MS Flight Sim As a Training Tool

Jay Honeck writes:

Okay, I know this one has been beaten up before -- but my eyes are now
wide open to the possibilities a sim can provide.

Careful ... those are fighting words in this newsgroup.

I shot a full approach into Cedar Rapids (CID) terminating in an ILS
to Rwy 9 at minimums.

I collapsed the nose gear landing at KCID just last night, after an
ILS approach to runway 27. The winds were incredibly gusty. I kept
getting pushed up and down as I landed. I touched down but a gust
picked me back up a few feet. I got down again, landing rather hard
on the main gear, but the nose gear hit a lot harder and collapsed.

Only a few days earlier, in similarly gusty weather, I lost all the
gear landing in fog at Logan International.

I'm beginning to wonder if all the East and Midwest have winds like
this all the time, or if I've just had bad luck with the weather, or
if there is some mystery setting in MSFS that I've accidentally turned
on that is creating unrealistic gusts of substantial strength. The
weather was otherwise clear with scattered clouds at around 2600 feet
last night, and a 9-knot wind from the west.

Maybe with practice I'll get better.

Specifically, I've been practicing the dreaded "return to the airport
after engine failure" on takeoff, killing the engine completely at
various heights and in different wind conditions. The results are
truly stunning, and anyone who has flown this scenario will never, EVER
try to initiate the 180-degree-turn to land that has killed so many.
I'm here to tell you that it will result in a stall-spin scenario,
every time...

I've tried engine failures on a number of occasions, although mostly
in the Baron. That and attempts with failures in a single-engine
plane have taught me that engine failures need to be avoided at all
costs. Particularly with just one engine, there's a good chance that
you won't make it, period. At least that what simulations have told
me.

4. Primary Flight Training

Now you are definitely training on dangerous ground.

I think you could probably shave several hours off of your Private by
practicing in the Kiwi -- and it will be invaluable to me as an
instrument procedures trainer.

Oh dear. But as long as I'm here to attract most of the fire, you'll
probably be moderately safe.

Besides just being a helluva lot of fun, of course!

That's the worst part. You're not supposed to say it's fun.

--
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