Annuschka Adventures in the Orbx World

[cavaricooper]

I well remember the wire frame grid, river and mountains; all on an Apple IIc.... and yes, flight sim has indeed come a long way!

Ketchikan and Juneau are both great, but then so are Yakutat, Homer, Kenai and others (which is how I came to intstall and fall in love with the Orbx World).

When time permits I will definitely check out Tapini and Kokoda- thanks!

Best- Carl

 

[patful]

Wow, those shots are beautiful! Just last week I said I wouldn't bother with Orbx since they don't cover the whole continent, but this thread has me second-guessing. Just afraid my new computer can't handle those detailed airports... Thanks for this thread.

Pat

 

[cavaricooper]

I am pleased to see that there are some enjoying these photos. I cannot tell you what a revelation spending time in the Orbx world has been for me. The vast majority of my flight simming occurs in the flight levels, and involves large Boeings. Orbx used to be FTX Global and Vector. These smaller, but beautifully detailed reports were hitherto to unknown.

It was this forum that piqued my curiosity enough to explore general aviation once more. Along the way I have discovered the joy in Manfred Jann's C-47 ecosystem, and the SibWings An-2. Those two airplanes, in combination with this forum, and lately the DC-6 have open my eyes to the incredible beauty that Orbx has managed to capture in the more picturesque parts of the world. It was the discovery that has changed a portion of my flight choices.

That ability to fly 397T of Boeing 747-436 to CAT3 minima one day, and then luxuriously explore the Pacific North West at 300m in bright sunshine the next, is the reason flight simulation has been and continues to be one of my main hobbies.

I hope to be able to give back to the members of Sim Outhouse in some small way through this thread.

Best- Carl

 

[Bjoern]

Your shots really got me interested in FTX Global. Was ready to click "purchase", but found no PayPal option. Asked the big G and found out that ORBX cancelled PayPal support last December. Bummer.

 

[Roger]

Your shots really got me interested in FTX Global. Was ready to click "purchase", but found no PayPal option. Asked the big G and found out that ORBX cancelled PayPal support last December. Bummer.

It is a problem Bjoern, but the issue was created by Paypal and left no option for ORBX but to go down different routes to market.

 

[patful]

Do they take cash?

 

[cavaricooper]

Your shots really got me interested in FTX Global. Was ready to click "purchase", but found no PayPal option. Asked the big G and found out that ORBX cancelled PayPal support last December. Bummer.

Bjoern-

Despite your very best efforts to shroud yourself in a veil of sarcasm and caustic commentary, I've pegged you as a kind, generous and very giving person who is passionate about Flight Simulation and does his level best to "give back" to the FS community through his talent and effort (but don't worry, I won't tell a soul).

It is because of this, that I extend my neck and urge you try a CC (even if it is one you buy and put cash on just for FS purchases). The Orbx product range IS SO WORTH THE EFFORT to obtain (and the sale makes a good idea BRILLIANT). Obviously, do only what you are comfortable with. I have never had a security issue with the Orbx purchase system and am confident in recommending it to you, if you can try and live with using a CC.

I remain awestruck by this communities willingness to share their talent and assist others in the hobby. SOH is a wonderful place to be a member.

Best- C

 

[Bjoern]

It is a problem Bjoern, but the issue was created by Paypal and left no option for ORBX but to go down different routes to market.

That's what I've heard as well. I'm quite stunned that both sides didn't try to work it out as PayPal does, after all, seem to work out for other devs (e.g. Milviz) or publishers (e.g. JustFlight, Flight1) or just about anywhere else.

While international reactions to the announcement were ho hum, most of the german flight simmers (where credit cards are not that widespread) decided not to buy from them anymore.

Bjoern-

Despite your very best efforts to shroud yourself in a veil of sarcasm and caustic commentary, I've pegged you as a kind, generous and very giving person who is passionate about Flight Simulation and does his level best to "give back" to the FS community through his talent and effort (but don't worry, I won't tell a soul).

It is because of this, that I extend my neck and urge you try a CC (even if it is one you buy and put cash on just for FS purchases). The Orbx product range IS SO WORTH THE EFFORT to obtain (and the sale makes a good idea BRILLIANT). Obviously, do only what you are comfortable with. I have never had a security issue with the Orbx purchase system and am confident in recommending it to you, if you can try and live with using a CC.

I remain awestruck by this communities willingness to share their talent and assist others in the hobby. SOH is a wonderful place to be a member.

I appreciate the warm words, but unless I have an actual necessity for a credit card, which is limited to travels outside of the European Union, one or two flightsim purchases just don't warrant the monthly fee.
As good as the ORBX stuff is, if I have to jump through hoops to get it, it's not for me.
Ground Environment is an alternative, but much too expensive for global coverage.
Fortunately, there's at a set of freeware textures that can be used to spice thing up a little.


Regardless, keep on posting!

 

[cavaricooper]

Ok, we're out of Monroe for a short hop over to Harvey (S43)... what a beautiful part of the world, and how lucky to be able to spend "time" here....

Did anyone else notice the airplane shadow on the green fields, looking at it chasing us is mesmerizing!

Look LEFT, and you will see the ENORMOUS Boeing Assembly Building in the distance.... guess where I'm going next?

A little fly past, whilst marveling at the balloon activity in the area and we turned in towards Harvey Field, and suddenly I realized what all the fuss is about...... CANNOT IMAGINE FLYING IN A NON ORBX WORLD ANYMORE!

The SHEER VOLUME of visual AND AUDITORY DETAIL is STAGGERING! The incredible flight model of the An-2 courtesy of our own Alex Metzger does help- but when watching all this ahead it's EASY to forget I'm flying an armchair.......

 

[griphos]

I appreciate the warm words, but unless I have an actual necessity for a credit card, which is limited to travels outside of the European Union, one or two flightsim purchases just don't warrant the monthly fee.
As good as the ORBX stuff is, if I have to jump through hoops to get it, it's not for me.
Ground Environment is an alternative, but much too expensive for global coverage.
Fortunately, there's at a set of freeware textures that can be used to spice thing up a little.


Regardless, keep on posting!

Not trying to talk you into anything, and things may be different in the EU, but no credit card I've ever had involved a monthly fee. You use it and keep a balance and there's interest. You use it and pay it off and there's no cost at all. I suspect your bank would be happy to give you a credit card with a low spending cap and low interest for you to use. Then, when you're not using it, there's no expense, no statements, nothing. It's as if you don't have one.

 

[cavaricooper]

How much really needs to be said about that photo?

Here we are, turned off with bags of room, and more balloons just lifting off! How else can you cart as much, as far and fly into just about ANY LANDING STRIP IN THE WORLD. The An-2 is a TOTALLY BRILLIANT (mostly because of the FDE from our very own Alex Metzger) way to explore the Orbx world- which BTW is TOTALLY BRILLIANT AS WELL!

I sound like a stuck record (remember those?) but this stuff blows me away.... I'm gassing up, and then asking for a waiver for a Boeing overflight.... might as well see where my G-CIVX was born, whilst I meander through this bit of the world....

Holy C%$#- I'm parked by the FBO and I can HEAR THE PHONE RINGING and muffled voices talking- WOW, just WOW!

C

 

[cavaricooper]

We're outta Harvey and headed to the birthplace of another beloved- my Boeing 747-436 G-CIVX. The way out is too pretty to ignore though....

Just look what's ahead.....

Big building..... eh?

Jefferson County.... here we come!

Have I mentioned I'm having a ball? Can't recollect if I've ever mentioned.... (big fan of Ol' Reliable).....

 

[cavaricooper]

Yet another side window approach..... I remember my feet FULLY AWAKE in the Champ.... guess what.... they're fully awake HERE!

Used to fly the Champ to Lakeland for Breakfast, Cedar Key for lunch and Chalet Suzanne for dinner.... today, it's the Spruce Goose Cafe (other times it's the Chatterbox.... anyone get that reference?).

C

 

[patful]

These are so much more persuasive than the images on ORBX's site! Beautiful. Don't want to hijack the thread, but any idea of the frame rates I might get with those settings on my computer, and is there any stuttering on yours? i5-7600K (3.8/4.2 turbo, not sure how high I can clock it yet), GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB DDR4 2400.

Pat

 

[cavaricooper]

Pat-

Glad you are enjoying the trip....

I can tell you that I experience absolutely zero performance issues, but I gave up on frame rates long ago. Steve Waite, the brilliant engineer at CodeLegend taught me to LOCK at 20FPS and ELIMINATE Long Frames- PERIOD. No matter what- the PMDG NGX, 777, 744 or DC-6, this Annuschka, the Jahn/Viser C-47, A2A 183... whatever- it's smooth as silk.

I will have to add though, that I run a 6700K at 4.8 GHz, DDR4 RAM, coupled with M2 SSDs and a Nvidia 1080 GTX card ....all running at 4K on a Sony TV with sliders maxed. My only concession for the PMDG heavies is to back off the Building Autogen from Max to Normal- that's it. I do NOT run traffic (fly on Vatsim).

Obviously your performance will depend on your system, but I can tell you I'm very happy with everything from Orbx so far- THEY HAVE MOVED MY GOAL-POSTS- Just AMAZING!

Best- Carl

 

[patful]

Thanks, Carl. I have a couple of 850 EVOs, not quite your M2s, but I only run 1080P, so my inferior GPU should do okay. Will mostly be flying frame-rate-friendly A2A and Warbirdsim, and rarely run traffic. Thanks for your help, and keep the screenies coming!

Pat

 

[cavaricooper]

Here we are clawing our way out of Jefferson County (International no less) and climbing to only 300m for the hop to Diamond Point. This old girl has me spoiled- intersection take offs are a non event... actually a few hundred feet of almost flat ground is more than sufficient...

It's just over the Sound into Diamond Point... up and down...

What do you know, Diamond Point is another residential pilot community! I really HAVE TO GET UP HERE in person!

My Annuschka, all tucked away for the night, in the golden light of sunset.... not often you have a public road crossing an active taxiway.... NICE!

... and so to bed... and to all you mothers, a very happy Mother's Day!

Best- C

 

[Flyboy208]

Still enjoying your thread here , Chalet Suzanne , pretty much the highest elevation in Florida. Was a challenge for my Dad to land the Aztec on that grass strip. Cedar Key , have been there almost 20 times in old N74JC , the previously mentioned Aztec ... great seafood , and one heck of an ugly courtesy car ... circa 1989 ...

Mike

 

[stearmandriver]

Loving these pics! I live up here and haven't flown to half these places...

 

[Bjoern]

It will take away a bit of liberty due to the requirement to file a flight plan, but if you want to spice things up a bit: https://sites.google.com/site/fsxstuffbybk/gauges/maintenance-income-tool

Not trying to talk you into anything, and things may be different in the EU, but no credit card I've ever had involved a monthly fee. You use it and keep a balance and there's interest. You use it and pay it off and there's no cost at all. I suspect your bank would be happy to give you a credit card with a low spending cap and low interest for you to use. Then, when you're not using it, there's no expense, no statements, nothing. It's as if you don't have one.

My home bank charges $7 a month for a basic CC without any benefits for travels abroad. As I've said, that's not a good deal for just one or two CC-related purchases.

Steve Waite, the brilliant engineer at CodeLegend taught me to LOCK at 20FPS and ELIMINATE Long Frames- PERIOD.

Steve's anlysis of the FSX engine in terms of frame stability are excellent; best I've seen.