Instant Replay in Flight Simulator

The question of why Flight Simulators instant replay does not record everything comes up a lot on forums and discussion groups.   One recently from “Cloudy” was as follows:

Landed with the Caravan, switched engine off, waited till the propeller stopped, THEN engaged the Replay with repeat, watching as usual once the aircraft from the outside, then again with the instrument panel. Spotted two new ones:

Differential brake pressure (obviously modelled in normal simulation as I use it everyday with my pedals with toe brakes) is NOT modelled during replay, as clearly shown via my brakes pressure gauge

Gradual propeller slowdown is also not modelled: when the engine stops the propeller freezes in a split second, both in outside view and in the Propeller RPM gauge.

I did not know the answer to this but I did know that the ACES team would not have “just left this feature out” without reason.    An answer from the team (thanks Z) was as follows:

This is a limitation of our instant replay functionality:  we don’t fully simulate all the sub-systems that make up an aircraft in this mode, we only update aircraft position, orientation, and a few other items that are noticable visually during a replay (things like flaps and gear position).  This keeps the data set we store during flight to a reasonable size while still allowing for visually replaying the experience.

I think this observation is a good one, and exemplifies the power of the simulation we run during “normal” mode:  each one of the sub-systems in an aircraft is simulated as accurately as possible – we’re not “faking” the gear brake fluid pressure, for instance.  I’d be curious to hear how important it is for us to allow the recording of *all* the parameters during a flight?  I’m sure you can imagine the enormous size of this data set, depending on the length and data capture frequency of course. 

So, there it is…    How important to you is this feature?   Post away 🙂

  5 Replies to “Instant Replay in Flight Simulator”

  1. Kevin Wnuk
    October 19, 2006 at 11:06 am

    Having the Radio frequencies and VOR settings along with flaps, landing gear, and lights would be nice. Alot of Virtual Airlines use some form of 3rd party software to record these parameters to evaluate checkrides of members.

  2. Steve
    January 30, 2007 at 7:20 pm

    I cannot find out how to get to the option menu to turn on instant replay after i land…can somebody please help me.

  3. Don Mcclure
    May 22, 2007 at 8:00 am

    Why is the FSX instant reply so jumpy? Can it be smothed out?

  4. September 22, 2007 at 9:20 am

    The fixed 45 data elements as output in the FS Recorder *. FSR data file is rarely sufficient for in-flight performance analysis

    We have the need for a more comprehensive type of FS recorder, or preferably a way to capture all the data elements of a flight.

    First the recorded would be completely orientated toward actual aircraft analysis and nothing toward playback or video of any nature. Secondly the program must be user flexible in that it can be stopped/started from a gauge button/switch on a panel (mouse click) or keyboard hot key, similar to what seems to be available in some packages. Also it must have the capability to user select any or all of the data values driving all current devices, instruments and functions as the flight progresses. The *.FSR now outputs first a snapshot of the aircraft in question along with all of its attributes and configurations. It also has the complete instrumentation packages defined. Therefore all the data values that drive the particular aircraft in its flight should be available to be selectively defined for recording.
    The program should have the function to allow the user to set the snapshot frequency and durations of the data capture process during the flight.
    I feel sure that there are enough serious flight simmers out there that would be more than willing purchase such a program. The whole purpose of our simulators is to create as realistic a flight environment as we can. In order to develop aircraft that perform as their real world counterparts a certain amount of in depth analysis is required on all systems.

    I am not a hacker by any means but am somewhat a serious programmer so the effort here is acknowledged.
    I would certainly appreciate your thoughts in this matter

    Regards
    C R (Bud) Lane
    lanebud@hotmail.com

  5. Tim
    June 12, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    Yeh, is there anyway to increase the rate at which the update of positions etc are done? because mine looks like my planes on a rollercoaster- connected to a rigid line./

    tek5828@gmail.com

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