I would like to know the community opinion on the big difference between TAS and GS. Let’s start by saying that I’m aware of jetstream, their average speed, the altitude where these streams form, and most important the direction these jetstream take.. so out of these premises, what do you think when you take a look at a flight and you read a difference of 150kts, 200kts and more between TAS and Ground speed?
Differences of 150–200 knots between TAS and GS are typically associated with very strong jet stream tailwinds. These situations can occur in real aviation, especially on certain transoceanic routes and during strong winter jet streams.
However, if such differences appear CONSISTENTLY on many flights, it may suggest that the wind conditions are not entirely realistic. In the context of SimFly, using exaggerated tailwinds to reduce flight time might appear beneficial, but it actually works against the user. Shorter flights generate less XP, which directly slows asset progression.
Over time, pilots flying with real weather will accumulate more XP and progress faster than those relying on unrealistic winds.
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As long as the speed falls in the aircraft’s specification, I’m not concern at all. Because that’s the real weather you can’t avoid in some route. But if the GS is likely to exceed 610, I will reduce the aircraft speed so it won’t go too fast.
I think what captaincabal said is more realistic, some (hopefully) just modify wind direction and speed consistently. I may understand a max of 20kts on your tail just to gain something, but i really wouldn’t accept a wind modification of 150/200kts. As said before, someone may “hide” behind an ipothetical jetstream, but as you can view on the internet, jetstream behavior is known, especially their “route”..
The most I ever got is 130Kn tailwind or headwind with real weather, but you know which parameter Simfly takes for the airplane speed? is it ground speed or true air speed? I think it should be TAS so if you have strong tailwind, it shouldn’t matter if your GS exceeds the planes speed limit. I once changed the jetstream for like a 200 Knt Tailwind and the flight got instantly canceled for overspeed which is good.
I suppose who ever puts a tailwind of more than 100kts obviously is not a GA user, it would be easy to go over max speed of the aircraft. I also think that you would never reach max speed of a liner with all that fuel and passengers on board even if you have full throttle. That’s why those user add tail wind in order to reach a closest max speed even with 70% of power. And by the way GS is the speed that makes you do more miles in less time, so if there won’t be a GS max allowed it would be easy to put a tailwind of 250 miles per hour, and you would reach destination easier and in less time.
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How wonderful would be to have a monitoring tool such as this one.. in order to check some behaviors.. 