Realistic Instrument Training using MSFS 2004

Steve,
I forgot to mention that I had heard of the Elite program before
but did not want to buy it because of the cost (I already own several
versions of MS FS and X-plane). After visiting a flight school and
got a chance to checkout their Elite program (with the avionic stacks
and a CFII, you can log sim time - the program is the same as the
'home' version), I decided it was worth the money and got it. It is
extremely useful when use in conjunction with Elite excellent training
syllabus which start from the basic instrument settings, scanning
practice, oscar pattern etc. to approaches. Once finish with the
lesson, you can compare your tracks with the program tracks (including
the vertical dimension) to evaluate your progress. Elite also sells
several different ATC scenarios which are very helpful for IFR ATC
communication. We had our instrument ratings in May 05 and each had
logged close to 100hrs of instrument time (actual and simulated) since
then in our Cardinal. We still use the Elite program every so often
to practice a new approach at a new airport or just to sharpen our
skills when the weather is too crappy to fly (we had just shoveled a
foot of snow today!).

Hai Longworth

"Longworth" wrote

we had just shoveled a foot of snow today!).

Dang! I know lots of people will want to shoot me for this, but it has been
several years since we have seen a real snow. Would you mind sending some
of that snow our way? g
--
Jim in NC

On Feb 14, 7:32 pm, "Morgans" wrote:
"Longworth" wrote

we had just shoveled a foot of snow today!).

Dang! I know lots of people will want to shoot me for this, but it has been
several years since we have seen a real snow. Would you mind sending some
of that snow our way? g
--
Jim in NC

Jim,
I'd be glad to send you several cubic feet of snow. The snow is
free. You just pay the shiping cost ;-)
Hai Longworth

Jim,
I'd be glad to send you several cubic feet of snow. The snow is
free. You just pay the shiping cost ;-)
Hai Longworth

OK, but I'll have to check with my bank account, first. Delivery will be
the big problem.

It will need to be delivered by some type of air freight. It should fall
out of the sky in little bits at a time, to accumulate to several inches,
over a wide area.

Perhaps we can get Mortimer to deliver it, somehow? g
--
Jim in NC

On Feb 14, 6:24 pm, "Longworth" wrote:
Steve,
I forgot to mention that I had heard of the Elite program before
but did not want to buy it because of the cost (I already own several
versions of MS FS and X-plane). After visiting a flight school and
got a chance to checkout their Elite program (with the avionic stacks
and a CFII, you can log sim time - the program is the same as the
'home' version), I decided it was worth the money and got it. It is
extremely useful when use in conjunction with Elite excellent training
syllabus which start from the basic instrument settings, scanning
practice, oscar pattern etc. to approaches. Once finish with the
lesson, you can compare your tracks with the program tracks (including
the vertical dimension) to evaluate your progress. Elite also sells
several different ATC scenarios which are very helpful for IFR ATC
communication. We had our instrument ratings in May 05 and each had
logged close to 100hrs of instrument time (actual and simulated) since
then in our Cardinal. We still use the Elite program every so often
to practice a new approach at a new airport or just to sharpen our
skills when the weather is too crappy to fly (we had just shoveled a
foot of snow today!).

Hai Longworth

That's a lot of instrument time! It must be very interesting to be
married to your safety pilot! Talk about CRM!

So did you hand fly while learning with the Elite program? If so, how
hard was it to master?

Steve,
Our Cardinal just have the basic instrument avionics (2 nav/com,
one with glideslope, marker beacon & ADF) . With two instrument rated
pilots, we have not felt the need to add an autopilot so hand flying
is a given. In long cross country trips, I sometimes find it is fun
to challenge myself to stay within 2 degrees of heading, 2 knots of
airspeed and 20 feet in altitude. I try to do the same while
practicing with Elite and it is very satisfying to see nice straight
tracks.

We fly between 200 to 300 hrs per year with less than half in VFR
mainly for sight seeing, photography etc.. BTW, I just bought Rick a
18-200mm VR Nikkor lens and it takes amazingly sharp aerial pictures
with his D50 as seen in this link
http://www.photocritique.net/g/s?109gbc

I think the disciplines that I get from instrument flying have made
me a better VFR pilot. Of course, it is a different kind of flying
and I don't glue my eyes to the gauges in VFR but I think I am more in
tune, more sensitive to the plane speed, pitch etc. Although flying
a sim does not give you the physical feedback, it does help with
forming good flying habits and maintaining discipline.
Good luck with your training. The IFR ticket is a great thing to
have.

Hai Longworth

On Feb 14, 9:53 pm, "Longworth" wrote:
Steve,
Our Cardinal just have the basic instrument avionics (2 nav/com,
one with glideslope, marker beacon & ADF) . With two instrument rated
pilots, we have not felt the need to add an autopilot so hand flying
is a given. In long cross country trips, I sometimes find it is fun
to challenge myself to stay within 2 degrees of heading, 2 knots of
airspeed and 20 feet in altitude. I try to do the same while
practicing with Elite and it is very satisfying to see nice straight
tracks.

We fly between 200 to 300 hrs per year with less than half in VFR
mainly for sight seeing, photography etc.. BTW, I just bought Rick a
18-200mm VR Nikkor lens and it takes amazingly sharp aerial pictures
with his D50 as seen in this link
http://www.photocritique.net/g/s?109gbc

I think the disciplines that I get from instrument flying have made
me a better VFR pilot. Of course, it is a different kind of flying
and I don't glue my eyes to the gauges in VFR but I think I am more in
tune, more sensitive to the plane speed, pitch etc. Although flying
a sim does not give you the physical feedback, it does help with
forming good flying habits and maintaining discipline.
Good luck with your training. The IFR ticket is a great thing to
have.

Hai Longworth

You are a very precise pilot indeed. I hope someday to be able to
come close to those standards.

BTW, the photos are fantastic!

Longworth,

I think the disciplines that I get from instrument flying have made
me a better VFR pilot. Of course, it is a different kind of flying
and I don't glue my eyes to the gauges in VFR but I think I am more in
tune, more sensitive to the plane speed, pitch etc. Although flying
a sim does not give you the physical feedback, it does help with
forming good flying habits and maintaining discipline.


I couldn't agree more to all aspects of that paragraph. Excellent
points!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)