IR training - benefit of Microsoft flight sim?
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IR training - benefit of Microsoft flight sim?
Is there any benefit of procedural training on Microsoft flight sim or is it so inaccurate that it's best left to work on an FNPTI/II?
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Best bet is FNPT until scan and all the other good stuff is learned, then it may be of use to help with procedures if done with someone in the know watching ensuring no bad habits start asserting themselves.
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I'm sure you'll get replies regarding the MS product from others.
Sims are very good for procedural flight - especially developing your own mental skills, timing, analysis and situational awareness. It'll upset some people but I'd like to suggest all the eye candy with the best known sims are actually a distraction to learning the stuff you will be paying through the nose for at a later date in more serious sims and aircraft. I think it would be pretty unusual to find yourself in a location where an FNPT is available at little or no cost. The experienced glance over the shoulder would be invaluable as MJ points out.
Therefore, short of the FNTP level I'd like to suggest Rant XL. No commercial interest or association with the company - it's just the only one that teaches you procedural radio navigation and nothing else with staged lessons followed by free play and self practice.
By all means thunder around the sky with photorealistic screens and have fun but Rant is a superbly effective teaching medium to learn the real stuff.
Oddsoft Ltd
Rob
Sims are very good for procedural flight - especially developing your own mental skills, timing, analysis and situational awareness. It'll upset some people but I'd like to suggest all the eye candy with the best known sims are actually a distraction to learning the stuff you will be paying through the nose for at a later date in more serious sims and aircraft. I think it would be pretty unusual to find yourself in a location where an FNPT is available at little or no cost. The experienced glance over the shoulder would be invaluable as MJ points out.
Therefore, short of the FNTP level I'd like to suggest Rant XL. No commercial interest or association with the company - it's just the only one that teaches you procedural radio navigation and nothing else with staged lessons followed by free play and self practice.
By all means thunder around the sky with photorealistic screens and have fun but Rant is a superbly effective teaching medium to learn the real stuff.
Oddsoft Ltd
Rob
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I would agree with that Rob.
Its important though that you don't "self teach" trying to get ahead of your instructor.
All the procedural trainers need to be used in a very controlled manner to get any benfit if used in a solo manner. In fact repetion of bad habits can take considerable effort to remove.
So if you are going to use them.
Do the lesson with your instructor.
Discuss what you are going to practise and what profile.
Then practise and go no further than what you had planned.
And never used it myself but RANT really has been up there as the software of choice for procedural training for 10 plus years.
Its important though that you don't "self teach" trying to get ahead of your instructor.
All the procedural trainers need to be used in a very controlled manner to get any benfit if used in a solo manner. In fact repetion of bad habits can take considerable effort to remove.
So if you are going to use them.
Do the lesson with your instructor.
Discuss what you are going to practise and what profile.
Then practise and go no further than what you had planned.
And never used it myself but RANT really has been up there as the software of choice for procedural training for 10 plus years.
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Following this thread ,I just spoke to oddsoft and purchased their product. They were very helpful, and the demo's look very good.The price is currently reduced from £90 to £80 too. To point out, I am not connected to them and am a genuine third party....
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fsx
Some of the issues I had when ,,converting'' from fsx to an actual fnpt were, firstly; a tendency to instrument- fly using the VSI as a sustitute for the ADI,
and secondly; not looking outside enough when flying visual.
the first is for a number of reasons; the ADI in fsx is in most cases too small to use accurately, and the yoke (apart from some expensive models) has no stick force at all. Also, you don't often see the horizon on your screen.
But if you don't overuse it, fsx is okay for as an intro for instrument flight, especially for using navaids. And stuff like: you can select x km visibility and then have a look how that would look like on an ILS, for example.
Eaglesoft makes a nice addon for a Da-42 diesel, and the new PMDG 737NGX is also nice.
I used a ch yoke and pedals, not expensive.
and secondly; not looking outside enough when flying visual.
the first is for a number of reasons; the ADI in fsx is in most cases too small to use accurately, and the yoke (apart from some expensive models) has no stick force at all. Also, you don't often see the horizon on your screen.
But if you don't overuse it, fsx is okay for as an intro for instrument flight, especially for using navaids. And stuff like: you can select x km visibility and then have a look how that would look like on an ILS, for example.
Eaglesoft makes a nice addon for a Da-42 diesel, and the new PMDG 737NGX is also nice.
I used a ch yoke and pedals, not expensive.
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I would definitely recommend Rant XL. I'm still doing my IR. I bought MS FX a few weeks ago and it wasn't what I thought it would be. I'm sure I can sell it on (if anybody wants it) but I've been using Rant this morning (fogged in again) and it's just great for the procedural stuff.
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Errrm I think you are doing MSFX down a bit too much.
RANT is excellent if only for the fact ADF Dip is simulated well. But you are flying an aircraft using buttons and not using a real panel.
For my money MSFX (kingair with HSI does well) coupled with a stick is a very very very cheap FNTPII simulator. You can fly all of the approaches you need to with good accuracy which is great for remembering the headings and let down heights and running through your checks. 20 or 30 hours on this before a renewal will cost you £15 and set you up nicely for the test.
Each to his own but when a test cost £1000+ I see no downside to the benefits of MSFX.
RANT is excellent if only for the fact ADF Dip is simulated well. But you are flying an aircraft using buttons and not using a real panel.
For my money MSFX (kingair with HSI does well) coupled with a stick is a very very very cheap FNTPII simulator. You can fly all of the approaches you need to with good accuracy which is great for remembering the headings and let down heights and running through your checks. 20 or 30 hours on this before a renewal will cost you £15 and set you up nicely for the test.
Each to his own but when a test cost £1000+ I see no downside to the benefits of MSFX.
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For renewal you can use what ever takes you fancy.
It is completely different to getting habits established and learning the art of getting all the needles looking right. The motor functions of scan etc are already established.
There are huge down sides to self teaching without an instructor.
It is completely different to getting habits established and learning the art of getting all the needles looking right. The motor functions of scan etc are already established.
There are huge down sides to self teaching without an instructor.
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AWESOME!
It is the best mental help to put those mixed thoughts from theory into practice, great help, carry out missed approach procedures rather than continuing down the ndb/vor approach and ILS, but continue some ILS, they are fun ! and continue with the ndb.vor too sometimes just to familiarize more with the circling procedures.
GoodLuck
GoodLuck
