Judah writes:

The first plane I trained in was as basic as they get - one radio, one NAV.
It was adequate as a trainer, and even for renting (although I bought a
handheld GPS after I started renting more frequently). But they sold that
flight school and I don't think you can rent those planes anymore.

I think I'd be worried in a plane like that.

From what I hear, they now have a
couple of G1000 planes as well that they rent out with a special checkout
and for a slightly higher price as well, but I haven't flown them.

Hmm ... I'd be worried in a plane like that, too, but not for the same
reasons.

Then I joined a flight club. All the planes in the flight club have similar
equipment - 2 nav/coms, Autopilot, GPS. The club has 2 Archers, 3 Arrows,
and 3 Bonanzas, with nearly identical panels. The Bonanzas, as "travel"
planes, have some add-ons like HSIs, and one has a StrikeFinder. The
airframes aren't brand new like at the Cessna Dealer, but they are clean,
well maintained, include modern avionics, and the price and availability
are worth it.

Those sound nice.

I have never flown with a Radar Altimiter, nor even seen one. Based on your
messages, I believe your Baron simulation does not accurately reflect the
typical flight experience of a Private Pilot in the US. Perhaps it is
modeled after some other flight experience.

The Baron simulation seems to accurately simulate Barons, but from
what I understand, the Baron is an upscale aircraft with a high price
tag, and thus is probably not representative of other private
aircraft. The A36 simulation includes similar avionics (better
weather radar but no radar altimeter), which I suspect is better
equipment than many of the real ones have.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.