Mxsmanic wrote in
:

I think one problem is that I was not flying the pattern correctly.
The Cessna pulled in front of me. I'm still not clear on how long
each leg of the pattern is supposed to be, although I'm very gradually
getting better at flying a pattern without wandering all over the
place.

I think the problem is that you are not in a REAL PLANE. You would be less
prone to wandering when you can see the world in three dimension rather
then the flat screen of a monitor.

Oh gee, there is a pilot side window, a co-pilot / passenger window and
even in some planes a rear window you can quickly glance out to assess your
situational awareness in the pattern. OF COURSE, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THIS
SINCE YOU HAVE NOT FLOWN A REAL PLANE.

That's the advantage of simulation. Mistakes in simulation cost
nothing.

and you get no sense of accomplishment sitting in your lazy boy chair
either AFTER flying a REAL plane. After all, you are only SIMULATING what
is experienced better in a REAL plane.

Allen