Multi-million dollar simulators yet max crosswind practice is avoided.

[rudderrudderrat]

Hi Centaurus,

Have you viewed David Learmount's experience in post 12?

Sim motion can't be faithful due to the physical restrictions of the motion legs.
1) Turning on the ground is confusing because you inner ear senses the heading change in real life, but is absent in the sim.
2) Likewise the heading change during align in a big crosswind can not be felt.
3) No sense of long term delta g in the sim during TCAS Events, take off or landing.

So those clues you feel in your stomach telling you how hard you are pulling are missing, and so are the heading changes sensed by the inner ear. In real life you'll use those clues. In the sim - only the picture changes and corresponding flight instruments.

Provided you recognise those motion deficiencies, the sim is a very useful tool for teaching techniques. Experienced pilots find real flying easier to handle than the sim.