Will flight simulator help me?

[ilove747s]

I'm starting on my PPL next Monday and I'm really shooting to do this in 50 hours or less which I know is a pretty aggressive goal, however with the aid of MS Flight Simulator could I to accomplish this? Would it be worth it?

What will be the most challenging part of the PPL? I guess what should I expect?

Thanks

[Texasspilot]

If you have a basic grasp of flight controls and how airplanes work then I would stay away from the flight sim...especially at first.

Youre private license involves 95% of your time spent looking outside the aircraft and MSFS tends to make people want to focus only on the instruments...youll have a hard enough time not doing this in the beginning without training yourself to do it on the the computer.

If you plan to continue your training and get your instrument rating then it will help you there.

If you really want to help yourself and get through training quickly spend allot of time in the books and chair flying...that will help you tenfold what the flight sim would at this point.

[JHines]

FS is quite useful for instrument practice but I don't think you will find it particularly helpful in the EARLY part of the PPL.

There are 3 specific reasons why it's not so great for learning basic FLYING (e.g. aircraft control and aerodynamics). This is true for ANY "game" type PC-simulator:
1. The flight dynamics (especially control responses) are considerably different from the real plane;
2. The lack of peripheral vision makes visual flying considerably more difficult than the real thing, causing you to use strange procedures to avoid crashing that you don't do in the real plane; and
3. The trim characteristics, specifically pitch, are very different from the real plane. Without getting too long-winded, joysticks are spring-loaded to a center position. This is grossly different from the way a yoke/stick operates (its neutral position moves back and forth when you trim to different speeds).

You may find it helpful for practicing PROCEDURES like going through checklists, generally familiarizing yourself with the kinds of systems in the plane, etc. You could get a similar benefit through "chair flying" with an instrument panel diagram or poster in front of you.

It is also good for practicing NAVIGATING, i.e. plotting a course, finding checkpoints, compensating for wind drift, etc.

[Van_Hoolio]

For certain procedures, yes. For most of what you need to accomplish to get your PPL, no.

For instrument training, it may be worthwhile.

[mtsu_av8er]

It helped me a whoolllleee lot.

It helped me during PPL training.

It helped me during IFR training.

It even helped me during COM training.

When I was in Airline Pilot School, even the feelThere ERJ-145 sim helped me!

[taseal]

for PPL, it doesn't help much cuz you can't replicate physics of a real plane (i'd say same for comm)

but for IFR, oh yeah! I'm doing that right now actually (on a maddog though)

[frog_flyer]

The biggest adjustment for me in a real airplane was lining up the taxiway stripe to be just by my right foot, whereas I was used to being several feet left of the line in my 777 in FS.


"2" on the outside. I was a sucker for the instruments. (and my CFI's legs). Skymates guys, feel free to ring in. Comon Ryan.

[juxtapilot]

You might stay away from FS until your IFR training. If you can get into an FTD I would suggest doing that to pratice checklists and stuff. Usually a school will let you sit in there for free while it is off to flip switches etc.

BTW taseal... Your sig... I actually thought there was a fly on my screen!!

[Crockrocket94]

It teaches radio communications, IFR procedures, and basic procedures and the basic principles of "What will the airplane do if I apply these control inputs".

But as a night and day difference for the actual flying part of the PPL, it never helped me. I used it sparingly.

[Murdoughnut]

A couple years ago when my medical was pulled and I couldn't continue my training, I got on with a group called eskyworld.com - there an online FS community that hosts sessions where you can fly with live, interactive ATC. I found this to be an excellent use of my time in terms of becoming confident with radio communications and procedures. You might check it out - I think it's pretty valuable.

[taseal]

[quote=frog_flyer;684742]The biggest adjustment for me in a real airplane was lining up the taxiway stripe to be just by my right foot, whereas I was used to being several feet left of the line in my 777 in FS.
[quote]

if I line myself up (for me, thats putting the taxiline between my legs) I am DEAD on the taxi way, so i'm not sure what you're talking about, works with any plane (from 172 to PMDG 747)

Originally Posted by juxtapilot

BTW taseal... Your sig... I actually thought there was a fly on my screen!!

thats the whole point. you're also not the 1st one

[mhcasey]

Don't use it until instrument training, and then just use it as an aid. It helps with situational awareness and understanding the nav instruments and IFR procedures, but I'm not sure it really even helps that much with developing a scan, etc., especially partial panel stuff.

If you do choose to use it, go ahead and buy your instructor a few packs of sticky notes/instrument covers.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by mhcasey

If you do choose to use it, go ahead and buy your instructor a few packs of sticky notes/instrument covers.

Nonsense.

[esa17]

Flight dynamics of the flight sims are pretty awful in comparison to what you'll experience in real life. That being said they are really great for a few things:

1. Developing a scan.
2. IFR procedures
3. Radio confidence.

If you "fly" in one of those groups that allows you to have live ATC then you will develop the necessary skills to sound like a seasoned pro on the radio. Most of my students are scared to talk on the radio at first but if you practice on the computer, you won't be.

FS9 & X are great fun, remember that and you'll be sitting in clover.

[Wolfy]

How to pass your PPL in less than 50 hours:
1. Fly 3 times a week.
2. Read about flying every day, even 15 minutes.
3. Have a good CFI.
4. Be a natural pilot.

[taseal]

Originally Posted by Travisimo

How to pass your PPL in less than 50 hours:
1. Fly 3 times a week.
2. Read about flying every day, even 15 minutes.
3. Have a good CFI.
4. Be a natural pilot.

go part 61

my friends are finishing at like 40 hours, when i finished at about 60, because I had to follow an outline. I was one of the guys who finished with the least hours out of the group that was getting PPL at the time (I was the 1st and least hours to fiinish)

[esa17]

Originally Posted by taseal

go part 61

my friends are finishing at like 40 hours, when i finished at about 60, because I had to follow an outline. I was one of the guys who finished with the least hours out of the group that was getting PPL at the time (I was the 1st and least hours to fiinish)

If I were you I'd check their logbooks and should you discover that this is actually the case I probably wouldn't take a nap when they're flying.

[tinman]

Originally Posted by esa17

If I were you I'd check their logbooks and should you discover that this is actually the case I probably wouldn't take a nap when they're flying.

BULL!! Are you saying it's safe to go with a 60 hour guy and not a 40 hour guy? Please!

I can't understand people who don't think it can be done around the 40 hour mark. I only had two students take longer than 45 hrs. and that's because they owned their own airplanes. And I'll be the first to say I'm not that great of an instructor! If people study, pay attention, and fly at least twice a week, then 40-45 hrs is very likely.

[phoenix 23684]

I support what everyone else has said, that it is better for your instrument rating. However if you are completely new to airplanes and have never seen an instrument panel, then sure, flying a little bit around will help you understand what all the gages are for. You can also use it to get a very rough idea of what your airport will look from the air as you approach it or do patterns.

I would def recommend part 61 for your private, enjoy it. It is supposed to be a fun rating and you don't want all the structure for it. I did mine in 43.5 to include checkride. I did it in 30 days flying either twice a day or once with ground. Also let the instructor know your goals from the go and if he doesn't think it can be done, get another.

I asked mine if a PPL could be done in 30 days and he straight up told me that it was unlikely and that it usually takes 60 hrs but that he was willing to get me there if I did everything that he ask and I did. I think the reason I was able to is that he and I clicked well. We were able to adjust the lessons to concentrate on what I needed at the time, that's the advantage of part 61.

For the rest of training, Instrument and commercial part 141 really worked well for me.

[esa17]

Originally Posted by tinman

BULL!! Are you saying it's safe to go with a 60 hour guy and not a 40 hour guy? Please!

I can't understand people who don't think it can be done around the 40 hour mark. I only had two students take longer than 45 hrs. and that's because they owned their own airplanes. And I'll be the first to say I'm not that great of an instructor! If people study, pay attention, and fly at least twice a week, then 40-45 hrs is very likely.

Wait till the guy on the left is trying to kill you, then you'll see a huge difference in the skill level of such low time pilots.

[Duck_Twacy]

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.

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

When I was in Airline Pilot School, even the feelThere ERJ-145 sim helped me!

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?

[TheAviator737]

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!!

[vheissu]

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!

[loubetti]

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.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Duck_Twacy

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?

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!!!!

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"!!