Entertaining Question, I'm sure

[EnRoute]

I have recently made the decision to get back into aviation after a many year hiatus. Comm multi IFR. I am nearly ready to start my CFI work, as this is the route that I have chosen. I have passed the FOI and FIA written tests, picked up a first class med, and have all but decided on a local 141 outfit. I know that a large sum of money is going to be shelled out just to become instrument proficient, so I have been brushing up in a well equipped 172 on Microsoft FSX. I hope to save a little bit by becoming proficient here first.

I am flying the airplane in the most realistic settings that I am aware of which is simply in the "Realism" area, I have it set to -Hard.

First question. Is there anything else I can do to make it more realistic?

Second question. In the hard mode, how realistic am I to believe the heavy metal to be ie. CRJ, 737, etc. You obviously do not have the seat of your pants but the jets are more about numbers if I am not mistaken. I have certainly come to understand the speed with which things happen. I understand more fully the difference in the jet engine and the internal combustion engine with reference to reaction time and their respective power bands. I have a new respect for the thumb trim. I think I would be lost with out that, but overall, how does all of this compare to the real thing.

Thanks

[Airdale]

Some may argue against using a home PC-based simulator, but honestly I think its a great idea for you in your situation. After all, most of the simulators that you'll fly for an interview are PC-based. Some may have motion, others may not. None the less, they are Simulators and they all react somewhat similiar.

There are a few "limitations", if you will, that you need to be upfront about. Kind of like doing CPT's (Cockpit Procedure Trainers) on a poster or a GFS (Graphical Flight Simulator). Their intent and purpose is to practice procedures. Be it IFR procedures, cockpit flows, profiles etc. Procedures. Keep that in mind when you are using the simulator. As much as the "realism" seems real, its not. So if I were you, I would turn the realism down to a point that makes the actual handling of the aircraft a non-issue when you are practicing procedures!

I think you get my point. But just in case you missed it, here's a simplified version. Don't worry about flying the airplane in the simulator. Use an airplane with an autopilot even. I believe MS has a Cessna 172 IFR equipped with an autopilot. If it has an autopilot, use it. The reason is because you don't want to develop any bad habits from this silly simulators. They are a terriffic tool for procedures training and getting your mind back in the IFR environment.

I used FS2004 heavily during my instrument training when I was at home. I would go and fly the exact routes and shoot the same approaches I did during my training with my instructor. This gave me a chance to better understand what was happening so fast in the airplane. Flying is like riding a bike. You'll get back on it and forget you ever got off.