Customer Reviews

Instrument Flight Techniques with Microsoft Flight Simulator 98

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am moderator for the Sun City AZ Computer Club's Flight Simulation Special Interest Group (SIG). We have over 50 members that meet twice a month for instruction/demo's/exp. sharing. Thought this book would be a great text for a class next fall. Bought 5 copies for key member review. Noted so many errors in a cursory review of chapter 4 ( instrument ID)and 7 ( ILS) alone that we cannot trust it's content in it's present form. Strongly suggest publisher make an errata sheet available on the internet for individuals who have purchased it, Have existing unsold copies recalled/destroyed, and a corrected version reissued. This was a great idea that went wrong. Shame on TWA Captain Gwinn.

I've never before purchased a book that had so many errors. From simple typographical errors to word-substitution errors ("altitude" instead of "attitude") to information that's just plain incorrect ("If the glideslope needle is below you, it means you're too low" and "Hmm, in this image the plane is banked to the left and the turn is co-ordinated, so therefore the pilot is making a right-hand turn").

I can forgive the editing errors -- maybe Microsoft just doesn't want to spend a whole lot of time producing a book which is in essence a game manual. But to have three supposedly qualified pilots make so many errors with regards to flight information is just unforgivable.

Despite criticisms of small text errors this was an excellent way to get the program set up and running and to work through it during your instrument training. After use of this book and FS 98 you will be able shoot NDB's flawlessly the first time you attempt them. I think this kind of book shaves 40 hours off of actual instrument training. The problem with FS 98 (all MS products) is that it is hard to mine the depths of the program without a guide. I credit this book and FS 98 with allowing me to obtain instrument license within 4 months compared to two years for my friends who never mastered FS 98.

This is the book I expected when bought FS98. You learn how to use the game: communications, weather generation and the basic rules of IFR: types of airports, restricted areas, differences flying in VFR and IFR. Don't expect any map to fly in this book, there is none.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I FLY AND I THINK THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT FOR THOSE WHO REALLY WANT TO FLY NOT ONLY FOR FUN ,ALSO INCLUDES EXCELLENTE PRACTICES EXERCISES. GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS

contains too many important textual errors to help the new IFR pilot: misspellings (and substitutions, i.e. altitude when attitude was intended), incorrect captions, and plain wrong information. go to the local small airport, and get a book written to teach real IFR techniques. the rest is in the FS98 help files.

Although the authors appear qualified to fly IFR (both rated instrument pilots), it also appears that they wrote the book while flying IFR. In other words, this book is VERY sloppy, with many pictures in the wrong place, errors in the text, problems with their formulas, etc. Despite these facts, it's the only game in town for MSFS '98 for now. I hope they clean up what could be a great book in their next addition---better yet, I hope Richard Collins writes an IFR tutorial for MSFS '98.

This book may not be perfect on Instrumental Flight but for Flight Simulator Fans, it is a good introduction. Although this is for the FS98 version, I think it is still useful for the Flight Simulator X. This is also the only book for FS on the topic. I will recommend this.

This book instructs the reader in how to use your IFR navigation instruments and develop IFR skills for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

This is an excellent book to have as a written reference. For an old-fashioned guy like me who likes to have something printed in hand, this is an excellent book.

This book is of course for people who really want to get into knowing how to do IFR in Flight Simulator. It is not a 'basic training' book about basic flight maneuvers and basic novice information. The book is specialized and written as if you already know how to fly moderatley well (in Flight Simulator that is).

Much of this book is just a rehash of what is included in Microsoft's online help files included with Flight Simulator. Basically you are paying for a printed version of the on-line manual. Hardly worth 20 bucks.