PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Is there anthing to be gained by using a flight simulator?
Old 18th January 2010 | 20:36
  #30 (permalink)  
cats_five
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 63
From: UK
For flying gliders I would have thought it of very little value until you are an aspiring XC pilot when Condor is probably the toy of choice. For ab initio flying, lookout is paramount, instruments (ASI) are used a bit (but you learn to fly by attitude to control speed), the radio is very little used (possibly never used), and the pre-flight checklist takes an evening or less to remember. Gliding is a very pure, deceptively simple form of flying.

The other issue flying a PC simulator is lack of rudder pedals - in a glider you *have* to use them along with the stick to fly co-ordinated turns. Suspect that getting into the habit of just needing to waggle the stick would be hard to get out of.

A more productive thing to do would be some reading - almost anything by Derek Pigott will contain useful information. Ask your club what they recommend.

Hope you enjoy your flying!
cats_five is offline  
Reply