January 2011 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles (and Farming Too!)

FS Kneeboard

January 15, 2011 / admin / 0 Comments

Back when I began to get serious about this hobby, I wanted to learn how to read all the various charts. This included understanding how to read approach, departure and airport diagrams. But I also wanted to understand how to plot a course from point A to point B using high or low altitude routes. While you certainly do not need this knowledge to fly any version of Microsoft Flight Simulator in offline mode using the built in ATC, it truly is a must when you decide you want to connect to VATSIM.

So one weekend I managed to download all the various charts I would need to fly to most destinations in the lower 48. I then printed off each chart and organized them by airport and placed each in a plastic page protector. I created a binder for approach charts, a binder for departure charts and a binder for airport charts. After all was said and done, I had 8 binders of data. When I would plan a flight I would pull the charts from the appropriate binder and utilize online sites like SimRoutes to help me tie everything together. After completing a flight, the charts (most of the time) would be placed back in their appropriate binder. I’m proud to say that this system worked for me for several years.

When I came back into the hobby, I dug out all those binders and thumbed through them. The first thing that came to mind was how outdated they probably were. Some (if not all) were 8+ years old. The second was how much time it took me to assemble all those binders. Ugh….there’s got to be a better way.

Thankfully my iPad came to the rescue. Since the birth of the iPhone and iPad, all sorts of Apps have been produced. I figured it was worth a try just to search in the Apps Store for Flight Simulator and see what hits would pop up. This is when I was introduced to FS Kneeboard. FS Kneeboard is available in both an iPad App (which I own) and a version titled FS Kneeboard Mobile for the iPhone, iPod Touch (which I do not own). While I own both an iPad and an iPhone, I only opted to purchase the FS Kneeboard for the iPad. The iPad app is available for $7.99 in the Apple iTunes Store and the cost is certainly worth the investment considering it cost me a lot more than that to put together my binders a few years ago.

The FS Kneeboard app includes all the same (but certainly updated) charts I have stuffed away in those binders. It includes 148 IFR and VFR Charts for the US and over 15,000 US digital terminal procedures. But wait….there is more. FS Kneeboard also includes current weather conditions and weather maps for all US airports (updated via NOAA) and over a dozen built-in checklists (with ability to create your own).

FS Kneeboard has certainly helped me to de-clutter my flight sim cockpit and if you own an Apple iPad, I’m confident it can help you as well.

Until next time…

Happy Flying!!!

Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011

January 1, 2011 / admin / 0 Comments

Hello everyone and thank you for taking time out of your busy day to stop by my blog site. The latter part of 2010 has sure been exciting for me in the flight simulator department. This time last year flight sim wasn’t even on the radar. While before getting involved in the hobby (August timeframe) I would often think about flight sim. I would see my GoFlight gear sitting over in the corner of my basement office and would think to myself….one day I’m going to plug you back in and take a flight. Thankfully that day happened in early August and by the end of August plans were in place to build the new FSX machine.

Somewhere along the way I discovered Al’s Flight Sim Adventures Blog (now titled Clear Left). One can say the best form of flattery is to just outright duplicate what someone else is doing. Well….it wasn’t like that, but I was inspired by Al’s blog and Al was also friendly enough to answer a few email questions I had about getting the hobby going again. Through Al I also met another Flight Sim blogger named Onur. Onur’s blog named “Clear Right” has also given inspiration and ideas which I have incorporated into my FS blogging style. I’m honored to call both of these gentlemen friends.

2010 was finally the year that I accomplished a goal I had been attempting for many years. Yes, I’m talking about my Around the World Journey. I’ve flown around the world many times in “Big Iron”, but had never accomplished it in a single engine aircraft. I had started many times….but always got bored with it. This time was different. You can read the overview of the journey in the final update here.

In the blog posting just prior to this entry, I talked about “Coming Full Circle” with my return to both VATSIM and Virtual Airlines. Neither was necessarily a goal I had when I re-entered the hobby in August…..but I’m glad I’m back.

There is an old saying I’ve heard since childhood and it goes something like this. What you do on New Year’s Day is likely something that you’ll do often do through out the new year. So with that said, I got up early and departed TNCM (where I had flown to yesterday to spend the virtual new year) for KMIA. I’m flying the American B738. While at FL360 I’m taking a moment to wish you all a very productive 2011. Flying and blogging about it. Two things I hope I can enjoy often throughout the new year. Thank you for reading.

Until next time,

Jerry

FS Kneeboard

Goodbye 2010 and Hello 2011

GrizzlyBearSims