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Before 9/11 I had the opportunity to go to the American Airlines
training center near DFW with a AA captain I know. While sitting in the
F-100 simulator an instructor came in with a training crew. But, he let
me "fly' the full motion simulator and make an approach into Chicago
O'Hare. What a thrill. The hard part was taxing with that little "wheel"
and being so far out in front.

Back in the 80's I was crewing a corporate 707 and we trained at
American. One time the Capt's flight director died and we called a
technician to change it. After the change, standing behind the
pedistal, he pushed up the throttles and at Vr reached over and
grabbed the stick with his left hand on the side designed for the
Capt's right.

He went around the pattern that way at DFW and shot a perfect CAT II
approach, made a smooth landing, and stopped it dead center with the
reversers.

I said "Damn" " How many hours do have in the aircraft?". He said "
none, never been in an airplaine before cause I'm afraid to fly"