Are there any for PPL type stuff that are worthwhile, and costing less than the real thing ?
The FNPTII standard of sim provide the sort if thing you are talking about, cockpit enclosure, instructor terminal at visuals. A common example is the Elite products (www.flyelite.ch / www.flyelite.com). They are about £150/hr, but of course no landing fees. I don't think you will get much out of them though unless you are practicing instruments. VFR flying in such things is bit too contrived.
my point is flight sims are very beneficial to an absolute beginner. i can honestly say that my trial lesson was allot more fun because of simming. i new what was going on with the aircraft, were the controls and dials were, what they ment and even to pull back at 70 knots on take off (best feeling when you do a take off for 1st time!)
I have to say that the "Flight Lessons" by Rod Marchado in MS Fsim 2004 is not too bad and the theory section you get to read before each practice maneuver is quite reasonable. I believe it is for the FAA test so no ides how good it would be for other types of licenses.
If I had the cash I'd go ahead and get my PPL. My experience has convinced me that that flying is something that I'd enjoy. Yes, I'm afraid of heights but the plane felt very natural to me (I suppose that's a side effect of the amount of simming I've done[1]).
As to the progress we made, I suspect that it just may be part of the trial lesson experience?
Another thing I noticed was the speed at which the pressure changed on journey. I only went for a half-hour flight but ATIS reported QNH of 1012, by the time we took off it was 1007, at right base it was 1002 and, finally, it was given as 1001 when we landed. Oh well, snow's predicted for tonight.
The difference in pressure is probably a mix up between QNH (mean sea level pressure) and QFE (airfield elevation pressure). It seems that either the 1011 or the 1007 figures you've misheard - (1007 and 1011 sound similar over the RT). Let us say that the airfield elevation pressue is 1002 and the msl is 1011, then the difference is 9 millibar. Pressue decreases by 1mb per 30 feet and therefore the airfield elevation would be about 270 feet. I then checked your profile and found you live in Newcastle - the airfield elevation of which is ... 266 feet! So I guess that's where your flight took place.
Don't worry about being worried or scared of heights. As you found out, being at the controls is different. 30 degree banked turns used to get me very worried. I've been flying now for over 20 years and have 600 hrs and compete regularly in aerobatics competitions. I still have a problem with heights if I stand near the edge of a cliff and look down or even if I am with someone and they are standing near the edge. Flying is different somehow, I overcame the worries after just a few flights and I'm sure you will. On the other hand, as everyone on this Forum will tell you, Flying is a very addictive and fairly expensive drug. You'll cetainly be better off financially if you never do it again!!
Another thing I noticed was the speed at which the pressure changed on journey. I only went for a half-hour flight but ATIS reported QNH of 1012, by the time we took off it was 1007, at right base it was 1002 and, finally, it was given as 1001 when we landed. Oh well, snow's predicted for tonight. The difference in pressure is probably a mix up between QNH (mean sea level pressure) and QFE (airfield elevation pressure). It seems that either the 1011 or the 1007 figures you've misheard - (1007 and 1011 sound similar over the RT). Let us say that the airfield elevation pressue is 1002 and the msl is 1011, then the difference is 9 millibar. Pressue decreases by 1mb per 30 feet and therefore the airfield elevation would be about 270 feet. I then checked your profile and found you live in Newcastle - the airfield elevation of which is ... 266 feet! So I guess that's where your flight took place.
Some may have been QFE and some QNH (I think I did hear both). You might be right about the 1007 being 11 -- I was struggling to hear the radio and the ATIS report was the only I heard clearly (and the instructor wrote the information down as it came in).
[B][COLOR="Blue"][B] a mix up between QNH (mean sea level pressure) and QFE (airfield elevation pressure). It seems that either the 1011 or the 1007 figures you've misheard - (1007 and 1011 sound similar over the RT).
i'm confused how you would think 1007 and 1011 would sound similar,
