Rant XL
 

I am about to start my IMC training and I have seen RANT XL software advertised. I wondered if anyone could tell me if a). Is it going to help me with my IMC? and b). Is it worth the money approx £90.00 inc p&p.

Thanks

Unless you think you will be able to pick everything up first time (some can, not me alas), then I think it is worth it. I certainly sensed I was not getting the hang of NDB holds in one lesson (as I hoped) so I bought Rant to practice. It works for me, but may not for everybody.

Did it save me air time? Difficult to guage. My guess is that it certainly helped and subsequent lessons went well. Still use it occasionally to brush up. so it has longevity.

Just in case you were thinking it: Personally, I didn't find Flight Sim any help (that has been a waste of cash for me) as I find I spend most of my time setting things up, reseting and reloading after it has crashed with pretty terrible performance to boot. Very fiddley and annoying.

I used it loads.
If you get a route from your instructor the night before it's really usefull to get on RANT and fly it a few times, (beats flying it in your head) you will notice a big improvment in navigational awareness during the flight wich in turn will give you that little bit more capacity.
There is almost always somthing you'll forget to plan for or account for when training, so best find out what is is when your on the ground and not paying £2 a minute!!!
The lessons are also quite handy but are aimed more at IR training.
It certainly helped me with my IR and would highly recomend it.

As you haven't mentioned it so just in case you didn't know, grab the demo from www.oddsoft.co.uk.

I found it a help too. Lets you concentrate on the instruments rather than trying to fly and manage instruments.

To get the most out of it, make sure it's set up properly to reflect the aircraft/scenarios you'll be practising.

I find it very helpful - but ask me AFTER the IMC test...!

Andy :uhoh:

I found it great - really helped me to 'get my head round' things, and when I got to my test, everything seemed to be second nature to me!

GF :ok:

Yes, I used RANT throughout my IMC training, and found it extremely useful.

RANT XL is, presumably, a more recent, enhanced version.

RANT allows you to concentrate on the navigational instruments, and you can customise the panel fit. You can see what you're doing against either a VFR-type map, or against an IFR-type chart (not to be used for real-life navigation!), and there are also samples of approach plates to suit the airfields included in the package.

I have not stopped using it since gaining the IMCR a year ago - it is still very useful for practice away from the aircraft.