"Glenfiddich" wrote in message
...
I've got MSFS, and also once was paid to play with military-class
full-motion simulators (including Harrier).

I'd like to offer a simple test for whether any device is a game or a
"real" flight simulator - can it give you white knuckles?

I have a better test, one that many PC "flight simulator" fans say is
somehow unfair. Simply put a qualified pilot that has never "flown"
computers in front of your "flight simulator". If he can take off, fly
safely and return to earth (exactly the same as he could undoubtably do in
the real thing), then you MAY have made a real flight simulator. If he
can't, then whatever it is that you are simulating, it is not flight!

That said, even if PC sims are not "real", they should certainly
be counted as valid training aids.

That depends on exactly what you are simulating and what the training
objective is. Have you ever hear of "negative transfer"?

Vaughn