"Mxsmanic" wrote

Some people use simulators precisely because they are aware of all the
useless
overhead in real aviation and prefer to avoid it. I know that's the key
reason for me.

Perhaps, but you are missing a huge part of the flying experience, and I
don't mean the physical sensation part that you always focus on.

It's a question of personality. Note that people who are fascinated by
physical sensations are only one step away from the thrillseekers.

You need to understand that the experience of actual flight can be
stimulating mentally as well as physically, and that the mental stimulation
can also be the major factor. You also need to understand that the mental
stimulation you get from a sim is not the same as the mental stimulation you
get from actual flight - I do both, and I also know countless pilots who do
as well, and they all would totally agree with that statement. See if you
can find a single pilot who has done both, and who will agree with your
assertion that simulation - and especially PC simulation - is mentally the
same experience as actual flight.

For most people, seeing a picture of the Grand Canyon is a far cry from
actually being there looking at it, and yet they are physically the same
experience.

BDS