In article ,
Mxsmanic wrote:

Mike Ash writes:

... have you considered flying gliders? They're a lot of fun, and
no medical is required.

Really? (I've never looked.) That seems odd ... isn't an incapacitated pilot
in a glider in just as much danger as he would be in a powered aircraft? And
can't he still hit things and injure people and property on the ground? I
thought that was the whole idea behind requiring medicals.

Gliders are usually lighter than other small planes (my glider is about
average and weighs 800 pounds with me in it) so the potential for damage
is considerably less. Gliders carry no fuel, so there is essentially no
risk of fire. Gliders almost never fly over densely populated areas, so
the probability of crashing into something valuable is considerably
less. Glider pilots carry passengers much less frequently, and almost
always carry one at a time, so the risk to passengers is much less.

So no, an incapacitated glider pilot is much less of a danger.

Of course some people don't enjoy that sort of thing, and
nothing against them, as everybody has different tastes.

What do you think of glider simulations in MSFS?

I've heard that there are some add-on gliders for MSFS that are greatly
superior to the default (as there are for powered aircraft), but I haven't
looked into it as I've not felt very attracted to gliding. Gliding seems to
be mostly a visceral and visual experience, both of which are weak points of
desktop simulators.

The last time I used MSFS was version 4, I think, where everything was
still flat-shaded polygons and there were a grand total of three
airports available, one of which was Meigs Field where the default
start. So I have no direct experience with MSFS's glider simulation.

I do have some direct experience with X-Plane's glider simulation, and
it's total crap. I mean, it's OK for just flying around, but the
simulation of thermals is junk and the ridge lift doesn't work very
well. The tow simulation is ridiculous. The audio variometer, the single
most useful instrument in the plane, is completely broken.

And then there are generic simulator problems too, that MSFS will share
even if it fixes all of those (which it probably doesn't). The field of
view is ridiculously narrow, which makes everything difficult, but
especially screws up landing. (I spend the last third or so of my
downwind leg looking over my shoulder, for example, with quick glances
back at the instruments.) When thermalling, the jolts in the ass are
very helpful in finding the center and of course there's no way to get
those.

The most damning thing about it, though, is that it's just not any fun.
Being out over the countryside 30 miles from home, working lift so you
can make it back, is *fun*. Simulating being out over the countryside 30
miles from home is just boring.

If you're going to try glider sims, try one of the specialized ones such
as Silent Wings or Condor. While they can't fix the inherent poor field
of view or lack of kicks in the ass or the lack of fun, they at least
get the other stuff right.

--
Mike Ash
Radio Free Earth
Broadcasting from our climate-controlled studios deep inside the Moon