Real Flying

[scon]

Thaught this would be kind of interneting to find out about
For me I am Learning.

Regards, Scott

[Alex]

Hmm, I voted "Hope to", I think it would be nice to fly irl, but its not so much of a priority for me.

Alex

[brownbox]

i only play sim. To me, flying would be one of those things where you have fun the first few times, then it just gets boring. Heck, even on sim, I speed up the time on long flights cause it gets boring B)

[Brennanx]

learning for me

[ZK-Brock]

Currently training for my PPL. Whether it's boring or not depends on what you're doing IMO. For example operating in the circuit is boring after a while, but steep turns are fun

[Jimmy]

not sure what to vote for.. I have done an introductry flight at the CAC (gota do a steep turn!) and joined up to the "young eagles" thing and did one flight with that, was a rip of, cost $40 and I only got like 5mins at the controls then like 10nm back from NZCH I had to hand control back to the instructor as if I couldn't enter a traffic pattern..

James

[ardypilot]

Ive done quite a lot of flying as PAX and have recently started learning for my PPL at Ardmore.

[chopper_nut]

Ive been flying FS since FS4 but only started real world flying 2 years ago. No matter how good FS gets, there is no substitute for the real thing. Its that ultimate feeling of freedom that you get when you just go for a 'play' around the Wairarapa or fly over to Omaka for a few hours just for the hell of it. monkeybdg is right, the circuit can get boring but when you just want to go and fly without having to do any planning then its great. I still get a kick out of the circuit at Wellington, always something new everytime.

[Mike M]

Yep, only a few months away from the PPL flight test.

[kiwiflyboy]

operating in the circuit is boring after a while, but steep turns are fun

Wait till you get to max rates and wing overs............ (not that i approve of wingovers)

[SUBS17]

Used to fly but don't anymore.

[Cbris]

Interesting poll. It may also be interesting to poll for the reasons why - for instance, why do ex and/or current flyers use FS.

Me? I had somewhere in the order of 300 Glider flights and some 400 or so hours as "Tech on the stick P2" time in helicopters. (I was PDG on vibro analysis, so was often chosen to go up on the vibro check-rides and I took every opportunity going to get in a dualled chopper) I would have loved to seriously go for PPL(H), but heli flying really is for rich folk. I could have afforded a 'normal' PPL, but who, in their right mind, would call flying a Cessna 172 fun? and not many clubs let you anywhere near "fun" planes like Eagles, Glasairs, Pitts', Marchettis, Beavers...

And to get into fast movers also needs more than just the aptitude (I did apply, passed the funny tests at Biggin Hill, but flunked the interview...) That would have been fun, I guess.

As for commercial stuff (tubes), sorry folks, that's just "bus driving" IMHO. No glam (unless you're in to flight attendants). Someone for the airline to blame when fuel costs are too high or a plane breaks down (or up).

So what really put me off real world flying is not the flying itself, or lack of ability, but more the lack of money and too many restrictions around real flying. Radio procedures, no fly areas, other traffic. In FS I can have all the FUN I want without the risk. The way I fly, I'd have probably had many visits to the Tower (without tea and biscuits) by now

Maybe when retirement nears, perhaps I'll start gliding again, and maybe go for motor assist licensed...

[scon]

Agreed there is nothing like the real thing but when you are flying GA all the time (I am learning mostly in Auckland Aero Clubs Grumman AA-1 aircraft and every now and then a cessna or piper), flying something big on FS is very good as well.

P.S. does anyone know of a good AA-1 model for FS04 or FSX

Regards Scott

[bobanne]

i only play sim. To me, flying would be one of those things where you have fun the first few times, then it just gets boring. Heck, even on sim, I speed up the time on long flights cause it gets boring B)

Well, I never ever found it boring, I learned to fly at Ardmore on a Victor 150, afer gaining my PPL I bought a Piper Comanche 260 and helped to fly it back to New Zealand from Oklahoma USA, then attempted to break flying records, like non stop around the North Island in 7hrs 23 mins, beating the previous reecord by 1 hr 5 mins. Then took part in quite a few air races in Australia flying via Norfolk Island to Brisbane, and managed to relieve to Ozzies of some trophies.

My wife and I again flew to Sydney (in the Comanche of course) and spent 2 months fying around Australia and I mean RIGHT AROUND and so on and so on,

I still am involved with scenery creation for Microsoft Flight Sim from way back as FS4.....................boring, I don't think so.

Sorry if this lot was boring, got a bit carried away.

Bob

[Charl]

i only play sim. To me, flying would be one of those things where you have fun the first few times, then it just gets boring. Heck, even on sim, I speed up the time on long flights cause it gets boring B)

Well, I never ever found it boring
Bob

Matter of interest, in a GA plane, how do you tend to occupy your time in those long haul stints?

[Jimmy]

Matter of interest, in a GA plane, how do you tend to occupy your time in those long haul stints?

Yes please i'd love to know this too

Its easy to keep busy in airliner, you can pend an hour planing the STAR arival, weather, speeds, descent, etc.. while you cruise, and go watch tv with the autoflight system on for the other 10hours

But in GA, maby you just enjoy the lovely scenery or something..

[bobanne]

There was really plenty to keep you occupied, for instance on the flight from Oklahoma at 9000ft, passing over Arizona we were about to hand over to another ATC when our lighting started to dimmer (just turned midnight) it was then impossible to make contact, we had noticed an airport about 20 miles back (Prescot 5000ft ASL) so we turned back, problems problems, had to use a torch to keep an eye on the instruments, no electrics so no flaps etc, commenced to lower the gear with a handle slotted in, wouldn't budge, eventually it started to move and got it down but the airspeed was our main concern, one flew while the other read the speed out, looking out at the rwy, thankfully it was well lit up and flashing red and blue lights everywhere, it turned out that it was police and ambulances who had been notified by ATC that we may be in trouble, anyway to cut it short, we landed, not a greaser I might say but down on the ground, didn't sleep very well that night. Took off the next morning with the gear up and no electrics to a place called PASO ROBLA (think thats how you spell it) VFR of course, got it fixed, then off to San Fransico, alot more drama was ahead so you definitely are 100% occupied. I would like to send you a couple of pics on this reply but don't know how to, can anyone help.?

Bob

[Brennanx]

scotty i have FVA and FVS on fs2004 but its for 2002 all u have to do is make the day really hot and it climbs like a jet

[G-HEVN]

Matter of interest, in a GA plane, how do you tend to occupy your time in those long haul stints?

Yes please i'd love to know this too

Its easy to keep busy in airliner, you can pend an hour planing the STAR arival, weather, speeds, descent, etc.. while you cruise, and go watch tv with the autoflight system on for the other 10hours

But in GA, maby you just enjoy the lovely scenery or something..

I'd say it was the other way round: The only thing to do on an airliner is take off, press the go button on the coffee maker, sleep, then land. Onboard computers do all the planning and the flying apart from 2 minutes at each end.

Most GA have a range of about 4 hours, give or take, allowing for IFR reserves. Regardless of whether you're flying IFR or VFR, you have to navigate. This means tracking VORs NDBs, the magenta line etc. for IFR, and dead reckoning, pilotage, GPS even for VFR, and, very importantly, knowing where you are at all stages of the flight. In the real world, you can't just rely on the GPS to do it all for you - signal outages occur for many reasons and are not uncommon. In the old days, Aircraft Navigator was a full time position. While things have gotten a bit easier with better navaids etc. it's still just as important today.

Of course, you have to fly the plane. Maybe you have an auto pilot, maybe you don't. It may be two axis, or only one. In any case, chances are it's not coupled to a sophisticated IFR certified GPS. An autopilot will certainly make things easier, particularly if you're flying single pilot IFR. But otherwise, it's the skill of holding accurate headings, accurate altitudes, trimming and retrimming, using the correct power setings and so on.

Then you have to lookout. It's your responsibility to avoid other traffic. To avoid hitting the rocks. To avoid hitting the clouds (if VFR). To avoid hitting the rocks inside the clouds. If you're flying IFR and it's VMC, you're still responsible to maintain lookout (you may not have radar coverage...)

So you're hand flying the plane, IFR in IMC, maintaining altitude to within 100ft, heading to within 5 degrees at all times, managing the engine and fuel, maintaining a lookout, navigating, (I can assure you that just an hour of this is mentally and physically exhausting), then after three hours you're expected to fly a perfect hold for 10 minutes, followed by a DME arc and ILS...

Sure, you can look at the scenery. If there's time... Now, tell me where to find the time to get bored!

[Charl]

I would like to send you a couple of pics on this reply but don't know how to, can anyone help.?
Bob

Post 'em in the screenshot forum, here's how, like to see some.