*********A DEFENCE FOR MXMORAN***********

Beechsundowner,

I agree with a lot you are saying. I agree that putting anyone with
no experience of that type of aircraft into the flightdeck and
expecting them to know what and where each switch is would be very
difficult.

My main defense on this forum was for the Simulator and it's benefits
on learning certain aircraft. Everyone here just argues 'its a toy
for children' when in fact it's a 'tool for learning'. I know if I
sat on the flightdeck of a 747-400 i WOULD know what button to push or
knob to rotate when instructed by ATC because I have years of
'experience' yes it's on a pc but really what difference does that
make (I mean really, they are modelled in a fully 3D photorealistic
digital Virtual Cockpit in the exact same position to the real
aircraft?). I've seen commercial pilots sitting in front of large
full sized cardboard mockups of the flightdeck's panels prior to
examinations. I agree if I sat down in a Sundowner (never even heard
of one of them) it would be hard to decipher what ATC is asking me to
do. I have a lot of good quality payware aircraft on FSX from the
Cessna 152, 172, 182, 206, Twin Otter and the 744 so would only be
fairly familiar with most of their cockpit layouts but sitting in an
Airbus or even the older generation 737's without Glass Cockpits would
be challenging like you say.

You have it backwards..... *It's the sensation of movement that will
make you a lawn dart and learning to ignore that sensation of movement
is the key.

I think I was following on from your comment (or someone elses as too
many ppl on here) about managing to keep the aircraft straight and
level and in controlled flight when reaching across to change switches
etc. Even with TrackIR on FSX and a 24" widescreen monitor you lose
peripheral vision so the Primary Flight Display is out of view in the
sim (so you cannot see the attitude of the aircraft). Because you also
cannot 'feel' what the aircraft is doing and no outside view of the
horizon you could find yourself inadvertantly in a turn. IRL you
would know this immediately. I fully appreciate in IMC conditions you
use your instruments fully and don't rely on what you can/cannot see
outside..

Again, talk to a pilot that is instrument rated. *Until you do so, you
have no clue what flying is all about just on what you say above.

Again this sim has taught me a hell of a lot on instrumentation,
flight programming the FMC, how to track VOR radials, NDB's, ILS's,
SIDS and STARS. I agree there is a HELL of a lot more to learn but it
is a start and certainly an advantage to those that do not use it and
I would defend it's benefits fully. I DO know a retired commercial
Airbus A320 pilot who uses FSX and enjoys it and sees its merits
amongst other trained pilots. If you dont like using it that's your
perogative and I respect that. A big question asked by both myself
and MX is have those on here who have tried MSFS done it with good
quality commercial addon aircraft which are COMPLETELY different to
that which comes as standard on an FSX installation. The default 747
is total **** and a kid could operate it compared to the highly
complex PMDG models.

Ibby