Annuschka Adventures in the Orbx World

[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/fsxstu...ce-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.

[griphos]

Well plenty of CC companies charge nothing.

[Bjoern]

Well plenty of CC companies charge nothing.

They sure may do, but I'm running a tight, barebone operation here to keep paperwork and liabilities to a minimum. It's either my home bank or no bank.


But let's not dwell on that. If ORBX doesn't want my money, it's their problem, not mine.

[cavaricooper]

Bjoern-

Completely agree! That's the brilliant thing about any hobby. One can do it how and when they like, and in the way it best suits one's life. Sometimes it's important to remind ourselves, we do this for fun and relaxation (and entertainment and education). The personal choice and decision is integral to the relaxation part. There are too many stressors IRL for me to stress about my "escapes".

Best- C

[Bjoern]

Well, for a hobby it surely always put me on the ball in getting the most out of my hardware or upgrading - which wasn't quite cheap.


I think I'll invest the money saved from ORBX into a webcam for use with FaceTrack. Might be a better, more flexible investment.

[griphos]

Except if you're flying default scenery, I'm not sure why you'd want to turn your head to look at it. :-)

I'm also not sure why you'd want to turn this lovely thread about re-discovering and enjoying a lot of special Orbx scenery into a kind of repetitive dig about them not offering your preferred payment method.

[cavaricooper]

Ok, today we were out of Diamond Point fairly early. The neighbors were outside yacking with each other about the upcoming home owner's meeting and dues going up. Someone had just cranked up a lawn-mower, which we quickly drowned out with our Shetsov...



I'm getting so comfortable with this old girl, it's like slipping on a favorite pair of comfortable slippers. Another intersection departure and we were up and off..... headed to Sequim Valley....



Here it was just a 180 and follow the coast, which extending would put us nicely on the RIGHT downwind for 08.... What a lovely part of the world...



I barely had time to reduce to 8/1800 when Sequim showed up... time to go for 6/1800 and begin the shallow descent.... oops, close those cowls tight... she won't have time to cool properly and we will need to save the heat. At least climbing to only 300M doesn't strain her much...



Best- C

[cavaricooper]

Sequim Valley's 08 has the first thousand or so feet sheltered by a tree line. In this part of the world that can mean the difference between coming home, or overnighting elsewhere.... I remember flying into Vandenburg, hitting the rudder stop and VERY GLAD that there were row hangars to my right, allowing me to stay aligned with 36.... without that wind lee, I would have had to head over to Plant City or Lakeland for a few hours anyways...



We turned off, taxied to park out of the way of everyone else.... what a little jewel Orbx hath wrought....





When's the last time you saw a Trislander ANYWHERE??



Hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am!

Best- C

[YoYo]

If You like trips on An-2 You can take the other skin (around the world in 1997):

http://www.an2flyers.org/RoundTheWorld.html



"In 1997, a Polish team, consisting of Waldemar Miszkkurka (Captain), Andrzej Szymanski (Copilot) and Bogdan Gajek (Flight Engineer) completed the first (and only, so far) AN-2 flight around the world.


The flight began on 22 July 1997 and was completed on 21 October 1997. The flight covered 36,000 km.


The crew spent 188 hours and 2 minutes airborne averaging 191 km/hr for the flight.


They landed at 31 airports in 16 countries.


The flight had some dramatic moments. The exhaust manifold failed in Iran. They were escorted by an
MI-24 gunship over Afghanistan. The oil cooler needed repair in Thailand and they had to circumnavigate
a typhoon over the China Sea. Chinese authorities refused to grant permision to overfly China forcing a
change of route. Russian military officers delayed permission to fly from Petropavlovsk to St. Paul, Alaska
(an 11 hour leg)."

btw. some of guys from ORBX Forum did it .

[vora]

Wonderful log. I definitely need to do a PNW tour as well again after I'm finished touring the Dalmatian coast.

BTW if your next destination is Sekiu then crank up all your sliders and be prepared get your mind blown. It's one of Misha's best work in my opinion. The surrounding is simply incredible. The airport in the midst of a forest shouldn't be a problem for the Anoushka, that thing is almost a helicopter, but beware of the deers close to the runway. And keep up the rules - there's a state prison nearby...

[Bjoern]

Except if you're flying default scenery, I'm not sure why you'd want to turn your head to look at it. :-)

I'm also not sure why you'd want to turn this lovely thread about re-discovering and enjoying a lot of special Orbx scenery into a kind of repetitive dig about them not offering your preferred payment method.

Ah, kick the dead horse awake and haul it straight into Assumptionville. Just how I like it. First, my scenery is anything but default (UTX) and second, the payment related discussion had been settled two or so posts ago.

Now, if you don't mind, I'd very much like to focus on C's exploits again.