Hi, folks!
Part 2 of the "Getting started with PSX" series for beginners is now available from the Miscellaneous page -
http://aerowinx.com/html/misc.html
When I started to draft the final part (which will be an extended description of a complete PSX flight), I soon realised that there were a number of additional topics that were also needed; but on the other hand I didn't really want to clutter it up with anything other than the flight itself.
So I have created Part 2 to bridge the gap, and hopefully contain the stuff that a beginner needs to know between Part 1 and Part 3. Principally, Part 2 discusses flight planning (including how to align settings between PSX and the flight planner) along with associated issues - a summary of the various topics that are included will be found at the above link.
My thanks yet again to Hardy for his enormously helpful comments, and also to other members of the forum (credited within the document) for their expert input.
I hope that some people will find Part 2 useful! 8)
Cheers,
Brian
Brilliant! Thanks again Brian.
Malcolm
Thank you so much Brian!
Thanks, Malcolm, I hope you find it useful. :)
===============
OOPS - I forgot to mention in the preceding announcement....
I have also updated Part 1 of the series to version 1.02: this corrects a few remaining typos, and also adds a few references to associated additional information in Part 2. A recommended upgrade, therefore. :D
Cheers,
Brian
Spectacular!
This is such a relief - as much as I benefited from and enjoyed Part 1, it left me really longing for what is now your Part 2.
It's going to be a very enjoyable winter, working my way further up these learning curves.
Thank you, Phil — I hope you find some of it interesting, and perhaps even useful! :)
Cheers,
Brian
This and Part 1 add so much value to PSX. Thanks Brian.
Fantastic! Thanks so much Brian! I just got PSX last week so this will help me even more.
Henry
[size=14][/size]Hi Brian
I have been using the flight planning software and this will help me so much. I have been doing the planning more or less right but the tutorial has very good tips and suggestions. Makes the steep learning curve just that much easier!
Thanks, great job. Andrew
Hi Brian,
thank you very much. Very helpful.
Horst
Link not working :-/
Quote from: jcommLink not working :-/
Which one? Aerowinx? Works fine for me (60°N)
Good Luck!
Martin
The Azores anticyclone playing it's tricks :-)
Both links up now ;-)
Hey Brian!
Thx for the tutorial!
I am using the latest model of Lufthansa (D-ABVZ) and did the performance adjustments in PFPX just the way you described it on page 19 and 20. It resulted in a cruise bias of 97,5% (which is quite different to your result).
So I planned a flight with the new entered figure and now I am experiencing a huge difference in fuel figures. After approximately 2000 nm into the flight and still 3000 nm to go, I have about 10 t less of fuel on board as calculated (by PFPX) on the actual flight plan.
What did I do wrong?!?
Hi, er nobody!
(Talking to myself again...?) ;)
I doubt if you did anything wrong. I too have experienced differing results after using the evaluate tool (I tried it several times under different conditions, and got similar-but-different results each time). As I said in the document, I think the tool is probably OK for establishing a starting point, but my money is very firmly on then tracking your fuel usage (I scribble down the fuel at each waypoint (as well as ToC and ToD) onto the OFP printout, and work from that).
I can only assume that the problem we're experiencing is a result of the fact that the data input isn't precise enough — hence also my comment about a single step change in fuel flow making a whacking 5% difference. If it is a precise science, then it's nowhere near to being as precise as I'd like, that's for sure! (10 tonnes difference after 2000 nm... hmm...). But by slowly adjusting your results you'll gradually be able to get closer to agreement in the figures.
You could always try a question on the PFPX forum?
Happily, virtual fuel is cheap, and we have no bean-counters to answer to! :mrgreen:
Cheers,
Brian
[Edit for forum name]
Speaking of fuel being cheap, as a matter of personal curiosity, approximately how much would it cost to fill a 747-400 to the max with fuel? I know this depends on the airport and many other variables, but as a generic estimate, what would it cost at for example Heathrow or JFK or some other major airport?
Google found this webpage
http://www.iata.org/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/Pages/price-analysis.aspx
If "cts/gal" is US cents per US gallon....
I've filled up a 744ER with over 180,000 kg of fuel. Using a specific gravity of 0.79 kg/litre, that's 227,848 litres (60,152 US gallons at 0.264gal/ltr)
On 29th September, the fuel price in the USA was 270.3 cts/gal, so an almost full tank on an ER would be U$162,518
Rgds
JHW
Note that these fuel prices most likely don't work for smaller outfits. The FBOs advertise fuel around KJFK for between USD 6 and 8 per gallon. Of course "nobody pays list price" but you see that the large slurpers definitely get special treatment.
The quoted USD 2.70/gallon is "price paid at the refinery". Add transport, storage, facilities, service...
Hoppie
Hi Brian,
thanks for your efforts working on those great tuts!!
Huh, need more time to read and try out :|
BR
Hans
As many have already said, great work !
Thanks a lot for all your efforts.
Charles
Thank you, gentlemen!
Yes, time is always the problem. My hope is that the time I spent in writing will save some time for the readers. In view of how amazing PSX is, that would make me happy. :D
Cheers,
Brian
Hello Brian,
After reading Dejan'sproject, I decide to get an apple config.
BRAVO and THANKS for your help about getting started PSX 1 but unable to use your PSX situation file :have you any idea to convert it for apple?
Rgds.
Dan
PSX situation files are exactly the same for all supported platforms. No conversion needed.
I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the previous speaker. :)
Are you sure that you can't "use" it, Dan? Or is it that you can't/haven't put it in the right place?
Admittedly, I'm no Apple man (an iPad doesn't count) but I have to ask: what exactly did you do, and what was the result (error messages, etc)? :mrgreen:
I'm sure someone here will be able to help you out, but a little more information would be helpful. ;)
Mind you, if you really can't use it there should also be enough information in the tutorial to enable you to recreate it. 8)
Cheers,
Brian
I thought i would quickly see if I could use that situ file. Here's what I found. I'm using an Apple Macbook Pro.
First I just tried to copy the file to the situations folder. Surprisingly my Mac came up with the message asking me if I would allow this program to make changes to my computer. Which is a bit odd.
So I tried just drag and drop and that works fine. So you need to drag the Gatwick2Heathrow1.situ file to the situation folder in the Aerowinx folder. That works fine. Pops in there neatly and it loads fine!
Jeroen
That's very helpful! :D
Many thanks, Jeroen.
Cheers,
Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the tutorial, it is a great help .
Used your way to enter the weights in PFPX and Topcat, although the figures ar a bit different then Yours . Used the Virgin Atlantic model with the GE engines.
Amazing, planned a short flight from LEBL to EHAM , with set zones by flight track enabled.
Together with electronic flightbag, and active sky 2012 to send the weather to PREPAR3D on a second computer, and visual psx and ofcourse PSX on the first pc this is wonderfull.
And planned to land in Amsterdam with 10100 kg left, the actual remaining fuell was 10600 kg.
I know this is just a snack for the lady, and long haul flight will for sure give bigger differences, but anyhowe it's nice to see.
Just for experimenting tried the cruise scenario at 37000 feet, with a 100 knot headwind component and a 100 knot tailwind component and was surprised to see that the fuell flow was the same
2.2 per engine versus 2.3 , that is 400 kg per hour for 4 engines
I would like to know why this difference is so small?
Ivo
Usually there is little point in pushing harder. Aircraft simply push at more or less the same force and see what happens. If you start manipulating the Cost Index (try 0 and 1000) or directly the Mach, you will see huge differences in fuel consumption. Try getting her to M0.90 :-)
By the way 2.2 sounds like tonnes, not like thousands of pounds. About ten tonnes per hour for all engines is about right.
Hoppie
Quote from: Ivo de ColfmakerJust for experimenting tried the cruise scenario at 37000 feet, with a 100 knot headwind component and a 100 knot tailwind component and was surprised to see that the fuell flow was the same
Hi Ivo,
I just tried ...
Basic 009 - Climbing to cruise altitude.situ... and at cruise altitude FL310 I set 100 kt tailwind (jetstreams off). With ECON, I got M.805 and 2.9 FF. At 100 kt headwind I got M.819 and 3.0 FF. Cost index 80.
Maybe in some cases the difference is too small, and rounded, so that it's not visible on the EICAS indication resolution.
Cheers,
|-|ardy
I would have thought it to be quite normal for the fuel flow in both scenarios to be the same. The engines dont know about head or tailwind, it would and will affect your ground speed. But for a given configuration, (e.g. Load etc) fuel flow should be the same wherever the wind comes from.
Jeroen
Quote from: Jeroen DI would have thought it to be quite normal for the fuel flow in both scenarios to be the same. The engines dont know about head or tailwind, it would and will affect your ground speed. But for a given configuration, (e.g. Load etc) fuel flow should be the same wherever the wind comes from.
Jeroen
It happens only in ECON mode and when the MCP SPD window is blank. As you know, the cost index deals with fuel costs versus time costs. The groundspeed changes the times, thus influences the parameter in the economy algorithm, and that controls the FMC command speed.
Cheers,
|-|ardy
Hi Brian,
thanx for part 2. I like it a lot.
Best Wishes
Great tutorial as usual Brian, thanks a lot!
Just to add that PFPX was updated to version 1.16. The only relevant PSX change I can see so far is that you can export the RTE directly into PSX FMC. No big deal as this was already possible before just needed to manually move the RTE file into the folder. Its a pity that PFPX does not offer aircraft templates tailored to PSX.
Nic
Quote from: nicolasIts a pity that PFPX does not offer aircraft templates tailored to PSX.
I think it does. Just use the templates that refer to the
real 744. Or are there FSX templates only? (I don't have PFPX.)
|-|ardy
Hi Hardy,
the only 747-400 templates I can see are referring to PMDG with different engine configurations.
Cheers,
Nic
Hi Nic!
Template.... That might be the problem.
There are at least two possible things that might be going on, here. :D
It may perhaps be that you are confusing the aircraft types available within PFPX (see http://www.flightsimsoft.com/downloads/PFPX_Aircraft_AddOn_List.pdf) with the aircraft available within TOPCAT? I agree that it can be confusing, not least because although both programs were written by the same person, and they can work closely together: however, they are distinct, and their aircraft lists are not the same.
On the other hand, perhaps you're confusing the PFPX aircraft types that you can see in the above list (which in my version of Windows 7 are found in C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\PFPX Data\\AircraftTypes) with the PFPX aircraft templates (C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\PFPX Data\\AircraftTemplates)?
Yes, I totally agree that all this isn't especially clear....
So, within PFPX, try this.
From the start globe (top left), select Aircraft Manager and then Aircraft Database (NOT Aircraft Template). Then click on the New icon and again be careful to select "New aircraft" and NOT "New from template". Now enter your registration (and tail number, if you wish).
Now click the Type dropdown and select Boeing 747-400 (or the 400F for cargo) and also select your engine type from that dropdown, and you should then be using the Doug Snow and Judith Blaschegg non-P**G version. Enter any other information, if you wish, and then save the result, and then try loading it as your aircraft for your next planning session.
I hope that helps,
Cheers,
Brian
[Later edit] P.S. Oops sorry, I forgot to mention:
With reference to PFPX v1.16, please see this thread: http://aerowinx.com/forum/topic.php?post=21331#post21331
Hi,
I confirm what Brian is saying.
Indeed PFPX aicrafts list is not exactly the same as TOPCAT although the developer is the same.
And here is a screenshot of the 747 profiles available in PFPX V1.16 as described by Brian.
(http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/747-pfpx.png)
Thanks Brian! Will try tomorrow. For now good night :-)
Nic
Quote from: brian747Hi Nic!
Template.... That might be the problem.
There are at least two possible things that might be going on, here. :D
It may perhaps be that you are confusing the aircraft types available within PFPX (see http://www.flightsimsoft.com/downloads/PFPX_Aircraft_AddOn_List.pdf) with the aircraft available within TOPCAT? I agree that it can be confusing, not least because although both programs were written by the same person, and they can work closely together: however, they are distinct, and their aircraft lists are not the same.
On the other hand, perhaps you're confusing the PFPX aircraft types that you can see in the above list (which in my version of Windows 7 are found in C:UsersPublicDocumentsPFPX DataAircraftTypes) with the PFPX aircraft templates (C:UsersPublicDocumentsPFPX DataAircraftTemplates)?
Yes, I totally agree that all this isn't especially clear....
So, within PFPX, try this.
From the start globe (top left), select Aircraft Manager and then Aircraft Database (NOT Aircraft Template). Then click on the New icon and again be careful to select "New aircraft" and NOT "New from template". Now enter your registration (and tail number, if you wish).
Now click the Type dropdown and select Boeing 747-400 (or the 400F for cargo) and also select your engine type from that dropdown, and you should then be using the Doug Snow and Judith Blaschegg non-P**G version. Enter any other information, if you wish, and then save the result, and then try loading it as your aircraft for your next planning session.
I hope that helps,
Cheers,
Brian
[Later edit] P.S. Oops sorry, I forgot to mention:
With reference to PFPX v1.16, please see this thread: http://aerowinx.com/forum/topic.php?post=21331#post21331
Hi Brian,
quick question. I followed all steps as described in your tutorial. Now, when I plan a flight in PFPX I am getting quite different Vspeeds compared to the Vspeeds calculated in FMC. Any thoughts why this is?
Thanks.
Nic
Hi Nic!
I think it would be true to say that many of us who fly PSX find some of TOPCAT's figures a bit off from time to time. I know of no solution, I'm afraid: it seems to be something that we have to live with, since at present TOPCAT is the only tool we've got.
Having said that, though, I have heard a whisper that a PSX-specific tool is in the course of development, so hopefully the problem will be alleviated at some point! 8)
Cheers,
Brian
Thanks Brian!
Nic
Hey Brian,
I just completed my first entirely self planned flight (using PFPX and TOPCAT) using your guide and I was a little concerned to start with as initially I was showing a predicted 0 fuel remaining but once I reached cruise, it all settled down and I landed with around 10,000kg left in the tanks which was what I was roughly expecting.
It was only a short familiarisation flight from EGLL to EDDV which took around an hour once I finally got airborne but it all went well. It's still taking me far too long to go through preflight but I'm still finding my way around the systems again.
Looking forward to Part 3 :-)
Hi, Keith!
> "Looking forward to Part 3 :-)"
Oh dear. Well (as the saying goes) don't hold your breath.... ;)
Clearly you are not using the current version of the tutorial (v1.02), in which the Introduction states —
"The series was originally envisaged as a trilogy, with part 3 being the description of a full flight. However, it has pointed out to me by people whom I respect that the world has moved on since the days of PS1, and that the ready availability (via Google and elsewhere) of FCOM and FCTM documents renders an old-fashioned gentle walkthrough (fly-through?) of that kind both unnecessary and also redundant. Hence this will be the final part of the series".
Just to amplify that a little: considerable discussions were held behind the scenes about the significant changes in the simming environment since the days of the PS1 tutorial, as a result of which I became convinced that owing to factors such as the greatly increased level of general simming knowledge, and the availability of FCOMs and other material, the time for a PSX equivalent of the old PS1 beginner's tutorial has passed. Furthermore, these days people generally prefer watching videos to reading manuals, and hence Britjet's brilliant series of PSX vids is much more appropriate in terms of format (and also expertise!) to the PSX flyer of 2015.
So I'm afraid there will never be a part 3 as I had originally envisaged: my apologies for misleading you, and others; however the decision is irrevocable.
Cheers,
Brian
Moi,
here is Brian's official announcement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aihu16RyYp8) [size=8](and plea still not to abandon his guidance given in Parts 1 and 2)[/size].
The scene* also features various PSX simmers [size=8](you know who you are)[/size] and proceeds to show the fall-out from someone's attempt to fly a 744/PSX without having studied Part 1 and Part 2.
(And while MS operatives can be seen running headlessly around, trying to find pertinent Registry entries, it all segues, as it must, into the restoration of PSX User Happiness, and thus PUH rules again).
Cheers,
Martin
* originally intended as the CRASH! sequence for PSX, but Hardy's minimalist approach prevailed.
Quote from: brian747...factors such as the greatly increased level of general simming knowledge, and the availability of FCOMs and other material, the time for a PSX equivalent of the old PS1 beginner's tutorial has passed. Furthermore, these days people generally prefer watching videos to reading manuals, and hence Britjet's brilliant series of PSX vids is much more appropriate in terms of format (and also expertise!) to the PSX flyer of 2015.
So I'm afraid there will never be a part 3 as I had originally envisaged: my apologies for misleading you, and others; however the decision is irrevocable.
Hi Brian,
Again thank you for the two tutorials. I do not want to discuss your irrevocable decision, however I would like to discuss the need of a "complete" tutorial of a flight, say EGLL - KJFK. No doubt that the general simming knowledge has increased and that videos are very popular but for example, for the PMDG 777, a written tutorial / commented flight is still appreciated. I've not been on PMDG forum recently but a couple of months ago, there were regular requests for an advanced tutorial, step by step operations for a flight from point A to point B.
Hi Tony!
I don't want to extend this topic beyond its natural life, so please understand that this will be the last comment I will be making on the matter.
Regarding the 'need of a "complete" tutorial' a discussion took place before the decision was made (as I said above) — mostly between friends dating from the PS1 era but also with helpful comments from Britjet and others.
The outcome of that discussion you already know: and although I must acknowledge that there was a small minority view that a PS1-style "complete tutorial" might still be helpful for a few people, the majority view was that these days those who buy PSX are no longer in need of that amount of hand-holding. Not that I'm saying that the PMDG market is less educated than PSX's (I couldn't possibly comment!), but certainly from the PSX point of view there is a huge amount of material both on the Internet and in this forum which didn't exist fifteen years ago, Britjet's videos being perhaps the most notable examples: please bear in mind also that even with Hardy's invaluable assistance it still took me eighteen months to write the PS1 tutorial (only my fellow tutorial writers will know just how long the patient process of checking and re-checking and associated clarification takes with a technical document of that length).
You have already seen Adrien's valuable contribution [ http://aerowinx.com/forum/topic.php?post=27941#post27941 ] which, when read in conjunction with Hardy's beautifully-illustrated manual, will surely take the beginner quite a long way.
Admittedly, there is a possibility that I may perhaps release another introductory-level document, but it will not take the form of a complete flight, I'm afraid: if it does appear it will simply be targeted at synthesising Hardy's professional-level creation with some of the practical needs of simmers.
Cheers,
Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your answer.
Sure I understand your points.
I think I already said all I wanted to say so I will leave the discussion here.
Cheers
Hi Brian,
Will you please send me an email: condorsim at gmail dot com
I would like to communicate privately with you but private messages is not possible on the forum.
I'm guessing the higher resolution FF in the data recorder output contained in Update 10.0.5 can now be of help to further tune the pfpx cruise bias. Must test.
EDIT: Thanks for the added feature Hardy!
Another awesome tutorial - thanks!
Related question for all: I am having difficulty sorting through the Aircraft "Equipment/Configurations" page in PFPX. I've searched and pored over a fair amount of stuff, but can't seem to put this together for my 744.
I'm mainly concerned with the info that will be necessary for online flying with VATSIM i.e. "Transponder capability," "ADS-B," and "FAA equip code." The templated 744 I used had "X" for the latter, so I'm suspicious of all of the pre-filled items.
Thanks for any help/info!
Scott
Really enjoyed the tutorials, thanks for tanking the time to create them.