DAVIDSTRAKA

Exciting? Maybe. I first used FS on my Apple II' date=' then migrated to MS with a Hercules card. Owned every version of MSFS ever since. Even tried Prepared for a while. I just replaced my HP Envy 23 which crashed the motherboard. Now I have a slower but easier Pavilion 23 with I5. I just tried the MS Trailer which was impressive, but not much of an improvement, except maybe the clouds. Xplane reckons they don't have to worry. We'll see. There's a trailer here

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Yes, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out!

Thanks for the tutorial! Flying the GPS Vectors to Final is a nice feature. However a person could run into a couple issues. 1. Knowing the appropriate approach altitude. Typically one would use an approach plate to know the Glide Slop Intercept Altitude, otherwise you would be too high or too low for the approach. You want to make sure the approach is stable. 2. The intercept angle to the Final Approach Fix (FAF) could be too sharp to make a nice turn to capture the localizer. For our friends starting out practicing ILS approaches, flying an IFR plan from one airport to the other can help them get in practice having ATC vectoring them to the ILS approach which is typically within 30 degrees of the localizer. The last thing is one's speed for the particular aircraft. Too fast you overshoot the localizer, too slow the aircraft stalls. You have mentioned the approach speeds while on the ILS but make sure you are at the right speed so you don't end up playing "chase the needle." Those starting out, if your not used to flying tubeliners yet, practice with a slower aircraft first. Then graduate to the faster aircraft. But overall, a wonderful tutorial for landing your plane in soupy weather!

Flying is a different feel for peoples of a different mind. some like to fly for their enjoyment' date=' craze. Some take this as a hobby and for some, it is the passion. For me, it is an enjoyment. To experience something special.[/quote']

 

It is definitely an experience of something special. Just to fly anywhere in the world and check out different sites (low and slow), or do a long haul in a tubeliner across the pond if one wants. It's an experience of countless hours of joy!

 

Thanks for adding to the discussion!

But how to avoid this "sweaty palm" situations? Do you have some tips?

 

Hi Jack. It's great to hear from someone involved in any aspect of aviation. I have never tried skydiving however it should be on my "bucket list!" It's interesting you asked about the "sweaty palms" syndrome. If a person works with flight simulator to set up emergency situations, engine failures, instrument failures, etc., I believe that if you are really immersed into what you are doing in the simulator and these situations occur, you will definitely experience what a real pilot would in an actual real world emergency. I believe at first it's a quick denial of "this can't be happening!" Then immediately your training kicks in. You will first fly the airplane above all else and begin your emergency procedures. Then step by step you make appropriate decisions that will (hopefully) end in a safe ending.

 

I once had a situation in the sim where I had just taken off from an airport oh less than five minutes into the flight and the engine quit on my single engine I was flying. I was in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) which means flying by instruments only. This relies on the pilot using his instruments only. If a person is serious about doing things properly even in the simulator, the body does strange things. The heart rate increases, the nervous system goes into over drive and tunnel vision does occur. Imagine yourself in a "fight or flight" situation and and the times your palms and other areas started to perspire. It's a natural reaction. Following ones training you will probably not notice it as you will be busy. Once it's over, your will feel it and the shaking starts.

 

I'm sure the best pilots will tell you, it happens. I read Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's book "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters." What really caught my attention was his reactions at the moment of the bird strikes that trashed both engines on his flight that day. His explanations of what the physical and mental reactions he experienced at that moment.

 

Tips? Everyone is going to react differently. Like anything it's focus and rely on your flying the plane, training, procedures and checklists. Fall apart later once you are safely on the ground and kissing the Earth!

Tell me' date=' do these simulators really help while studying? Isn't it hard then in practice, in real life? I often heard that after such simulations it is hard to get used to reality.[/quote']

 

Hi Marconev,

 

The way I would view it after going through a lot of real life training, I would be using the simulator to stay current on your procedures, and techniques. Nothing can replace real life because there are so many environmental factors that don't come to play in the simulator. Sure you can set up failures and such. Then you would be practicing your emergency procedures so you can memorize the appropriate steps and know where to reference other steps once you have taken care of the critical steps.

 

I have experienced some "sweaty palm" situations by using the desktop simulators. I remember the "GAT" simulators in college that would approximate understanding procedures and techniques, but once you got in the real aircraft, it was different.

 

You definitely cannot go from simulator practice to real world flying. The simulators are there to continually practice procedures and techniques.

 

Hope this helps.