The Click Spot. That esoteric point at which one realizes that he/she has become, shall we say, comfortable with default aircraft. This is not to say that they have become bored, simply well acquainted. And, as we know, one of the prime attractions of flight simulation is the opportunity it affords one to continue to learn and grow. When one becomes comfortable, it seems to me it heralds the beginning of the down slope of the learning curve. And this is where the FSDoldrums really begin to set in.

When faced with the FSDoldrums, there are really only three ways to go. One may continue on, perhaps adding to the collection of scenery and other esoteric eye candy. This tends not only to clog the hard drive and inevitably slow the system, resulting is diminishing returns on the FSInvestment, but to incur the ire of The Boss, with resulting diminution of what I call the FSInterlude. Figure it out...

Second, one may eventually walk away from flight simulation completely. This rather unfortunate turn of events, while perhaps met with great joy by The Boss, results in a multitude of people reaching for their antacids, including developers, web site managers, credit card advisors and the like. There is a veritable gaggle of individuals who tag along while you are screaming through the virtual ether, most of whom have their hand in your pockets to one degree or another. What about them? They are humans, too! Prick them, do they not bleed? Well, yes, they do bleed, but usually it is the color green.

It is the third eventuality that has captured my attention. Now, the inception of each of these conditions may be heralded by a moment in time, or a point which is reached along the path of development of your FSPilot. This is the Click Spot. At that moment, any path may be chosen. For those of us who are really the sick-o's, the hardcore FSPilots who frequent the web sites and get a really good rush of tingles when they complete a manual landing of a SuperSim (damn, I didn't know this airport wasn't ILS equipped!), the path of continuation opens wide. We hear the siren's song (actually, it is the sound of an APU starting to spool up somewhere), and we take the plunge towards our next step of development.

This is not to infer that we who take those fateful steps look down upon those who continue along with the default birds. Quite the contrary. Those individuals afford us the opportunity to wax poetic and knowledgeable in our multitude of forums, passing along our tricks and procedures in an effort to get the FSDefaulters to continue along on their journey. And, it is this predilection that makes us so darn special!

Flying the default birds is like enjoying a glass of fine wine. One does it to savor the moment, enjoy the sheer thrill of acceleration, rotation, climb, cruise, descent, touchdown and rollout. For those of us who have been around for a while, this process is stress-free. I'm not saying the default birds are simple to fly. Ask anyone who is trying for the first time to start the engine at Meigs or Seattle. Even the C172 can be damn intimidating what with all those gauges, dials and buttons. The VC can freak out even the staunchest of teenage gamer the first time. No, even the most rudimentary default aircraft is not easy to master. I think we all would do well to remember that!

But, the default birds can be mastered. And, once accomplished, one faces the first of several Click Spots. To quote Alan Parsons, "Where Do We Go From Here?" Master the GA, then on to the heavy iron. I can recall not wishing to fly the Orbit 737, what with all that power and gadgetry. But, as with others, curiosity got the better of me, and after a while, flying the big boys came as easily as the GA aircraft. Then, another Click Spot.

Flight Simulation is not your generic computer game. In fact, I don't ever refer to it as such. Somehow, it irks me to hear of it referred to as a game in the forums. For one thing, you neither win nor lose. Come to think of it, the only way to lose at Flight Simulation is to give up on it! Doing anything else with it, and you've already won! There are no points awarded, and really coming right out of the box, there are no goals to achieve, other than an education. I am certain this explains the preponderance of us older types who pursue this hobby. The younger set need rules, targets, accolades and instant gratification from an accomplished head shot, or perhaps the accumulation of sim points. This is certainly not what Flight Simulation is all about!

Let's be honest. Flight Simulation is damn boring! There, I've said it. Skewer me in mail and forum if you like, but it is true. On its face, going from one place to another with nothing to accomplish by having made the trip is, well, uninspiring. Consider a marketing campaign for FS. Here's a simulation of flight, in several different aircraft. It includes ATC. With this program, you can learn the rudimentary skills needed to navigate and fly several fictitious aircraft loosely modeled after their real-world (just love that phrase!) counterparts. And, well, that's about it. You tool around some fairly impressive airports, but most are rather plain vanilla and unimpressive. You get said aircraft into the air, and follow some pre-canned instructions on how to get to your destination, which more often than not is an underwhelming depiction of some other airport. And, in between, you get to... look around. Check your gauges. Look around some more. Check your gauges. Man, I think we've got a hit! Blah... But, we've got some failures to throw at you, too! Your engine may shut off, your power may go out! Great, then you have to land at another underwhelming airport, usually with the canned ATC becoming annoyed and canceling your flight plan. Face it, boys and girls, this is not a product which will inspire nocturnal emissions, if you catch my drift.

Thus, the next Click Spot. With the veritable plethora of add-ons out there, this heretofore boring game has the incredible ability to become just about anything you may wish it to be. This is the next step in what separates the men from the boys (and not with a crow bar!). Aside from the not inconsiderable expense of the sim, and the hardware required to run it, the customization of the sim world can become quite pricey! Cruise the web or your favorite software store, and before your eyes will be VFR vistas, IFR intricacies of enormous complexity guaranteed to make you cry in frustration when your post flight evaluation is revealed. Whole cities in intricate detail, shore lines accurate to meters, moving cars, busses and ground moving equipment, all busily going on with their day, as you prep your bird during preflight. This, my friends, is what comes from following the next Click Spot. The one right after you have mastered the default birds, navigation, weather, flight school and all else which is offered by the default program. For those of us who "get it", this is where the fun truly begins!

Granted, we sit in front of a monitor with yokes, pedals, throttle quadrants and the like. The truly infected have their mock ups, for which I pine endlessly. I'm thinking that if I can manage to prevent my daughter's impending marriage, the money I save may well cover the entire cost of a really zippy Boeing nose in my den. Sick, I know. But such is the nature of our hobby when one moves beyond that Click Spot!

So, we move on to the SuperSims. We all know what they are. Having moved into the realm of add-ons, things like PMDG, PIC, Ready For Pushback, mesh, textures, scenery; these all roll from the tongue (in very limited company, naturally) with the ease and grace of "Please pass the salt." Now, with the investment of time and money, the notion that Flight Simulation is boring is simply ridiculous! We hobbyists spend hours, days, weeks pouring over manuals, learning to read charts and plates, and chasing whatever it may take to enhance our experience. I'm getting wonderful use of the Nostromo N52. Between that, the yoke and the quadrant, I rarely have to touch the keyboard. Nirvana!

And, through all the study, time, practice and expense, I know that I for one return to the default birds. It somehow seems nostalgic, like visiting one's childhood home and neighborhood. There is a simplicity there, a delightful command of the situation that gives the experienced (or the "Serious", but if I should say that, I'll just get all those emails again!) sim pilot a sense of control, of comfort.

I suppose the final Click Spot will be when one takes the final step in this progression: beginning the instruction to receive the beloved PPL. From there, the sky literally is the limit! I wonder how many commercial aviators flying the Big Boys out there can say their interest in their profession was piqued by Flight Simulator. Talk about hitting all the Click Spots!

Three Green!

Chip Barber
rfbarber@optonline.net