Shirley Gets an Upgrade

New Features from FlyShirley.com Revolutionize Your Flight Sim Experience

It’s been a quiet few weeks on the FlyShirley.com blog. Don’t worry, we didn’t go anywhere! We’ve just been busy working on some exciting new developments…

At FlyShirley.com, we're always listening to our users and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in flight simulation. Today, we're excited to announce a series of game-changing updates to Shirley, our AI copilot, that will take your virtual flying experience to new heights. From enhanced controls to real-time maneuver analysis, these new features are set to transform the way you train and interact with your flight simulator.

Mute at Your Command

First up, we're introducing a feature that many of you have been shouting for – a mute button for Shirley. We know that sometimes you need a moment of silence to focus, and now you can have it with a simple voice command. Just say "mute," and Shirley will zip it! When you're ready for Shirley's assistance again, simply say "unmute" or click the checkbox in the interface. It's that easy!

Now Shirley won’t interrupt you if you are having a conversation with your kid or dog or hamster… or yourself. Or if you are trying to feature Shirley in a video or tutorial and want to explain to your audience how awesome the product is (we don’t need Shirley getting a big head). And when you’re ready to get back to it, it’s as easy as saying “unmute” or clicking the check box to wake him up.

This feature came directly from user feedback, proving once again that at FlyShirley.com, we don't just listen to our customers – we act on their suggestions. Keep those ideas coming, pilots!

Voice-Controlled Sim Interactions

Remember when we said Shirley was your AI copilot? Well, we meant it, and now we're taking it to the next level. With our latest update, you can interact with X-Plane using voice commands through Shirley. Want to set the flaps? Just tell Shirley. Tired of right clicking and hoping your incessant clicking on the gear handle actually raises the gear during the after takeoff check? So are we. Now you can just tell Shirley to do it for you. My personal favorite: You can ask Shirley to change the time of day. You can change the time to 0100Z, then ask Shirley to turn on the landing lights for you, all without ever having to take your hands off the yoke.

This leap forward brings us one step closer to creating a truly immersive, hands-free flying experience. It's not just about convenience; it's about realism. Real pilots communicate with their copilots (and most real copilots actually do things), and now you can have that same experience in your sim!

Private Pilot Maneuvers: Training Reimagined

As we continue in our goal to bridge the gap between sim and sky by lowering the cost and accessibility barriers to training, we're thrilled to introduce Shirley's new Private Pilot Maneuvers training course. This isn't just another set of tutorials – it's a revolutionary, interactive approach to flight training that sets us apart from the competition.

We know. Plenty of other companies offer a list of similar training topics. But the days of watching animated videos are behind you. We believe the best way to learn is to DO! That’s where sims come in. But without feedback, you could easily develop poor habits that translate to the aircraft. So we’ve reimagined the way you learn by leveraging the personalization and interactive abilities you know and love from Shirley.

Imagine performing a steep turn and getting feedback on your bank angle, altitude control, and coordination. Did you maintain a 45 degree bank angle? Maybe you rolled out too early or gained too much altitude. Now Shirley helps you review the maneuvers so you can get better.

Simply complete the maneuver and ask Shirley for a debrief. You’ll receive customized feedback on your performance and tips to improve based on graphs of your actual telemetry data and flight path during the maneuver.

Get pushed by the crosswind on that turn about a point? Shirley will (probably) tell you to increase your bank angle in that phase of the turn. Can’t say for sure, as Shirley will tailor the tips to your performance, just like a real instructor!

The best part? Shirley can even tell you if your maneuver would have passed an FAA checkride based on Airman Certification Standards (ACS). It's like having a virtual examiner right there in the cockpit with you, helping you prepare for the real thing.

This level of analysis and feedback is exactly like the feedback you would receive during an initial or recurrent training session for a Part 121 or Part 135 operation, and is invaluable for student pilots and those looking to sharpen their skills. It ensures you're not just going through the motions, but truly understanding and mastering these critical maneuvers.

Currently, Shirley can analyze your performance in turns about a point, S-turns, rectangular courses, and slow flight, providing instant, actionable feedback to help you improve. And, as always, we will keep adding new features.

Bringing It All Together

These updates represent a significant leap forward in our mission to create the most comprehensive, realistic, and user-friendly flight training tool on the market. Whether you're a student pilot preparing for your checkride, a seasoned aviator looking to stay sharp, or a flight sim enthusiast seeking the most immersive experience possible, Shirley has something for you.

The mute function gives you control over your learning environment. The voice-controlled sim interactions bring a new level of realism to your virtual cockpit. And the maneuver analysis... well, that's game-changing.

We’ve come a long way, and are proud of the improvements we continue to offer our current and future customers. At FlyShirley.com, we're not just enriching flight simulation – we're revolutionizing flight training. With these new features, Shirley is more than just an AI copilot; Shirley is your personal flight instructor, ready to help you achieve your aviation goals.

Ready to experience the future of flight simulation? Head over to FlyShirley.com and try out these exciting new features for yourself.

Safe Flying!