Will flight simulator help me?

Can be helpful with the navigation aspects.. I did pre-fly my VFR cross countries on FS - the times should synch up closely. It can also be helpful for IFR, I still practice approaches from time to time, including briefing the approaches.

I actually practiced power off 180s in FS before my CSEL checkride since I was having problems with them. Never got it to work in FS, which made it easier come the real thing.

mtsu_av8er said:
When I was in Airline Pilot School, even the feelThere ERJ-145 sim helped me!
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This is something I've been doing lately: pulling profiles off of gouges and hand-flying them in the ERJ on FS. Could that be helpful in the sim portion of the interview? How close are the power settings on the feelThere ERJ to what you'd actually use?
 
I remember when I first started training for the PPL, before I even though about going for the licenses and go for training, I played MS like all the time, all the way from the version before the 98 version to 2004, and it helped me understand the instruments a little. They say playing FS is pretty helpful for private training but I would say it would help a tiny bit, but it would definently help for instrument training to keep the procedures, holds, intercepting radials and such in your head. If the FS has the same kind of GPS that is in your plane, it will help you figure out the GPS inside and out, at least it did with me on the garmin 430. But you should definently chair fly, and keep your head in the books, that will be the best out of all the things to do, you may feel dumb sitting in a chair and looking weird but it will defiantly help you out in the long run!!
 
A joystick and computer screen will never be able to simulate the real thing. I would use it for fun, but I can't see it helping too much with your actual control of a real aircraft. Instrument training is a different story though. I would pull out an approach plate, set the weather to minimums or a little below and shoot the approach. Helps you with your scan and basic instrument procedures but I can't see getting any more use out of it then that. Besides fun, that is!
 
I don't know much about Flight Sim (as in the Microsoft version).;)

Otherwise, I know at least two friends who used it and got their PPLs at just about 40 hours.

I do agree that it is better for IFR than VFR, but do not discount it for VFR either, or for other aspects. I also agree that FS tends to keeps folks heads too much in the cockpit. However, those who are fanatics about it often use huge monitors, and often more than one (I have seen up to 12 being used!).

I know one fellow who used our 727 simulation to get his type rating, like it or not. Others used our 737 simulation in a similar fashion.

While I am not advertising, understand that there is whole world of FS outside of what you get with the basic software; add-ons (yes, I do produce them) that simulate the aircraft and the flight dynamics better than you think, MUCH better then you think. Other add-ons enhance the scenery, and even real-time air traffic based on real time airline schedules.

Flight Simulator WILL help you, just keep it in perspective.

In my line of work, I deal with basically two types of individuals:

1. Those who will never be able to fly for real, and who desperately want to, and sometimes think that FS is almost the real thing, if not the real thing. These folks often just want to fly the heavy jets via autopilot.

2. Those who fly for real or want to, and use it in a better sense. Many of these folks are real pilots, or ones who will soon be.

Most who discount FS as a valid learning tool have little experience with it.

Flight simulator most likely WILL help you.
 
Duck_Twacy said:
This is something I've been doing lately: pulling profiles off of gouges and hand-flying them in the ERJ on FS. Could that be helpful in the sim portion of the interview? How close are the power settings on the feelThere ERJ to what you'd actually use?
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Eh - they weren't so bad. More realistic than many of the aircraft on FS, but not near as close as the 172!

The things that the FeelThere ERJ helped me with were the flight guidance panel, FMS (not 100% accurate, but pretty close!!), and that bloody bleed panel!!!!:banghead:

If you're looking for the most realistic simulation, then go to the airplane because nothing is 100%.

Every 15 or 20minutes, my sim instructor would say, "I don't know why the sim does this. In the real airplane, you can (insert anything). All the while I'm thinking, "Yeah, on flight sim it actually worked"!!
 
Microsoft Flight Sim?? While I did play it quite often, I learned how to fly from the Playstation Ace Combat series. :D :D Flying right towards the enemies at 600 mph, firing off two quick missiles, rolling and diving to miss their missiles, and then strafing the gunboats with a last second missile to finish them off....ahhh now that is how real flying is done. :)
 
When I first got started my instructor put sticky notes on the gauges until I stoped looking down so much..

Before he did it we were flying and he asked me "Do ya play Flight sim much?" I answered yeah and he said "I can tell"... haha
 
GJ1 said:
When I first got started my instructor put sticky notes on the gauges until I stoped looking down so much..

Before he did it we were flying and he asked me "Do ya play Flight sim much?" I answered yeah and he said "I can tell"... haha
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I played MSFS quite a bit as well, and I found myself staring at the instruments too. However, that was easily fixed, and was acceptable, considering how much time I saved.

I saw the same thing in my students during my years as an active CFI. I'd rather work a little harder to keep them off of the instruments, and not have to spend as much time (and their money) in the airplane going over what the elevator does and how the OBS works.

Well worth the trade-off.
 
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