Originally Posted by bencoulthard
Just a thought, which may be a crap one as I dont have IMC, is it worth practicing something which may kill you on flight sim software?
Surely its no disadvantage?
Ben,
I found MS Flight Sim invaluable for my IMC training - but only really for practising the holds and approaches with different winds etc. There is no point trying to fly it as a real aircraft, as there is no feel to it.
The biggest element of learning to fly IMC is training yourself to ignore the fact you feel like you are banked at 30 degrees and climbing, and set up a really good instrument scan, and even more imprtantly - believe the scan, not your senses. This can't really be done on Flightsim, apart from building your scan, although none of the gauges on my flight sim are in the same position, nor look anythig like the ones in the aircraft I use!
As part of your PPL you will do a little IMC, including how to execute a 180 turn and backtrack - try and get an instructor who will do it for real with you, rather than with foggles / hood, etc.
DW.