Can I learn to fly in a computer simulation?
Chino reported:
- Mistakes -
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Things went well for the most part. I was happy with my CFI, but also happy that I flew a bit with
several other CFI's along the way (I learned something new and useful from every CFI I flew with).
There are a few things I wish I had done differently - here are a few examples off the top of
my head, in hopes that others will learn from my mistakes:
- Light touch and trim - I wish my CFI's had insisted that I fly with only two fingers on the yoke and learned to use trim more precisely. The C152 has such light control forces that this isn't a big problem, but other planes demand a lighter touch, and I'll have to work on it.
I'm still amazed at the great effects even tiny changes in yoke or nose position can make on performance - it's less "yank and bank" than "pull back a few millimeters."
- Lesson frequency - I wish I had somehow managed to schedule the lessons at more regular and shorter intervals (like twice a week). Family demands and business travel prevented this, but this slowed my progress, I'm sure.
Reviewing my detailed flight notes helped me to catch up when I had a couple of weeks away from flying (I'm glad I kept these notes, only a small part of which have been posted here since they really apply most of all to me).
- Flight sim side-effects - There were good and bad side effects from years of sim use. On the good side, familiarity with terminology, procedures, and instruments was helpful. I also rehearsed some of my x/c and instrument/VOR flights using FLY! and scenery from TerraScene.
On the bad side, I am TOO instrument-oriented and don't make use of outside pitch references as much as I should. This is partly from sims and it's a hard habit to break. You should insist that your CFI cover up some instruments quite often and really enforce flying by outside pitch references.
- Prepare more for each flight - I've read that military student pilots do 4 or more hours of preparation for each hour in the air. On those flights where I explicitly prepared (studied the procedures, practiced on a sim, did some "chair flying", planned a cross-country), I did better and got more out of the flight. Sometimes I was just too busy, but I should have done more.
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I'm still amazed at the great effects even tiny changes in yoke or nose position can make on performance - it's less "yank and bank" than "pull back a few millimeters.
Bruce - Glen and the plane
A new Private Pilot !
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