User Guide

Expanding Your Hobby
29
5
the community—providing enthusiasts with news,
airline directories, and bulletin boards.
Add-Ons
Amateur and professional software developers all
over the world have created products that can
enhance your Flight Simulator experience. Check
the shelves of your local computer store, and be
sure to look on the Web (many downloadable
add-ons are freeware or shareware). Add-ons are
usually easy to install and fun to use.
If you like flying a variety of aircraft, there are
literally thousands to choose from. There are also
add-on avionics packages that simulate the latest
display and navigation technology, and special-
ized scenery areas that make the simulated world
even more realistic. If you like air traffic control,
there are a number of products that add simu-
lated radio communications to your Flight
Simulator flights. A few even enable Flight
Simulator pilots to fly together in a radar-
controlled environment over the Internet—with
real people acting as the air traffic controllers.
Create your own add-ons with utilities such as
aircraft, panel, scenery, and adventure builders.
Your Desktop Cockpit
If you want to make your desktop seem more like
the cockpit of a real airplane, add some hardware.
The options range from full desktop consoles with
working switches down to the basics described
here: a joystick or a yoke, and rudder pedals. You
can find these accessories at many computer
stores and on the Web.
Joystick or Control Yoke
While you don’t need a joystick or control yoke to
use Flight Simulator, veteran pilots agree that it’s
almost essential to a realistic, enjoyable experi-
ence. There are many models to choose from,
ranging from stripped-down basic models to full-
blown controls with more buttons and knobs than
you’ll probably ever use. The best ones come with
a throttle control built-in, and some feature
mixture and propeller controls too.
Rudder Pedals
Pilots fly using their hands and
feet. Plug in a pair of rudder
pedals, and you’ll find that you
have much greater control
over the aircraft you fly. The
coordinated use of rudder and
aileron in turns will become
more intuitive, and you’ll
become a better pilot. Pedals
are especially useful if you like
flying the Bell 206B JetRanger
III helicopter.