I’ve been curious whether a PC-based simulator can support two yokes at the same time so another pilot and I could fly together and work on skill development. I tested this in MSFS (FS2020), assuming the software would only recognize one yoke at a time. There’s no mechanical linkage between the controls, of course - but for the kind of training I had in mind, that wasn’t an issue.
The result surprised me: both yokes were recognized simultaneously, and each could control the aircraft.
(Apologies for the video quality -this is just a quick capture -but it shows the concept in action.)
You can also see that I was running 5 monitors and TrackIR-5 on my testbed.
Not perfect yet - but workable!
I also tried it on X-Plane 12. That didn't work since XP12 doesn't allow for dual assignments. However, you can fly one or the other yoke so long as you disconnect the yoke not being used. Tried it and it wasn't that much of a pain.
Connecting flight simulation enthusiasts across Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois
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The FSG@ Network is a volunteer-driven family of local flight simulation groups. It only takes three simmers to start your own group—and it’s free! Our mission: build home simulators, enhance flight safety and training, and foster camaraderie. Interested? Email us using the email form to the right of this screen.
Meeting Highlights
Member Build Projects: Discussed two on-going builds - one X-Plane the other FS2020. Both projects are nearing completion and hopefully in January or February, members will have a chance to look over the projects - on site.
Brought in an old Microsoft FSX simulator. Everyone got a chance to fly it. The conversation revolved around how good the FSX/ORBX scenery looked. Discussed a possible weekend flyoff between FSX, P3D, X-Plane 12, FS2020 and FS2024 in the Spring.
Discussed upcoming Saturday Extreme Flight Simulation (EFS) event in Gurnee, Illinois. Timeslots have been filled - registration is closed.
Discussed where we are on the Shoreland Lutheran High School (SLHS) project and the upcoming training sessions to be held on-site in December - see below.
Discussed Nexis-Onarga Project - see below.
STEM Initiatives
Nexis-Onarga Academy (NOA): Had video conference with schools Director and Principal - outlining the planned hardware installation and training. Revised target date set for simulator completion and winter training.
Shoreland Lutheran High School (SLHS): Based on prior discussions with STEM Director Timothy Mielke, he and staff will start their training VPPL training in December. They will be utilizing Navagraph Academy material.
I started my flying career in August 1964 at KPWK - Priester Aviation, Palwaukee Airport. I hadn't planned on it. A friend of mine was giving me driving lessons in a new Ford Mustang and we were just passing by....
It wasn't my first time passing KPWK. As a kid my family would regularly drive by the airport and each time I saw Priester's yellow Piper Cubs lined wingtip-to-wingtip, I'd repeat the mantra: someday I was going to fly. "You're going to have to work on your math," my father would say - temporarily deflating the balloon. Years went by. The hunger grew. My math still sucked!
Walked into Priester's flight school office and there was Ester Noffke. I didn't know who she was then, but you could see from the start that this was her space. I told her my story. She just silently stood behind the counter, studying me.
“You didn’t come here to buy apples, did you?” she emphatically stated and questioned at the same time.
Ester didn't even wait for me to answer. She summoned an instructor with the flick of her wrist and the words, “He’s going flying!”
The needle was set, and my addiction to flying began.
Now to the point - ATC Communications -the bane of my existence.
I hate ATC communications!
For most of my flying career, real and simulated, I’ve dreaded picking up the mic. One-on-one conversations? Easy. Talking to groups? Fine. But talking to ATC - to the world, as it feels - is something else entirely.
Flying Magazine’s morning letter had an article today about improving VFR radio skills, and it hit home. So, I thought I’d share it - link.
So, how about you?
Does your stomach flip every time you push the button?
It’s a realistic, real-time environment where you can work through ATC calls with actual trained controllers - but without the pressure of being in the cockpit. Make mistakes, learn, improve. All without leaving the ground. A great starting point:
VATSIM Beginners Guide | Made by a Controller | Everything you need to know!
Here you are - freshly plopped into the left seat in your virtual Cessna 172. You glance at the panel and there it is: the autopilot. The mysterious little box that seasoned pilots swear by.
I thought you might enjoy this remarkable bit of aviation history.
It’s the story of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and P.G. Taylor’s harrowing 1935 flight from Australia to New Zealand - a crossing that very nearly ended in tragedy. One engine out, the remaining engine overheating, and more than 1,000 km of open ocean standing between them and the Australian coastline.
It’s the kind of story that reminds us why these early aviators are legends.
One engine out, the other cooking. 1000km away from Australia.
For those flying Microsoft Flight Simulator: Local Legend 2 happens to be the Fokker F.VII, the same class of aircraft that made these pioneering flights possible. It’s a perfect excuse to recreate Smith and Taylor’s journey and experience (safely!) the tension and skill involved in that crossing.
That’s a question I’m often asked. My standard, lazy answer has been: “Of course!” Well… it happened again last week. But this time, the question stuck with me.
After doing a couple days of research, my answer has changed to: it depends.
Below is an excellent video from Ask Leo! It was this find that made me look more closely at what actually happens if you don’t upgrade.
What Happens If I Don’t Update to Windows 11?
It’s worth a watch, especially if you're a flight sim user.
Let's go through the key considerations from a Simulateer’s perspective.
Windows 10: The Stable Workhorse of Flight Simulation
For anyone using Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D, DCS World, or even FSX, the reality is this: Windows 10 is still the most compatible operating system for your flight simulation.
Nearly every major simulator - including older and legacy versions - was built and optimized on Windows 10.
It’s stable.
It’s predictable.
And most important for Simulateers: your add-ons - Aircraft, scenery packs, weather engines, traffic injectors, home-cockpit drivers, Arduino interfaces, and older FSUIPC-based tools all tend to run without drama on Windows 10.
For many simmers, stability is worth more than shiny new features.
Windows 11: Better Performance… If Your Hardware Supports It
Windows 11 can offer real benefits:
Improved multithreading
Slightly better GPU scheduling
Better memory handling on newer CPUs
A smoother desktop environment
Longer-term support beyond 2025.
But here’s the catch:
Those improvements only materialize if your system is modern enough to use them.
If you’re running:
an older CPU without TPM 2.0
a first-generation NVMe drive
a mid-tier GPU from several years ago
or a large library of legacy sim tools
…then Windows 11 may give you more headaches than performance gains.
Note: Flight sim add-ons can be notoriously sensitive to OS changes, especially older P3D tools, FSX-era utilities, or custom cockpit software.
The Practical Simmer’s Question: Do You Need to Upgrade Right Now?
If you're running Windows 10 and your simulator is stable, smooth, and predictable: Stay there if you're not missing anything critical today.
If you're building a new system or running MSFS 2020/2024 on modern hardware: Windows 11 is a perfectly solid choice - and may even offer benefits.
If you rely on specialized or older sim tools: You should almost certainly stick with Windows 10 for now.
Compatibility: The Hidden Issue Most Simmers Forget
Simmers often ask whether a simulator “runs” on Windows 11.
That’s the easy part - most do. The real question is: Do all your add-ons, drivers, panels, VR tools, and hardware run reliably?
That’s where Windows 10 still comes out a winner.
End-of-Life for Windows 10 - The Elephant in the Room
Windows 10 support officially ended on October 14, 2025. That sounds scary, until you remember:
Your sim will still run.
Your hardware will still run.
Nothing turns off.
Security risks are manageable for dedicated sim PCs.
Many pro and enterprise users remain on Windows 10 well after EOL.
If your system is offline or used strictly for simming, the risk is extremely low.
So… Should Simulateers Upgrade?
Here’s the short version:
Upgrade to Windows 11 if:
You have modern hardware
You mainly use MSFS 2020/2024, X-Plane 12, or DCS
You want longer OS support
You’re building a new rig.
Stay on Windows 10 if:
Your sim is running beautifully
You rely on legacy or specialty add-ons
You use P3D (v3, v4, v5, or even v6)
You operate cockpit hardware with older drivers
You value stability over “newness.”
Final Thoughts for Simmers
In flight simulation, the best operating system is the one that keeps your aircraft stable, your frame rate smooth, and your add-ons working.
Windows 10 continues to be that system for many thousands of simmers, and there is no urgent reason to abandon it - especially if your setup is dialed in and running well.
In other words: Upgrade when it makes sense, not simply because the calendar says so.
Over the last few years, I’ve been asked this question dozens of times: “Can flight simulation really help with actual pilot training?”
The simple answer is - it depends. The more accurate answer, however, is a resounding yes.
The value of flight simulation depends entirely on intent.
If your goal is to game, then a flight simulator delivers a remarkably engaging experience. But if your intent is to learn - to improve airmanship, reinforce procedures, or sharpen judgment - then a simulator transforms from entertainment into education.
In the right hands, it becomes an extraordinary training tool.
To illustrate the point, I encourage you to explore the following resources - each offering a different perspective on the real-world value of flight simulation:
Despite the evidence - and the rapidly advancing realism of modern flight simulation platforms - many in the industry remain hesitant. In recent conversations with flight school owners and CFIs, I’ve been surprised by how few have fully embraced simulation as a structured, scalable complement to flight training.
The question isn’t whether simulation works. It’s why we’re still so slow to integrate it.
The technology exists. The community support is strong. The cost barrier has never been lower. What’s missing is the vision to see simulation not as competition to traditional instruction, but as its most powerful ally.
At its core, simulation bridges the gap between theory and experience - between what a pilot knows and how that knowledge is applied.
So, does flight simulation really help pilot training?
The flight-plan I'll be discussing today is Leg #1: KMDW - KDSM (Chicago to Des Moines). Click on the red airport codes to review the SkyVector data for each airport.
This flight will be real-weather - daylight - VFR - full gross. Because we are flying west, the planned altitude will be 4,500 feet.
Additional Data - Ford Tri-Motor:
STANDARD DATA: Seats: 15; Gross weight: 13,250 lbs.; Empty weight: 7,800 lbs.; Engines: three 425 hp Pratt & Whitneys.
PERFORMANCE: Top speed: 140 mph; Cruise speed: 115 mph; Landing speed: 60 mph; Range: 478nm; Service ceiling: 18,500 ft.
Note: If you don't own a Tri-Motor, do the flight in a Cessna 150/152 or the equivalent.
Let's talk about navigation. Remember this flight took place in the 1930's. No GPS. No ADF. No Victor Airways. No VOR-to-VOR.
So how did those old-timers do it?
I went to Aeroxplorer and this is what they wrote:
"The earliest form of aerial navigation was known as 'pilotage', another term borrowed from aviation's maritime predecessors, where it meant steering a ship through harbors or other dangerous waterways. Pilotage, or contact flying, is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints and requires visibility.
Naturally, pilotage is only possible in good visibility or darkness. Darkness was such a scourge to early aviation that it wasn't until the 1920s that airmail and passenger service dared attempt it, guided it first by bonfires set at regular intervals along a given course, then later by a system of beacon stations like the ones that stretched across the American continent both east-west and north-south.
With the invention of aircraft instrumentation came the ability to navigate by calculating one's position without seeing landmarks at all. Knowing one's airspeed and compass heading, for example, along with the speed and direction of any wind, allowed navigators to deduce their position based on the time, distance, and direction of flight. Thus, the term 'dead' reckoning, where 'dead' is derived from DEDuced.
Pilotage and dead reckoning are still taught in basic flight training today. After all, an electronic instrument such as a GPS receiver could fail. Can pilots find their way with just a map and what they see out the plane's window? In this regard, a great debt is owed to an early airmail pilot named Elrey Jeppesen. When Jeppesen was hired by Boeing Air Transport in 1930, pilots still relied on automobile road maps or followed the railroad tracks, affectionately called 'flying the iron compass'."
So, flying seat-of-the-pants, using dead reckoning and no cheating (computers or other electric devices) [E6B permitted] will be the order of the day. I suggest however, also using IL & IA road maps. They're great backups for this kind of flying. Old-time pilots I met in the 1960's swore by them.
KMDW to KDSM via KSQI - KIOW
The rest of the planning is up to you. Have a good flight and most importantly, have fun!
Last month’s Monthly Meeting at Shoreland Lutheran High School showed us the value of occasionally changing venue. The event was a lot of fun - and it drew several new participants who joined us simply because it was new, different, and more convenient.
Building on that success, we’re now contacting local airports and EAA Chapters to see if hosting an FSG@ meeting might work for them. Rotating locations keeps our gatherings fresh, strengthens community ties, and makes it easier for more people to join in.
Would you attend if we brought a meeting closer to your home airport or local EAA Chapter?
A little over a year ago, I purchased a Meta Quest 3 headset to explore what virtual reality could add to my flight simulation experience. I was excited by the promise of total immersion - being surrounded by a virtual cockpit, feeling like I was truly flying. And to be fair, it delivered exactly that. The visuals were impressive, and the sense of depth made even familiar aircraft feel new again.
But there was one big problem: I couldn’t see my real instrument panel or flight controls without lifting the headset. Every time I wanted to adjust a switch, throttle, or autopilot setting, I had to peek out from under the goggles. That constant interruption broke the illusion and made flying more frustrating than fun. Eventually, I gave up and went back to my trusty TrackIR-5 setup - not as immersive, but far more practical.
I came across this video today.
See Your Controls in VR | Using Mixed Reality in Flight Simulation
It demonstrated how far VR passthrough technology has come. The ability to blend the real and virtual worlds - seeing your actual yoke, throttles, and instruments within the simulated cockpit - looks like a genuine game-changer.
The video made me realize that VR flight simulation may have finally matured, blending full immersion with real-world functionality - perhaps enough for me to dust off the Quest 3.
For those who have not been following this blog, one of FSG@’s outreach goals is to cement flight simulation into STEM-based high school courses.
See our:
Meeting Notice – Shoreland Lutheran High School – October 15, 2025
Meeting Notice Reminder – October 15, 2025
October 2025 Newsletters.
Understanding aircraft design - and the strategies that drive design decisions based on market, performance, and engineering collaboration - is a key component in the overall engineering process.
To help illustrate that connection, I thought this YouTube video might be useful in furthering that understanding. It’s a concise overview that connects the dots between aerodynamics, materials, and business realities - the same kind of multidisciplinary thinking we hope to encourage through our simulation-based STEM initiatives.
We’ll continue sharing selected educational videos and resources that demonstrate how flight simulation can deepen students’ appreciation for real-world engineering design and systems thinking.
As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions. What topics would you like us to explore next?
