"Of Calculators, Autopilots and Irate Trig Teachers" OP-ED article

[davidvoogd]

I couldn't agree more with what the author of this article (on the front page) had to say.

I can't see how people could possibly enjoy pointing an aircraft on the runway, taking off and hitting autopilot, even watching the aircraft land itself, what on earth is the fun in that?

Now I too do use the autopilot, but only for cruise because there really isn't that much to do at the time, and even then I only use it on larger aircraft.

Whenever I find flightsim a bit boring, I hop into the Flight1 152, or the default Piper Cub, and just fly low to the ground following rivers and roads to the next airport, it puts it all back into perspective I find, not that flying jets isn't exciting, but all autopilot all the time? Who wants to watch a computer simulated a computer flying an airplane lol!

[Flying_Turnip]

What's more intersting is him being married in 12th Grade.

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[argueman99]

I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Good article.

[c85airman]

"What's more intersting is him being married in 12th Grade."

Huh?

He was recalling the 12th grade.

Anyway, I agree 100% too; I rarely even fly a long, planned flight. More often than not I'll fly the 172 or some new downlaod from spot plane view at my local airport. If you ask me, autopilot defeats the purpose of the simulator. What's more, I consider using GPS synonymous with cheating -- if you're IFR, at least use the VORs/NDBs for pete's sake!

[Erick_Cantu]

What is this 'autopilot' you speak of?

[link:sgair.net|http://sgair.net/erick/SIGS/SIG_990.JPG]

[ladamson]

I rarely fly simulated airliners with auto-pilot. Most flights are GA flights of about an hour.

But for real life, I prefer moving map GPS's & all the computer help I can find!

ladamson

[superbrett]

I agree with the writer here. I do admit to using some autopilot, but i would say I hand fly about 80 to 90 percent of the flight. Mostly for when I want to take a look outside the aircraft or if I run in accellerated mode during cruise to make a 6 hour flight fit into about an hour and a half or so. Heck, I have to hand fly on final because I have yet to really figure out the auto land on the big aircraft! Maybe its a good thing that I havent really done this yet. Its only going to make me a better virtual pilot by doing things myself!

[flyinggriffin]

You can not pop up the GPS moving map and still fly using the OBS. Real life GPS had LOTS of advantage over ground based navaids. Anyone who has tried to follow the dancing needle from a VOR knows what I mean.

[mazaite]

>You can not pop up the GPS moving map and still fly using
>the OBS. Real life GPS had LOTS of advantage over ground
>based navaids. Anyone who has tried to follow the dancing
>needle from a VOR knows what I mean.

And let's not forget, The Decommisioning is comming.

[ladamson]

>What's more, I consider using GPS synonymous with cheating
>-- if you're IFR, at least use the VORs/NDBs for pete's
>sake!

For years I've kept track of most fatal aircraft accidents involving IMC & losing situational awareness. I do this, because I believe it's somehow my mission to promote detailed moving maps, especially in mountainous country.

Let's put it this way; a moving map can save your hind end, when you've completely lost track of direction, and about to loose track of altitude. All to often, the pilot & aircraft bite the dust, when the airplane descends too low because the pilot is trying to regain an awareness of just where he/she is. The NTSB reports are full of these type accidents. We had three of them in the KSLC area within the last eighteen months.

A good moving map, especially the new ones with terrain features can provide instant directional awareness when you don't have a second to waste! I've known how great this technology is, since I picked up my first Garmin moving map with IFR approach overlays back in 1996.

Wonderful stuff & don't feel like you're "cheating"... :)

Of course....... to make flight simulation more rewarding, bag the GPS if desired. It won't hurt you!

Ladamson