Dana M. Hague d(dash)m(dash)hague(at)comcast(dot)net writes:

For the most part, when flying VFR, it doesn't matter all that much.
However, constantly climbing and descending is inefficient, uses more
fuel, and it's just plain unprofessional. There are indeed situations
where the pilot's ability to precisely hold altitude WILL be
important; if you don't fly that way all the time then how can you
expect to do it when it's *really* necessary?

I will continue practicing.

All of the aircraft I've tried seem to exhibit phugoid oscillations in
altitude. I guess it's just a matter of knowing exactly how to lead
the oscillations in your control adjustments so that they gradually
cancel out. I'm not sure whether it's better to deal with them by
changing pitch or by changing throttle settings (or perhaps both).

Most [good] pilots pride themselves in being able to handle their
aircraft efficiently and precisely... which means holding to the
chosen altitude... and also (per another part of this thread) not
turning with just rudder. On your flight simulator you can't feel
it... but in a real plane, if you turn with just the rudder, it plain
feels (and is) sloppy. It's also dangerous... a skidding turn at low
altitudes (often a pilot who's afraid to bank to much at low altitude,
while he's too low and slow on approach) can turn a relatively simple
stall into a spin, which have claimed many lives.

Something I've tried in the sim is watching the horizon out the
window. If it remains on the same straight line throughout a turn,
the turn is coordinated (I think). If it doesn't, I'm doing something
wrong. For slips and skids, the horizon changes position; in a
coordinated turn, the scenery moves parallel to the horizon, but the
horizon itself stays steady.

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