Real world pilots or student pilots?

TACJohn · 11-11-2001, 09:36 PM

I was just wondering if any other flightsimmers were pilots or student pilots in the real world. I have recently started taking flying lessons and have logged 1.7 hours flight time so far. I know that this does not seem like a lot of time to any experienced pilots out there but I was wondering if they cared to describe what their first couple of times flying were like. I found that while taking off, learning to "step on the ball", going up (to the APT), going down (to CPAT), and doing FECH checks was fun, the real rush for me was the first time having to land without the instructor touching the controls. I am looking forward to reading other pilots replies.

John King

Lethalw · 11-12-2001, 01:59 AM

Hey TACJohn,

I too am a 'full size' pilot - if that's the correct word to use!!
You're quite right - the first few flights that anyone does always seem to rank among the most special ie FIRST SOLO :-)
But even with me, having over 150 hrs, Private Licence (Australia), CSU Retract and Aerobatics Rating, I still look forward to everytime I can escape into the air.
What I'm trying to say is that flying should be fun, whether you've got 5 or 5000 hours under your belt.
Good Luck anyway with the rest of your training.
Remember - there's no such thing as crashes. They're just bad landings that's all!! :-) :-)

C ya.

**helo_av8or** · 11-12-2001, 02:09 AM

I got my private about four months ago, and I'm at OSU finishing up. Aside from many other memorable experiences, I've been able to fly a kingair for a short hop recently. I also have had the opportunity to fly some brand new Cessna 172R's. (it's nice to be able to fly an airplane that is younger than yourself)

http://hhs1.swsc.k12.ar.us/claybrook...ingairjeff.jpg

Fond memories of the kingair flight

http://hhs1.swsc.k12.ar.us/claybrook/N9563A_1.jpg

and my personal favorite of my flight school, 63A.

Jeff
________________________________________
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"No Kitty, Bad Kitty!"

Lethalw · 11-12-2001, 02:13 AM

Gooooodddddddd Stuff!!!!!!

Those 172R's are sweet to fly in hey?
Did all my private licence in them......

As for the age bit - yeh, it's not too bad!
:-)

Thrawn85 · 11-12-2001, 03:59 AM

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Nov-12-01 AT 04:00AM (EDT)[/font][p]Two very close friends of mine are heavily involved in the aviation industry.

One is a Boeing 777-300 captain for Cathay Pacific and the other is a Boeing senior engineer on the turbofans they use on their larger airliners.

I'm 16 and am going for my junior pilot's license. My aim is to have it before my driver's (car) license! :)

**flyinggriffin** · 11-12-2001, 07:21 AM

My friend and I both used FS2K to help hone our skills for the instrument rating. When it comes to doing holds, it's hard to get one after a missed approach. Usually if they have you on radar they just vector you around for another go. With the sim you can do all the entries in the worst weather and winds and figure out how not to screw up when the time comes to really hang out in the sky

CanuckInUSA · 11-12-2001, 10:43 AM

John

I started my lessons in May of this year (flying 1-2 times per week) and recently passed my checkride and am now a certified private pilot.

Landing did not come naturally to me (plus my instructor is pretty conservative towards when he lets his student's solo). But after spending enough time in the pattern I learned how to deal with all of the information a pilot must use to safely pilot the aircraft. That is great if you are landing the airplane by yourself already (with 1.7 hours), you may be one of the natural pilots. But don't develop an attitude. This will only lead to trouble.

The one thing I would like to convey to you as a new pilot is to nail your approach airspeeds (too slow and you risk stalling, too fast and you float down the runway) and be humble towards you skills and experience. As a new private pilot I have entered one of the two most dangerous times in my flying career. The first one being now I am the guy in charge and I could get myself into danger if I'm not careful (in otherwords I no longer have someone watching over my decisions and giving me feedback). The other dangerous time (at least I am told this) is when the pilot has amassed several hundred hours of experience and starts to begin to think that they know it all.

Anyway, use the flight simulator as a procedural tool and a tool to give you an idea what the terrain will look like prior to flying your real world cross-countries. But don't worry about using flight simulator to teach you how a real aircraft will feel (ie: the simulator will not teach you how to land a real airplane, you will teach yourself how to land with some guidance from your instructor).

Flying is a magnificent gift and enjoy every minute you have in the air but don't forget to stay ahead of the airplane.

Good luck in your training ...

CanuckInUSA · 11-12-2001, 11:06 AM

Actually I like to say "Flying isn't dangerous, it's the crashing part which is dangerous".

**helo_av8or** · 11-12-2001, 11:19 AM

Yes, the 172R's have spoiled me. The biggest adjustment that I had to make getting in to one was to realize that it was no longer a C-GUMPPSS check. I had to shorten it to just GUMPSS, as per the lack of carb heat and a primer. Fuel injection is nice, and the airplane even has that "new plane" smell.

Jeff
________________________________________
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"No Kitty, Bad Kitty!"