The ideal way to utilise this marvellous tool is to perform the deired sequence, correcting mistakes and introducing procedures and flows without the added distraction of motion and then duplicate the sequence in flight.
I found 'MS flightsim' highly useful at 2 stages in my training.
1. When I first restarted my training and was trying to learn my powered checks. The old argument of just go and sit in the plane didn't really work for 2 reason's. a) I didn't have to wait around until 9pm when everyone had finished flying it
b) using the sim, there was no chance of running the battery flat whilst i went through the procedures.
That $85 investment in MSFS saved me hundreds in the cockpit. I was probably under more self imposed pressure to get things done in the cockpit, as at the time I had many hours gliding under my belt with about 10 hours incl some solo power. I was desperate to attain solo standard again, which put pressure on me to learn the power checks again quickly.
2. Learning the easily confused world of navaids.
MSFS allowed me to play with the aids, see how it worked, make sense of the training notes and get a better understanding of what was happening, even if i did use the autopilot for altitude hold, i still had to plan my intercepts, work out the basics and make it work. again money saved for real flying.
Flightsim's come in a variety of forms. When used within their limitations, they can be powerful but inexpensive tools.
