I have the full yoke/rudder setup and found the simulator to be of
minimal use for initial training. Where it came in useful was in
habitualizing the procedures. (e.g. carb heat at midfield, RPM to 1500
at landing line, etc.). I am also finding it very useful for learning
IFR approaches and improving my instrument scan. I notice that the CH
Yoke sticks very slightly in the pitch access which makes it difficult
for precise glide slopes. Overall, I find the real airplane much easier
to handle.

Eric

Jay Honeck wrote:
So damaging can the use of the simulator be during this stage, that it's
use can actually retard the progress of a new student.


Another point of view:

I learned to fly ten years ago in 1994. I started "flying" sims in the
mid-80s, when they were little more than wire-frame depictions of flight.
(Anyone remember Atari STs?) By the time I could afford real flight lessons,
I had a zillion hours of sim time.

At least partially as a result, I took to flying immediately, and soloed
with just 6.4 hours in my logbook.

Quite frankly, I'd be willing to bet that my time riding motorcycles was
just as helpful in learning to fly (the physics of riding and flying are
nearly identical) -- but my instructor (who, by the way, was an older
gentleman and quite the technophobe. He believed that computers were evil
devices from Day One.) figured that all my sim time really helped --
especially in the early stages of flight instruction.

Your mileage may vary, of course.