Purely anecdotal evidence, but apart from being a bit fixated on the ASI initially for fear of getting too slow in certain flight phases and checking the altimeter quite often, I didn't perceive any problem with looking outside (and if my instructor did, he never mentioned it which would arguably be a bit strange) despite PC sim flying preceding (temporally and causally) my PPL ambitions. On the other hand, I readily admit that simming did not help me appreciably during my flight lessons (purely motivational aspects left aside).

OTOH, I never thought that I could fly for real just because I could fly (somewhat) on a PC sim (that's why I began the PPL :8). Might well be that this alleviated potential "simmer problems", and if I imagine a student who stubbornly thinks he/she knows how the real thing works because of sim experience, I can understand the cringing tendency.

And just to strike a balance: I found that doing my PPL and flying real aircraft has considerably improved my PC sim flying skills :ok: (unlike the other way around). BTW, I am not surprised that PC sim setups in flying schools aren't very popular. Armchair flying is just a superior alternative to many other pastimes when one is far away from real aircraft ;).

Guys,
Does anyone know of an 'professional' Helicopter Flight Simulators in the UK that can be used along side training for a PPL(H)?
I can find a couple but they are mainly used as instrument training and cost as much as an actual hour in the air.
Many thanks,

Kingsfield Helicopters at Perth have an R22 sim. I know. I've crashed it!

D.O.

D.O.
There is no mention of it on their website, do you know if they still have it?