[rckmc]

Hi all,

As I'm gaining more and more experience in flying the big trainer with the help of an awesome instructor (landed for very first time yesterday and in windy conditions to boot!), I'm finding it harder and harder to get the feel of flying in the sim.

For example, I was working on my approach on landing in the sim so I can get used to it before heading out to the field to actually fly the plane. Problem is, it seems like I'm learning to do that again out in the field despite practicing windy conditions on sim to account for it when actually flying outside (it's been windy as of late).

Instructor says that sim is good for using practicing using the sticks and new "tricks" but it doesn't always translate to outside flying and I understand that. I'm just noticing that I'm preferring to practice outside as opposed to the sim nowadays as I'm not getting the feedback like I used to.

Just wondering if anyone else notices that gap between sim and real flying is starts to get larger as they gain more experience? I guess I'm a little worried when winter rolls around and I won't be able to fly that plane for a while (I have no problems with micros but that's a different story! lol)

[Arn]

I'd say you got it right Kat. A simulator is exactly that. A Simulator. It in not a Substitute. The big difference is the field/depth of view .... ie: what you see on screen can at best only be a small snapshot in time of what your eyes & brain are capable of processing. You only see airplane (depending on camera setting & zoom) in a very small piece of the sky .... not where you are going, think you are going or where you want your plane to be.... Some sims are better than others with their image presentation but none are anything like the real thing .... They are good for learning basic skills .... trying maneuvers or other airframes ... I agree with you ..... the more real flying you do .... the less attractive a simulator may become ....

For snow flying ..... skis are available for lots of planes .... or floats work as well in snow ..... but that's a whole other story ...

[waylander]

I agree... sims are great for learning the basic muscle memory need to fly but there is no real substitute for just getting out and flying. No matter how good the physics engine on a computer program, it will never get it exactly right as the closer to reality it get's the more processing power you need and these sims are designed for the average computer to run.

Great for first timers and to learn a new trick though.