An interview with Jonathan

Given the amount of email I have received recently filled with questions, I thought it might be worth writing a quick blog post to cover a variety of different subjects - so when these subjects come up I have answers I can link to, rather than keep repeating myself.

Where to start?

The flight simulation community

I love the flight simulation community - from the developers working on aircraft, to the people creating detailed scenery, through to everybody either learning to fly and operate the various aircraft, and the professional pilots sharing their wisdom and experience.

This isn’t my day job

I know it’s hard to believe at times, but creating content for the internet isn’t my day job. In the “real world” I’m a software and web developer.

I’ve been a developer for the better part of 30 years now - starting out building the systems for a manufacturing company, then working on all manner of corporate systems before the company I worked for was acquired by one of the most successful Microsoft partners last year.

I’m officially a “senior technical consultant” with a security badge and everything.

How do I find time for flight simulator?

While it might seem like I spend all day creating content for Flight Simulator, invariably I get to sit down after dinner during the week (so perhaps 8pm onwards), or in the afternoon at the weekend - if nothing else is going on.

Finding time can be challenging - given that I have a better half, three daughters, and two cats to look after. The washing up, clothes washing, and drama never ends.

Most of the “recording” for YouTube happens late at night - simply because there is less chance of needing to answer the phone, the door, or random questions from daughters poking their head around the door.

What does my “setup” look like?

When Flight Simulator 2020 first arrived I had a fairly ordinary I3 with an NVIDIA 970 graphics card, and 8Gb of RAM. It just about ran Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on “medium” settings. Back then I used a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS stick and throttle.

After that computer blew up (quite literally - plasma flash, and lots of smoke) it got replaced with the computer I have now - an I7 with an NVIDIA 3080RTX, 16Gb RAM, 1TB NVME system drive, and 2TB SSD with Flight Simulator on it.

In terms of peripherals, I use a Thrustmaster Airbus stick and quadrant, a Tobii eye tracker, and a logitech headset. That’s pretty much it.

In preparation for Flight Simulator 2024, I will be buying a new PC. The exact spec is undecided, but it’s probably going to be an I9, with an NVIDIA 4090RTX, 64Gb RAM, and *lots* of storage.

Before you ask, I’ve been saving up for a long time.

Do I get given all of the aircraft and scenery for free?

I get this question a lot. Simple answer - no. Absolutely not.

While I do have relationships with a few companies - such as Orbx, and Inibuilds, and they do give me access to aircraft and scenery from time to time, I have bought probably 90% of the aircraft and scenery you see on my YouTube channel.

• Orbx gave me access to their in-house developed scenery some time ago, but there’s usually a 48 hour turn-around on getting access to any of it - I invariably end up buying it, rather than wait (I rarely plan what I’m going to record any further than an hour ahead).

• Inibuilds have similarly given me access to a lot of their in-house developed scenery, which I try to feature a couple of times a month.

• Navigraph have gifted me Navigraph subscriptions for a number of months in the past - in return for me showcasing new features.

• I am often approached by independent developers, giving early access to the aircraft they are working on - and try to help them as much as I can.

• Very occasionally, hardware manufacturers send me hardware to try out - such as the Tobii eye tracker. I don’t always accept the offers - I recently decided not to proceed with a demo of the latest Pimax VR headset (I can’t see how a YouTube video talking about them would ever work).

I’m always open to help publicise projects, as long as they are directly related to flight simulation (I get lots of other offers too, and have to graciously turn them down).

How much does the YouTube channel make?

Enough to fund the buying of aircraft and scenery, and a new computer every few years. In truth, I don’t have many outgoings of my own - no expensive hobbies or vices (I find you don’t tend to, when you have a family) - and if you factor in the hours spent researching, learning, recording content, or broadcasting live-streams, it’s not perhaps as lucrative as many might imagine.

That’s not why I do it though - I never started creating content to make money. I got into it to share an endlessly fascinating interest with the community. There’s always something new to learn, or a different perspective to take, or another’s wisdom and experience to take on-board.

Something else nobody talks about - yes - I am having to file every penny the channel generates in tax returns. Thankfully my other half was a chartered accountant in a previous life - her help and assistance has been invaluable.

Was I invited to take part in the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 release preview?

No. To be honest, I wasn’t too disappointed not to be invited - and in the grand scheme of things, I don’t have that big a following online - certainly not enough for Asobo to have thrown the hospitality package at me that those that were invited received (their visit to the Grand Canyon in the helicopters looked amazing).

While it’s tempting to say “it’s something I can work towards”, there’s a part of me that likes not being too prominent in the community - because that comes with it’s own pressures, and sets you up as a target too. I already get my fair share of difficult feedback to deal with - I can’t imagine what the full time content creators have to deal with.

There’s another part of me that enjoys waiting for new products to arrive - to be alongside everybody else reading the news stories, and “first looks”. I do sometimes wonder about content creators pumping out advertorial nonsense (e.g. playing a preview, and talking over it), rather than just waiting.

What am I looking forward to in the future?

If you hadn’t guessed I’m looking forward to Flight Simulater 2024 enormously - and can’t wait to discover it with you all. I will of course be recording a lot of content as soon as it arrives, but until then I’m happy to wait, and will carry on flying the existing aircraft around in 2020 quite happily.

I’m looking forward to exploring the world in Flight Simulator 2024 - trying out the new aircraft - exploring the new career pathways - and finding out where Asobo will take us next.

It struck me while watching the first footage of people playing with the early-access version of Flight Simulator 2024 just how far we have come in a few short years. The step up - in the modelling of physics, avionics, and procedures - has been incredible.

Here’s to the future!

When I (quite accidentally) found myself being labelled as a “content creator” on the internet, I railed against it somewhat. Looking back, I can now only smile about the knowledge the research for the videos has brought me, and the friendships I have forged with so many in the community that have helped along the way.

Your encouragement and support has been both unexpected, and hugely rewarding.

Here’s to the future, wherever it takes us!