I think MSFS is much harder to fly than the real thing. I also find myself
doing the same wrong things on MSFS that I do in real flight.

Agree 100%.

Every Tuesday night, we show free aviation movies in the theater of our
aviation theme-suite hotel. Before the main feature, we usually have
MSFS or X-Planes running on the 104-inch projection screen, with the
surround sound cranked.

Trust me, in a darkened room, it's pretty real. The sound is right,
the sight picture is right, the controls are right. The only things
wrong a

a) You can't turn your head intuitively, even with the acorn cap (or
whatever the heck that's called), and...

b) There is no sense of motion. (Although with a screen that big, you
see the "pilots" really leaning into the turns!)

Incidentally, we've had many real pilots (Mary included) who absolutely
cannot land the sim planes. It is quite a bit harder to do than
landing the real plane, although the casual lack of concern about
bending metal makes it a bit easier on the digestion.

I've been a flight simmer since the very first ones came out in the
1980s. I still buy every single update of MSFS, and enjoy practicing
on it. It's what really piqued my curiosity and interest about flying,
back before I ever thought I could ever do it "for real".

IMHO, making fun of a "pilot wannabee" because all he can afford is
MSFS is NOT the best way for us to grow GA. And, trust me -- we NEED
to grow GA. Now.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"