FGUK's first flying event

[Algernon]

I was thinking the afternoon, perhaps an arrival time at EGNL of, say, 2pm?

[Avionyx]

Sounds perfect for me.

Alex

[Algernon]

Super. Is there a convenient point over this weekend the three of us can meet up in the game, perhaps at EGNL, and maybe try out a couple of things - I'd like to test FGCom (and my ATC abilities) if we all have it going (in my experience, it was easy to set up - a matter of minutes - I've posted details of how I did it in the FGCom thread). Also wouldn't mind having a look at the Typhoon together and see how good the radar and nav screens are.

[Nemesis]

Tomorrow, Sunday will be best for me for a meet up as I'm in and out of the room, running around on saturdays and would just annoy the crap outta ya with all my comin in goins.

[charliereddog]

Hi, I'd very much be up for this. I'd be flying from Wittering (since it's just across the A1 from my house). As I posted on the FG forum, I'm probably going to need to look at air Nav. My degree was in Geography so I should be a fairly quick study! (I hope:))

[Algernon]

Using GPS is the simplest way:

• In FlightGear, choose Route Manager from the autopilot menu
  
• Enter your departure and arrival airport codes (so EXGT and EGNL), hit the X button and then select runways (bear in mind your arrival runway won't be known until ATC has allocated it when you enter their airspace)
  
• Delete the information about cruise speed and altitude
  
• Then add in waypoints, by typing the codes into the bar at the bottom and clicking add - these can be FIXes, VOR stations, airports or raw Long/Lat coordinates. Fixes is easiest to start off with - go to the MP map (this link centres it on Europe), choose the Nav tab in the box at the bottom, deselect all checkboxes beneath the search bar but FIX, zoom to the area you need a waypoint and press the eye button. You might need to be zoomed in a fair way for them to be intelligible. FIXes have triangular icons, and are always five alphanumeric characters long.
  
• Once you've added all your waypoints, click Activate
  
• Close Route Manager
  

Here's a hint - I always set my departure runway to the OPPOSITE of the one I'm on, so if I was about to take off from runway 18, I'd set it to 36, or 27R to 09L for example. This just means you definitely hit it and move to your next waypoint after takeoff. Then, just follow the directions in your HUD or GPS window.

Hope that helps... this is what Michael Green would call "Coarse Airnav", but it mostly works OK. Sometimes the GPS will miss waypoints and you have to faff about, that's just the way it is until someone tweaks it.

[Nemesis]

That's a good tip about using the opposite RWY. Why didn't i think o that?... Don't answer that.

[charliereddog]

Slight issue, my chosen aircraft doesn't appear to have an autopilot menu, it's greyed out...

[Nemesis]

Hmm. I don't think all the aircraft have an AP. If not. U can just use the GPS. Go into equipment/GPS and in the search box, add either the name of the airfield or it's 4 letter designation and hit search. It' details will show up in the box to the right. When that happens, click on the "OBS" button and it will set the bearing to that airfield in the main GPS panel. You can then just follow that bearing to your destination in the same way as mentioned above.

[charliereddog]

OK, using the GPS I have navigated from Leeds Bradford to the island in my plane of choice, just about half an hour trip. Not only that, but I landed first time too. Bit hard, but didn't crash.

Would it be ok to check my fgcom with you chaps tomorrow when you're on?

[Nemesis]

Excellent going, Charlie. Congrats on your successful sortie. I'm sure the local aircraft mechanic will be happy for the work on your strained undercarriage, lol.

As for the FGCom test, you're more than welcome, mate. No need to ask. You're a club member

[charliereddog]

Cheers mate, I don't want to turn up and impose myself on you guys that's all. So, what time are we meeting up?

[Nemesis]

Good point! We didn't actually decide on a time. I'm guessing as most are in bed now, we'll have to make it sometime in the afternoon so ppl get chance to hook up in here first. I for one am free pretty much the whole day, short of any unexpected surprises.

[Algernon]

I'm just back from the Boozer, God I love my local!

My suggestion for a bit of an impromptu flyabout and FGCom test would be 'after lunch', open to interpretation to some extent. I'll be buzzing round the West Country about 1pm, what if whenever we spot each other on the MPMap we'll fly into chat range and work something out from there?

[Algernon]

Wait, I just remembered I said I'd pop into the pub for a few more war stories - would about 3pm be okay?