much Buddy!

Can´t wait to read more...


Greetings from Berlin
Michael
EDDT
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Zapp on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 19:23
Quote from: BerndoThe half-size X-Plane window (1920x768 ) where I'm losing another title bar worth of pixels from PSX lets me flare much too early. Guess I have to trust the radio altimeter and/or get used to it.  :P


Hi, I'm told by a real -400 pilot that they always use the radio altimeter and never trust the external visual reference; re: the x-plane title bar, if you check the "full screen at this resolution" you get rid of it!

Bye

Andrea
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Berndo on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 21:27
Quote from: ZappHi, I'm told by a real -400 pilot that they always use the radio altimeter and never trust the external visual reference; re: the x-plane title bar, if you check the "full screen at this resolution" you get rid of it!


Thank you Andrea for these two tips!
Really weird that 29 pixels (height of a standard title bar) improve things so much.

Bernd
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: falconeye on Sat, 6 Sep 2014 22:55
Quote from: brian747As a veteran of PS1, though, you may perhaps remember some documents about a touch and go at Sondre Stromfjord (BGSF), written by someone whose initials were (and are) HH, which might help you in that respect.    ;)

I tried exactly this, as I found some very old documents from PS1 times I once printed and archived. But now I found, that it is hardly possible to do the touch and go around in Sondre, because the airport has some nasty mountains around and most of the time I crashed  :? ( You can see them very well on the radar). These are the negative aspects of the evolution to PSX  :mrgreen: .For this reason I switched to my homeairport EDDM where the mountains are far more away and have had no problems anymore (except the high traffic at the airport ;) )
By the way thanks for the new tutorial, very well done! Unfortunately I could not wait and had done your old tutorial with PSX. Now I have to do it a second time, but I am sure I will enjoy it!

Cheers
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Sun, 7 Sep 2014 09:40
Many thanks indeed, gentlemen!    :)

@falconeye

I have to admit that I haven't yet tried the touch 'n go at Sondre Stromfjord with PSX, although it's nearing the top of my to-do list. But I agree that the PSX 744 has subtly different flying characteristics to the PS1 version, so I can well imagine that it could be more difficult to fly with PSX (and as I recall, it wasn't exactly easy with PS1!). To be fair, Hardy does say at the very beginning of his tutorial —

QuoteThe training pattern is very tight. It must be tight anyway due to high surrounding terrain (although there are no "crash detecting" mountains in the simulator).

[Later edit — ]  Just how tight can be seen on this chart:

(http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s325/brian737747/BGSF_zps8a4e434e.jpg)

But it's the techniques that Hardy describes in part 3 which are the point — the location of the runway doesn't really matter, as far as I can see. So using an airport with which you're familiar (ideally, one that's not too near to any mountains) seems like a good idea, to me!    ;)

Having now looked at the charts, though, the location, combined with a runway slope that "causes illusion of short RWY", makes it a fun place to practice LLZ/DME landings on rwy 09 — thank you, Hardy!    :D

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Simicro on Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:23
Good morning Brian,

Thank you very much for your Tutorials!

I started to read Tutorial #1 and my feedback so far is:

- The level of information is perfect for me (I am not a real-life pilot but have good experience with FSX and have been flying the PMDG 777 for a couple of months)

- I appreciate the references, here and there, to the history of PS1.3, to build a personal general knowledge and background on the simulator as I do not own PS1.3

- I learned a new word I have never seen before: vlying!  :mrgreen:

What I am looking for now is a complete flight tutorial from cold and dark or so. I came across another topic by you with links to the old "Big Tutorial" so I will look into it. I'm glad that you and Hardy make it available, along with the passwords, to new PSX users like me who do not own the previous version of the simulator. That sounds great and fair.

Sorry if it has been asked before here on forums: what is the objective and content of Tutorial #3?
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Sun, 19 Oct 2014 10:14
Hi Tony!

And thank you for your kind words.  :)

I do tend to use words like vlying (virtually flying), vlight (virtual flight), vlown (virtually flown) etc. to indicate that I am not confusing simulation with reality. (Well not yet, anyway).    ;)

As threatened oops sorry forecast in Part 2 of "Getting started with PSX", Part 3 will consist of a complete vlight from cold and dark to cold and dark at the destination, with one or two fun things going on in between to showcase some aspects of PSX that may be new to some people — which means that it will be a fairly long work in itself. So in view of my commitments (not to mention Hardy's) this is probably unlikely to appear until next Spring — and please don't even hold me to that.    :mrgreen:

The original Big Tutorial attempted to do everything in one rather hefty lump, so I have tried to avoid that by grouping all the preliminary topics into Part 1 and Part 2, so that Part 3 can concentrate entirely on the vlight. And since the level of knowledge of simmers has increased considerably in the last 15 years, some of the Appendices of the Big Tutorial are no longer needed, thus further streamlining things (I hope!).

Cheers,

Brian
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Simicro on Sun, 19 Oct 2014 13:26
Hello Brian,

The content for Tutorial #3 sounds good to me and I'm interested in "one or two fun things going on in between to showcase some aspects of PSX that may be new to some people".

I understand the workload is high so what I will do is forget Tutorial #3 and when it comes out, that will be a good suprise  ;)
Title: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:18
Thank you for your understanding, Tony.    :)

All the best,

Brian
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: eholck on Fri, 4 Mar 2016 19:08
HI,   GREAT INITIATIVE,.... but SITU FILES ????   what? how ? ...

Regards
E.Holck

   
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: Will on Fri, 4 Mar 2016 22:39
Situ files (short for "situation files") are files that snapshots of the current aircraft in space and time. Many situ files are included on the DVD, or you can make as many of your own as you like.
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Sat, 5 Mar 2016 08:05
Thank you, Will!    :)

@ "eholck"

Apologies if it came as a surprise, but many of us here are veterans of PS1, so that the term needs no introduction or explanation.

If you look at page 36 (Load situ) and p. 35 (Save situ) of Hardy's manual you will find more specific information. Suffice it to say that, whilst there are a few similarities, unlike FSX's "Load flight" command you will find that Load situ works every time, and puts the aircraft back in the exact situation it was in when you saved that situ file.

Cheers,

Brian
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: petdocvmd on Sat, 12 Mar 2016 16:26
Brian,

Outstanding job on this PSX tutorial.  While impatiently awaiting for my copy of PSX to arrive in the mail, I read and re-read this many times (as well as your others - but that's for later).  As others have commented, your writing style is clear and entertaining.  Once I ripped my treasure from the startled postman's hands and had it installed, I immediately set to work tweaking layouts as you recommended (and with awesome guidance from Will's layout tutorial).  I was quite happy to see that my 7 year old iMac allowed me to enlarge the frames considerably and still maintain frame rates in the 50s.  Wow! I also did some basic mapping of USB axes and buttons to allow management of vital flight functions.

Back to the topic, it was with great anticipation that I loaded your ferry flight situation and prepared to coax this leviathan aircraft into the air.  I somehow managed to get airborne without scraping the tail, stalling, or taking out any autos on the motorway, and reluctantly reliquished control to the FMC in the climb.  Having burned the contents of the tutorial into my brain, as the flight unfolded I felt as if you were a kindly check pilot sipping tea in the jump seat behind me, occasionally proffering tidbits such as "perhaps a dash of spoilers here old boy, you're a touch high."

Your warnings about being " a bit busy" and "slowing/descending early" were typical British understatement <G>.  And that was without myriad checklist reading and fussy little flightdeck tasks prior to landing.  I found the spoilers on this aircraft are in fact quite effective – though I imagine the passengers might have become a tad disconcerted by our sudden 3000'/min descent rate as I fought to wrest the little diamond from the floor. 

Somehow it all came together as I reeled in the speed brakes, engaged App mode in time to avoid a serpentine intercept, and got flaps and gear down stepwise without rending these or other important parts from the aircraft in so doing.  There was a brief moment of hesitation and anxiety as we were about to touch down when I was uncertain whether the button I was about to push for reversers might actually have been set for TOGA, but with the courage of my convictions I jabbed it after the speedbrake deployed and was rewarded with the telltale whine of reversers, and not long after the callout of "80" by my able PNF in the virtual right seat.

I did indeed park right on the tarmac, happily. 

Bravo, Brian – and thank you for a great introduction to this incredible work of engineering that Hardy has bestowed upon us :-)

Scott
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: brian747 on Sun, 13 Mar 2016 13:30
Hi Scott!

And many warm thanks for your kind post — it gladdens an old tutorial writer's heart to know that his efforts have been so sympathetically received!    :)

Congratulations also on your thorough and systematic preparation beforehand, which clearly paid dividends (English understatement aside, I do appreciate there is very little time for sitting back and enjoying the PSX experience on that first trip)!  ;)  But my hope was that you would enjoy subsequent (and longer) trips all the more.

And so you'll soon be ready to make the next step: I'm sure you have discovered Britjet's video tutorials already, but just in case....  http://aerowinx.com/board/index.php?topic=2583.0 (http://aerowinx.com/board/index.php?topic=2583.0)

Every good wish from the English side of the pond,

Cheers,

Brian
Title: Re: PSX introductory tutorial released
Post by: eholck on Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:11
Thanks!

Regards
Eholck