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I am currently working to try to get my private pilot and have on and off been trying to use ms flight sim 2004 and x-plane to help me with my training. MS 2004 seems to have some tutorials and has some better help for training than x-plane, but I like x-plane as well. In both situations, I wish I had better training material that would allow me to practice all of the maneuvers that we need to know for our checkride.

For example, in jasons podcast about diversions, he mentions practice this 10 times on the ground before turning on the hobbs. I thought wouldnt it be great to do this in a flight simulator. When I try this I continually get distracted by the flight simulator peculiarities that I lose focus on the training mision. I always feel like it is so close to being a real useful training aid, but always falls short.

Any suggestions.

Will

In the Private Pilot phase of your training, I find the only true value a simulator has for you is to help you see your ground track while learning to intercept and track VOR radials. The ability to pause the simulation and assess what's happening is crucial. Beyond that, they're essentially useless as the most valuable tool you will acquire during your actual PPC training will be the ability to look at what's going on outside of the airplane. You'll see it and hear it referred to as "being outside of the cockpit".

The first step in a diversion is to look to where you want to go and point the plane at it.

Your instrument training is when you will REALLY see the value of a simulator.

_________________
Inst: "So how far out so we make our initial call-up?"
Student: "10 miles"
Inst: "OK, let's make that call"
Student: "Airport Traffic, Cessna 172, 3 miles east..."

I would recommend just using your specific checklists and procedures as your training material when practicing with a flight simulator.

I personally find that a flight simulator complements some of the early training. I use it all the time to enhance my 'Chair flying'. With respect to training its possible the next best thing to real flight. You can practice pattern work at the airport and aircraft your training in. Not only simulates stick and rudder but the entire situation awareness, the whole Aviate and Navigate thing is a significant challenge for a beginner. Memorizing procedures, maneuvers and going through check lists with the help of a simulator pays off later when performing the real thing. This is all from a practical stand point. The fun factor of a flight simulator is by and large negated once you start flying the real thing.

Gerry

I've been using x-plane to assist in my ppl training. I've been a bit frustrated at getting a reasonably accurate control system. I've been using the CHProducts control yoke and rudder pedals. What controls do you use?

I would have to agree with the general consensus that a sim does not simulate the visceral pilotage feel of flying. (at least with the amount of money I want to spend ) But for procedure and checklist practice it is invaluable. I like the reset button. Start the plane taxi run up take off climb out click the button do it again and again and again. Procedure by rote. Simulate a power failure, Vacuum failure? Run the check lists and procedures. Or I could spend another six grand on my fight training budget. ha

Just an interesting side: I find the ironic humor to be too much to see that the TFP forum dictionary does not recognize the word "pilotage" as it flags it as an unknown or mispelled word. Yall have a great day and smile when your up there. Some little kid is staring in awe at you and you don't even know it.
Beauregard

I've also used x-plane, and found it to be pretty helpful with several aspects of training. (Note: I am not a CFI, but I give them money!)

- I was getting checked-out at a small airport with a tiny, narrow runway. (Previously, I had been flying at a runway so large it had its own zip code.) I used x-plane to help me get used to the new "sight picture" for the tiny, narrow strip.

- It also helped me improve my landings. I'd shoot a landing, then re-play it from various angles so I could watch the details of the landing from an outside observer's viewpoint.

Although this is no substitute for the real thing, I can honestly say that it helped me improve certain aspects of my flying.

(My only complaint with x-plane, as well as other sims, is the limited view. When I want to look left or look right, I don't want to fiddle with a view control -- I just want to turn my head or look out the corner of my eye.)

-- Charles

Charles, in xplane's flight controls panel (where you asign and calibrate the controls) you have a view option where you can asign one of your slide controls to view. If you have a joystick with a twist input on the stick you can twist right to look right and left for left. If you have a spare control input to use that is.

Beauregard

Excellent tip -- thanks!

I have the CH Control Yoke. For me, the least-irritating method has been assigning the "Glance Right" and "Glance Left" functions to the toggle switch beneath the right thumb (just below the "Hat" switch). This is really handy for a quick peek -- but I still find it a bit annoying.

(It's my only gripe about the sims. The near-360-degree views in Cessnas have really spoiled me!)

- Charles

I should have also mentioned that when you do that you toggle to pan view. You will need to assign a button to get back to the cockpit view to see your instruments! But better than scrolling through the views 45 degrees at a time to look back over your shoulder eh? Or you could export a second monitor view of the 45 over the shoulder. If ya wanna get fancy with it. smile

So to the big question
Do you think that if
a) You have no flying experience, but you have many hours behind MSFS2004 in big jets
b) The pilots on a real flight pass out
c) you are the only one who can save the passenger jet

...you could land the plane safely??

Marcus

Possibly...once you figured out how to claw your way through the locked cockpit door to gain access to the flight controls.

My guess is that if you did gain access to the flight controls, the scene would look something like this...



Pick which one you want to be

_________________
Inst: "So how far out so we make our initial call-up?"
Student: "10 miles"
Inst: "OK, let's make that call"
Student: "Airport Traffic, Cessna 172, 3 miles east..."

FDLOL