Simulator present
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Simulator present
Wife has bought me a 90 min simulator session for my birthday, Its 737, based at Shoreham airport. Its fixed base as opposed to full motion but thats not a problem as the cost of a full motion are ridiculous. Have to say I'm more than a bit excited about it. I'm a FSX enthusiast and I use the PMDG 737 a fair bit so I should be able to find my way round the cockpit at least. So, has anyone done it? Any tips, other than don't crash?
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Hi AeroSpark, I was wondering if there were and FSX simmers here and up you pop. Like you I was considering a go on a full motion simulator but too many £s and as for the fixed sim thought money would be better spent on add ons for FSX. Therefore I cannot offer advice but wish you a pleasant birthday treat.
PMDG? Hardcore! I prefer old school 707/727s, DC9, Connies, L1011s amongst many others.
PMDG? Hardcore! I prefer old school 707/727s, DC9, Connies, L1011s amongst many others.
Depends on the simulator and your actual flying experience I would imagine. I assume it's a commercial grade thing and not one of these iPilot jobbies?
You'll love it, and you should find that the controls are pretty similar, so flying it around shouldn't be too difficult. Just take it all in, enjoy the complete immersive experience of having the entire cockpit- screens, gauges, dials etc all in front of you, and if possible get someone to film and take photos.
I did an hour in an A320 full motion simulator down in Burgess Hill and it was comfortably the best flight experience I've had. Going from a PPL with some FSX time, it wasn't too difficult, and landed it every time except for the scenario with zero visibility and completely manual.
I would recommend that you just start with a departure scenario, and then the rest of the time do landings maybe with a go-around and circuit in there as well. No autopilots that's just wasting money.
Enjoy
You'll love it, and you should find that the controls are pretty similar, so flying it around shouldn't be too difficult. Just take it all in, enjoy the complete immersive experience of having the entire cockpit- screens, gauges, dials etc all in front of you, and if possible get someone to film and take photos.
I did an hour in an A320 full motion simulator down in Burgess Hill and it was comfortably the best flight experience I've had. Going from a PPL with some FSX time, it wasn't too difficult, and landed it every time except for the scenario with zero visibility and completely manual.
I would recommend that you just start with a departure scenario, and then the rest of the time do landings maybe with a go-around and circuit in there as well. No autopilots that's just wasting money.
Enjoy
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Another FSX simmer here :P, it's an amazing experience you won't find it difficult, but I'm not promising you that after leaving the sim you will start buying stuff to make your own cockpit 
Anyway enjoy it, ask to someone with knowledge to be co-pilot. You would probably need some takeoffs and landings to get used to the control sensitivity.
Anyway enjoy it, ask to someone with knowledge to be co-pilot. You would probably need some takeoffs and landings to get used to the control sensitivity.
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PMDG 737 NGX user here. I've done the fixed base 737 NG recently, and loved it got an extra half out at the controls its good to know there is a few FSX users here!!!
its good to know there is a few FSX users here!!!
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Just enjoy it! I did the A380 in Frankfurt last year and is good fun! It helps what to do with the bottons and switches. Enjoy your breaking and try not go of the runway to the left hand side ( you will see what I meant when you are doing it) 
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Well had my go in the sim this afternoon. Absolutely brilliant.We started off at Gatwick, did a couple of circuits, flew over the Heathrow, another touch and go, then across to Luton for a touch and go followed by a full stop landing with a 15 knot crosswind. Finished it off with a go at Kai Tak.
In the briefing the instructor asked about any previous experience so I told her I was pretty clued up on FSX so knew what the various displays, gauges etc did.
To get as much 'flying' time as possible we started on the end of the runway ready to go. I'm pleased to say after my first landing her comment was 'are you sure you haven't done this before, I can't believe how good that landing was'!
First crosswind landing was a bit ropey to say the least, really should have gone around but got it down about a third of the way along the runway, but got the second one set up much better early on and it was probably my best approach/landing of the day. Then on to Kai Tak. Blimey! Made a right balls of the first approach so went around for another go. Got it down second time but I don't think my pax would have been too complimentary! 
Massive massive respect to anyone who's flown in there for real.
All in all a truly excellent afternoon and one I will be doing again, although I think I might save up the extra pennies and go for a full motion jobbie next time.
In the briefing the instructor asked about any previous experience so I told her I was pretty clued up on FSX so knew what the various displays, gauges etc did.
To get as much 'flying' time as possible we started on the end of the runway ready to go. I'm pleased to say after my first landing her comment was 'are you sure you haven't done this before, I can't believe how good that landing was'!
First crosswind landing was a bit ropey to say the least, really should have gone around but got it down about a third of the way along the runway, but got the second one set up much better early on and it was probably my best approach/landing of the day. Then on to Kai Tak. Blimey! Made a right balls of the first approach so went around for another go. Got it down second time but I don't think my pax would have been too complimentary! Massive massive respect to anyone who's flown in there for real.All in all a truly excellent afternoon and one I will be doing again, although I think I might save up the extra pennies and go for a full motion jobbie next time.
glad to hear you enjoyed it. the full motion jobbie is a different thing altogether, as you have the tilt and G going, the thump of landing, even when sitting there on the runway you can feel the gentle breeze knocking the aircraft sideways slightly. I recommend you do it!
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Sounds like a you had a great time. Fly Tampa do a good sim of Kai Tak and the Checkerboard approach takes some practice, I can recommend it. Flew into there RW as pax a few times, I swear you could wave at the occupants of the high rises as we flew by.
