"Icebound" wrote in message
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"pjbphd" wrote in message
news:Nx3%c.213310$sh.156079@fed1read06...
I'm a student pilot and have heard mixed reviews of Flight Sim software.
Some say it's great for a little on the ground practice. Others say it's
really a waste of time.

I don't expect it to really take the place of air time, but I'm wondering
if
anyone out there can tell me if it's really useful, and if so, what
accessories are recommended e.g., yoke and pedals.

Thanks in advance

pjbphd



Pedals for sure. The twist action of a joystick rudder does not translate
well to the real thing. You "push" on the wrong side.

The direction of the twist effect is programmable in the flight sims I'm
aware of. But I agree it's better to have pedals.

Obviously, a yoke-with-throttle-quadrant will also be better than a
joystick, but the left-right-back-forth action of a joystick for aileron
and
elevator will carry over fairly easily.

Yup, it does carry over. I find a force-feedback joystick more realistic
than a non-feedback yoke.

Having said that, most joysticks are designed for right hand with left
hand
throttle, and that is backward to a real-life left seat..... If you do opt
for a joystick, get one of those that allows you to reverse the throttle
so
that you can operate the control with the left hand, and the throttle with
the right.

I prefer to ignore the throttle control on the joystick, and just mouse the
throttle control on the panel (along with the mixture and prop controls).
FS2004 lets you use the mouse's scroll wheel for fine adjustments of the
throttle.

--Gary