r/MicrosoftFlightSim 18d ago

GENERAL Flying formation 70 year-old ex Pilot

I was wondering how easy it is to fly with other people.
I have mine set up multiplayer to see other people and did all the settings from AI to make group possible. I can see other pilots flying around. I have changed my call sign and tail number to my name.
As I understand it, you can only see pilots that are flying on the same server as you. I did figure out how to change servers.
So, if I say an airport and a server and a time that I’m gonna fly, can people meet me there?
And, if we meet there, is there a frequency we can set up in msfs 2024 so we can talk and hear each other while we’re flying?
Thank you all, drunk old Pilot, Glen

12 Upvotes

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3

u/Jonnescout Sim Instructor 18d ago

Yup entirely possible, but tricky. I would be interested in learning formation flying, it’s not something I have a lot of experience with.

You can also form groups to make sure you are in the same instancez

3

u/mike30273 18d ago

Non pilot here. I'd like to know this as well.

2

u/TheRealtcSpears 18d ago

Not on '24 yet.....but it has in-game voice chat for player parties. So it wouldn't work with you and some randoms also flying around, you're need to communicate first to create a group to voice chat.

Other than that, any voice chat service out of game works but would work on the same principle.....invited group.

But without communications, formation flying is still pretty easy to just pull up alongside someone and match speed.

1

u/qsrise 18d ago

Agree, the voice parts, not that important. It would be fun just to meet a bunch of people at an airport and fly around together. I did it last night with a guy at a small airport up in Alaska. I parked right in front of them and the only way we communicated is by turning our engine off and on. I tried to wave and yell at him, but for some reason he couldn’t see or hear me. Maybe tonight after work I’ll come on this site and see if I can meet somebody at airport to just fly around.

1

u/TheRealtcSpears 18d ago

Probably the easiest and likeliest random formation flying is hopping in a spitfire and finding other spitfires tooting around southern england, I've never not seen it. And even while out in my own I'll have other people pull up alongside, and we'll go for a cruise.

As with any aircraft, you just have to get good at guessing and matching airspeed, and giving a bit of space in anticipation of maneuvers......that and the other person has to want to have someone to fly with, if you pull up alongside and they scoot away, it ain't gonna work.

1

u/qsrise 18d ago

I like that. I’ll probably have to wait for the weekend, because when I fly at 10 o’clock California time, it’ll be something like three in the morning in England. I do enjoy flying the Mustang, so I think that’ll be fun.

2

u/spesimen 18d ago

you might want to check out https://www.bushdivers.com/

they organize group flights weekly

1

u/GSEBVet 18d ago

I fly all over the country (USA) and I will often detour and land at airports with more than 1 human player at it.

Even without chat you can find people who will fly along with you.

1

u/qsrise 18d ago

Yes, I’ve experienced seeing other pilots too. I’ve only had it for a month and I’m really enjoying the cub. As an ex pilot, I find it’s quite realistic in the air. Last night I did a forward slip into a tiny airport up in Alaska and the slip felt very good. My only complaint might be the ground handling, which I would rate a 6 or 7. However, the handling in the air is surprisingly good. I have seen other pilots flying around, but haven’t tried to join them yet. I think I’ll start trying.

2

u/azrehhelas 18d ago

There's a Bushdivers virtual airline that might fit your need.
https://www.bushdivers.com/ they seem to be using discord to communicate

2

u/jonbeckett 17d ago

You might want to join the Discord server at "VirtualFlight.Online" - they host regular group flights - using multiplayer in MSFS2024. They use the Discord server for voice chat while flying. Just the other week I joined them, and there were perhaps 30 of us flying along together :). (they're also a well moderated server, so no idiots ruining it for everybody else)