John T ) wrote:

I thought the same thing, too. I spent the first few minutes in the sim
trying to figure out if I could squeeze it into my garage or if I'd have to
build out a room in the basement...

Hey, another subject pilot!


That's probably the best use of a TabletPC I've seen, yet. However, I felt
a bit...odd voicing my answers, in addition.

By the last flight scenario, I didn't want anything to do with that
Tablet PC.

He never told *me* that. He only told me afterwards that I should have been
able to see the runway. Only once in the IMC runs was that the case and
when I did I was already in the midst of initiating a go-around.
Real-world, I'd've asked for another shot.

Huh, I wonder if they mixed up the weather between subject pilots?
There were a few of the actual test scenarios where he congratulated me
for executing the missed at DA, since he had set up the weather to be
well below DA.

He was a bit surprised by my rather quick
"Oh, yes I do!" when he asked if I had any thoughts on the SVS PFD in VFR
scenario. I had to keep reminding myself to look outside and stop trying to
fly the technically perfect approach.

During my first VFR flight with the SVS PFD I made the mistake of
staring at it way too much. After the flight, I realized my error and
verbally criticized myself for doing so (to get my confession on tape).
I then explained that most likely I was so enamored with the display
that I failed to look outside more. That is when I realized that less
information on the display is preferable for VFR flights.

The researcher told me that he also noted my excessive heads down. The
next VFR flight, I kept my eyes outside for the majority of the flight.

Nobody had an idea on the power situation and that was the only time it
occurred. He did mention the simulator sometimes has a "contol lock"-type
situation where it won't respond properly to control inputs.

The researcher forgot to warn me of the possibility of the control
systems failing. During the first flight of the afternoon, which was
the first flight of the study, I was on the round dials in IMC tracking
the localizer, when suddenly the rudder deflected full right.

After letting out a surprised sound, I jammed left rudder and called,
"Reno Approach, NASA xxx declaring an emergency, control failure." My
eyes did note that this problem didn't seem to appear in the gauges (no
slip indicated on the turn coordinator), but nonetheless, I went with
it.

The researcher called from behind me asking what the problem was. I
stated that I had no rudder control. He started laughing and apologized
for forgetting to tell me that sometimes the sim's controls would fail,
thanks to a bug in the hydraulics. A technician walked in and, while
laughing, commented on the fact that at least I declared an emergency.

BTW, I enjoyed a few of your out-the-window videos.

--
Peter