Flight Simulator for Real Pilots

I'm sure you'll have a lot of responses that list:
Situational awareness
Procedure practice
Practicing Fun and difficult approaches
Advanced radio work with the ability to "pause"
"Next 2 things" practice.

Most all of this type of practice happens in your head and FS is great for
making you think ahead and keeping track of where you are and what needs to
happen next. The flight model of the airplanes isn't as good as some of the
other Sim programs and the "realistic" weather settings cause mostly
"unreal" gyrations so I typically set them to "easy". Other than that, use
it to train your brain rather than to simulate actual flight.
--
Jim Burns III

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"Charles Talleyrand" wrote in message
om...
Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot? I already know it can be used for fun, but does anyone
use it to help them on their IFR landings, or to become familiar with
their Garmin 430, or what not?

Basically, anyone have any Microfost Flight Simulator tips for actual
pilots?

(Charles Talleyrand) wrote in message . com...
Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot? I already know it can be used for fun, but does anyone
use it to help them on their IFR landings, or to become familiar with
their Garmin 430, or what not?

Basically, anyone have any Microfost Flight Simulator tips for actual
pilots?

snip

IMHO, X-Place is a _much_ better sim, and has FAA approval for
training toward the ATP cert., FWIW.

I agree.
Do you know of a Garmin 430 insert available for it?
--
Jim Burns III

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"Verbs Under My Gel" wrote in message
om...
(Charles Talleyrand) wrote in message
. com...
Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot? I already know it can be used for fun, but does anyone
use it to help them on their IFR landings, or to become familiar with
their Garmin 430, or what not?

Basically, anyone have any Microfost Flight Simulator tips for actual
pilots?

snip

IMHO, X-Place is a _much_ better sim, and has FAA approval for
training toward the ATP cert., FWIW.

I has to be supervised by a flight instructor though, doesn't it?

Rod
"Verbs Under My Gel" wrote in message
om...
(Charles Talleyrand) wrote in message
. com...
Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot? I already know it can be used for fun, but does anyone
use it to help them on their IFR landings, or to become familiar with
their Garmin 430, or what not?

Basically, anyone have any Microfost Flight Simulator tips for actual
pilots?

snip

IMHO, X-Place is a _much_ better sim, and has FAA approval for
training toward the ATP cert., FWIW.

(Verbs Under My Gel) wrote

IMHO, X-Place is a _much_ better sim, and has FAA approval for
training toward the ATP cert., FWIW.

BUT......Only when used with a Mega-Buck full motion platform
and only when the training is done in a Flight Training Center
by an Authorized Instructor....AND we understand that you are
using the word "sim" to mean a "PCATD", not a "flight simulator".

Bob Moore
ATP CFI

Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot?

I have been playing with FS2004 lately. I have the yoke and rudder pedals,
and 2 monitors (the one on my left is for my base to final leg and I must
say the realism is incredible. All phases of flying are very, very
realistic to me.

I *highly* recommend checking out the new FS programs if you haven't in
awhile. Have Rod Machado help you through flying lessons. Fly down the
coastline and see the waves lapping against the shore. See and avoid other
traffic. Communicate (well, sorta) with ATC. See what's it's like to fly
in a thunderstorm or heavy snow. Fly with others over the internet. And
try out many, many different types of aircraft. There's more too!

The only downside is having to endure John and Martha King's dry humor!

I have been playing with FS2004 lately. I have the yoke and rudder pedals,
and 2 monitors (the one on my left is for my base to final leg and I must
say the realism is incredible. All phases of flying are very, very
realistic to me.

That's good to know. (The lefthand monitor -- that's a hoot! Great
idea.)

I tried it once when I was learning to fly. The model for the J-3 was
all but unflyable, and of course I couldn't see anything to either
side, so that was ridiculous. But even the landscape was unreal. It
was full of landmarks I'd never seen, in the form of cell-phone
towers, and the landmarks I actually depended on (Hampton water tower,
North Hampton tennis court) were altogether absent.

(I'm looking to my left and wondering if I could put a monitor there
.....)


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put CUB in subject line)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

Does anyone here use Microsoft Flight Simulator to help them become a
better pilot?

Just a data point: The University of Iowa, in conjunction with
Rockwell-Collins, has a full-sized Boeing 737 simulator here in Iowa City.
They are using it to evaluate human reactions and "highway in the sky"
instrument approaches (The kind where you simply fly through boxes all the
way to the runway...)

I flew it a few weeks ago, and the realism was stunning. (And, boy, is a
737 a pig to fly...)

Imagine my surprise to find out that the underlying flight sim was Microsoft
FS 2002. They write their software to work as an "over-lay" on top of the
sim.

According to the director of the team, there is simply nothing better
currently available.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:6Sqwb.290477$HS4.2604909@attbi_s01...
According to the director of the team, there is simply nothing better
currently available.

At the price, maybe. Especially if you're mainly talking about visuals.
However, obviously a custom-designed full-motion 737 simulator is "better"
in many other (probably more important) respects. Even within the
under-$500 simulator market (or the under-$100 market, for that matter)
there is considerable debate regarding which simulator is "best".

Pete

At the price, maybe. Especially if you're mainly talking about visuals.
However, obviously a custom-designed full-motion 737 simulator is "better"
in many other (probably more important) respects. Even within the
under-$500 simulator market (or the under-$100 market, for that matter)
there is considerable debate regarding which simulator is "best".

Agreed. However, the director of the team (a well-respected Swede who owns
the gorgeous V-tailed Bonanza in the hangar next to ours) apparently decided
FS2002 was his most cost-effective "solution".

All I know is this: With video screens out each "window", working
instrumentation, and an authentic flight deck, the realism is stunning.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"