What do you think of this kind of Pilot?
Guest
Posts: n/a
I would say the only relevent use for Flight sims( FS98, FS2000 ) in relation to what you guys do in the pointy end would be as a type of famil/proceedural aid. e.g. this does that, see how those needles move in relation to each other.
As an avionics engineer I find that the main problem is that how crew use intsruments in flight does not necessarily relate to the way we test them on the ground. I play around with FS98 and that, along with jumpseat trips, has given a better understanding of how an aircraft is operated by crew as opposed to what I know of how it works. If I understand what the crew are talking about with a defect I can trouble shoot it much better.
I don't think it would help in piloting an aircraft. I can fly the 767 on the computer but I can't fly for sh*t in a real aircraft.
As an avionics engineer I find that the main problem is that how crew use intsruments in flight does not necessarily relate to the way we test them on the ground. I play around with FS98 and that, along with jumpseat trips, has given a better understanding of how an aircraft is operated by crew as opposed to what I know of how it works. If I understand what the crew are talking about with a defect I can trouble shoot it much better.
I don't think it would help in piloting an aircraft. I can fly the 767 on the computer but I can't fly for sh*t in a real aircraft.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I am as colour blind as a bat...
That is why I can't fly anything... and that is why I get really flustrated with flight sims....
I have had offers of flying with people so I can take the controls and fly... but I refused. If I can't fly I don't want to even taste the thrill of flying.
That is why I can't fly anything... and that is why I get really flustrated with flight sims....
I have had offers of flying with people so I can take the controls and fly... but I refused. If I can't fly I don't want to even taste the thrill of flying.
Guest
Posts: n/a
There are side effects too!
Remember that weirdo last year who stabbed to death a ANA captain and almost flew the 747 in to the ground because "he wanted to fly like in the sim he had home and he tought of being capable of doing so"!!!
Now talk about loonies....(again).....
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Reporte través de XAREO
Remember that weirdo last year who stabbed to death a ANA captain and almost flew the 747 in to the ground because "he wanted to fly like in the sim he had home and he tought of being capable of doing so"!!!
Now talk about loonies....(again).....
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Reporte través de XAREO
Guest
Posts: n/a
But this guy really knows his stuff. One day he was patrolling the aprons when he spotted something was not right in an aircraft that was being pushed back. A closer inspection of the aircraft reveald that one of the covers for god know's what had not been replaced. The next thing we hear was him trying to get through to the ATC with his flimsy walkie-talkie. Anyway he never succeded by getting in touch with the tower...so he had to pass his message on.
When ATC received the message they thanked him sincerely. ATC passed the message to the Captain and they had to re-park and solve the genuine problem he spotted. He was really chuffed at work. He was also mentioned in the daily briefing sheet.
Whenever there is a push at the aprons he watches planes until the engines are turned on. I ask him why? He says they may overspeed the aircraft. I think to myself what a sad, sad world.
Oh his occupation by the way is Ground Security Supervisor at LHR.
P.S. we cant fine planes if they overspeed!!!
When ATC received the message they thanked him sincerely. ATC passed the message to the Captain and they had to re-park and solve the genuine problem he spotted. He was really chuffed at work. He was also mentioned in the daily briefing sheet.
Whenever there is a push at the aprons he watches planes until the engines are turned on. I ask him why? He says they may overspeed the aircraft. I think to myself what a sad, sad world.
Oh his occupation by the way is Ground Security Supervisor at LHR.
P.S. we cant fine planes if they overspeed!!!
Time for my pennies worth....
I'm an instructor and would like to point out that teaching people to fly that have spent a significant amount of time playing Flight Sims is a complete nightmare. The reasons are two fold:
I'm an instructor and would like to point out that teaching people to fly that have spent a significant amount of time playing Flight Sims is a complete nightmare. The reasons are two fold:
- They tend to stare at the instruments all the time and getting them to perform any form of lookout is very difficult indeed;
- The major difficulty is that they Know it all already, or at least think that they do!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Club together at work and buy the guy a trial lesson for his birthday. It is the only solution I can come up with. It will possibly bring him into reality or at least shut him up about MSFS for a short while. Encourage him to have a go. If the bug bites MSFS will be forgotten forever.
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G'day
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G'day
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey!! Ok, fair enough, many flightsim users are in danger of getting delusions of grandure when they get into the real thing. I myself suffered from this WHEN I WAS FIFTEEN!
As Mr Instructor points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough but, you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-0f-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
Through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircratf and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!
My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at lenghth, but I do get fed up of those virtuall rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
As Mr Instructor points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough but, you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-0f-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
Through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all
) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircratf and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at lenghth, but I do get fed up of those virtuall rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey!! Ok, fair enough, many flightsim users are in danger of getting delusions of grandure when they get into the real thing. I myself suffered from this WHEN I WAS FIFTEEN!
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough but, you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-0f-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
Through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircratf and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!
My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at lenghth, but I do get fed up of those virtuall rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough but, you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-0f-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
Through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all
) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircratf and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at lenghth, but I do get fed up of those virtuall rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey!! Ok, fair enough, many flightsim users are in danger of getting delusions of grandure when they get into the real thing. I myself suffered from this WHEN I WAS FIFTEEN!
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough, but you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-of-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
My point, through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircraft and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!
My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at length, but I do get fed up of those virtual rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough, but you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-of-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
My point, through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all
) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircraft and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at length, but I do get fed up of those virtual rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey!! Ok, fair enough, many flightsim users are in danger of getting delusions of grandure when they get into the real thing. I myself suffered from this WHEN I WAS FIFTEEN!
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough, but you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-of-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
My point, through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircraft and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!
My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at length, but I do get fed up of those virtual rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
As Mr Localiser points out, many bad habits can be created, before you've ever set foot in a Cessna, by flying home simulations. The worst being an 'I know how to do this' attitude. Anyone who thinks this after 500hrs or whatever on FS98 is kidding themselves.
HOWEVER, I have found this program inparticular to be very useful. I have learned a lot about flying by flying this sim, using all the IFR charts, enroute charts , basic FMS programs etc etc. My mental arithmatic ability has quadrupled, but not only that. It has also taught me to look out of the windows!!!
This is a major gripe with flightsimmy folk, that they get in a plane and spend the rest of the flight tranfixed on the instruments. You get no feel with a flight sim. Fair enough, but you do find out how to handle the plane on a basic level i.e, how to control speed/alt etc in turns, climbs, decents and on approach. I learned how to position an aircraft a circuit visually and set up a good approach at the correct speeds, altitudes etc and not just on the instruments!!
ALERT! Real world story coming up, of the 'I can do it' variety. Blast shields up.
I took an introductory flight at Blackbushe in a 152. I taxied, lined up, took off at 60kts, accelerated to 80kts for the climb and then did basic handling stuff for half an hour. Absolutely great, and no problems (until I got distracted on lookout and lost a few hundered feet unintentionally, oops!). The instructor, beyond and few "don't worry"s didn't touch a thing. Then it came time to land and to my delight he let me fly the whole thing. And fly it I did. I flew the approach, straight in on the base leg of the circuit, turned in and started the descent, trimming for 65kts after the final stage of flap. There was also a significant crosswind and we therefore had to fly the centre line with a heading correction for the wind (something else I learned to do in FS98).
Landing a light aircraft is something I believe FS98 cannot prepare you for, though it can help you make the necessary corrections with a certain amount of instinctiveness.
At 20ft or so above the runway the crosswind dissapeared, and with it went a good amount of our airspeed. To me it seemed that the plane suddenly went into freefall (I'm sure to the instructor it was normal, but it did seem to take him a bit by surprise). In the same motion he and I shoved the throttle in (FS98 does not teach you about rich cuts) and hauled back on the yoke, arresting the sink just as we hit the tarmac. On the rollout I half asked, half told him,'That wasn't my fault right?', 'No'.
Good. Best thing is I didn't panic, it all seemed very matter-of-fact. Jelly legs on the way back to the car though!!
My point, through all this rambling (should anyone actually bother to read it all
) is that without my time on FS98 I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all. As it was, the instructor (as far as I know) didn't touch the controls until the final part of the landing approach, and most of this was done VISUALLY! I didn't look at the instruments unless it was to confirm my speed or altitude, and then only when necessary. I kept a lookout when I was told, which was most of the time, and was able to position the aircraft, in a crosswind, for a good approach and landing. All of this with 2hrs experience on light aircraft and all because I have a good idea of what a visual circuit aught to look like from the plane by using FS98!!My conclusion:
IMHO If used properly, flight sims are not just instrument proceedure trainers. They can give a no time pilot a good grounding in how to handle the controls to achieve desired alt , speed etc and how to maintain these during manouvers.
Sorry to go on at length, but I do get fed up of those virtual rolling eyes everytime I mention PC flight sims.
VS
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I too know someone who fits exactly the description above - talks as though it's real ('bad weather last night in Delhi' etc) and I find it excruciatingly embarrassing. He also insists that it increases flying proficiency (he may even log his 'hours' for all I know). I can scarcely think of a more dangerous delusion for a wannabe - as some of you have mentioned, it might assist in a couple of very rudimentary aspects but basically thinking that a joystick connected to a PC bears any relation to flying an aircraft is a good way to get yourself killed. Scary stuff.
And no, I have never seen a professional pilot land an FS game. Especially that f***ing Learjet.
And no, I have never seen a professional pilot land an FS game. Especially that f***ing Learjet.
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I too know someone who fits exactly the description above - talks as though it's real ('bad weather last night in Delhi' etc) and I find it excruciatingly embarrassing. He also insists that it increases flying proficiency (he may even log his 'hours' for all I know). I can scarcely think of a more dangerous delusion for a wannabe - as some of you have mentioned, it might assist in a couple of very rudimentary aspects but basically thinking that a joystick connected to a PC bears any relation to flying an aircraft is a good way to get yourself killed. Scary stuff.
And no, I have never seen a professional pilot land an FS game. Especially that f***ing Learjet.
And no, I have never seen a professional pilot land an FS game. Especially that f***ing Learjet.
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BRUPax
Maybe too late to fly professionally but you can fly privately all you want; a two-hour rental is cheaper than even a short-haul commercial flight. I got my licence last year at the age of 36 and it's definitely the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Anyway, at 50 I'm too old to start a new career so let me enjoy my little fantasy on FS.
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BRUpax
You're never too old to be a private pilot, though, and a two-hour rental is cheaper than most short-haul commercial flights. I got my licence last year at the age of 36 and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself.
at 50 I'm too old to start a new career so let me enjoy my little fantasy on FS.
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BRUpax
You're never too old to be a private pilot, though, and a two-hour rental is cheaper than most short-haul commercial flights. I got my licence last year at the age of 36 and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself.
at 50 I'm too old to start a new career so let me enjoy my little fantasy on FS.