In article ,
Mxsmanic wrote:

The major differences a 1) in IMC you cannot rely on your peripheral
vision.

If you are flying with instruments, you're not relying on peripheral
vision, either.

You'd be surprised.

This makes a much bigger difference than you might imagine (and
you can't experience it in simulation unless you have a lot of
monitors).

I can "turn my head" in a sim

Not the same thing at all I'm afraid.


Yes, but planning ahead seems to help a little.

Indeed.

The combination of all three of these factors makes for a very different
experience.

If one flies purely visually and is suddenly thrust into a situation
where visual information is unavailable, I can see how panic would set
in. But if one is already scanning instruments with an awareness of
one's position derived therefrom, a sudden transition into low
visibility should be far less stressful.

Less stressful to be sure. But you'd be amazed how different it can be
if you really can't see out the window and your (real not simulated)
life is on the line.

Some pilots are willing to fly aircraft that don't provide the minimum
necessary for instrument flight, but I don't think I'd be very
sanguine about trying that myself, no matter how great the weather
might seem. I spend a lot of time thinking "what if?"

Southern California in the summer is pretty safe for VFR flight.

rg