Flight Simulator – valuable traning aid ?
There is a lot to take on board from the very start of your training, like where and what each dial is, where is this switch, where is that lever ? The first time in a cockpit is a daunting feeling and I think the more accustomed to its contents I am the easier and quicker I will be at home in it and so aid in my training. That’s my theory anyway.
So I have purchased a copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator and the additional real life scenery packs to go with it to aid with navigation when required. I have also obtained another add-on, that being the model of aircraft I will be training in, the Piper PA28-161 Warrior. I am under no illusions that this is like the real thing and the objective is to aid me in knowing the layout of the cockpit and to assist me in land markers for the circuits at Conington.
I now find my wife giving me strange looks when walking into the study where I am sat in front of the PC running the simulator and cockpit in front of me, armed with my official PA28 check list shouting out things such as, mixture rich.. check !.. carb heat cold.. check ! whilst also reaching and doing the actual movement I would be doing in the cockpit !
Joking aside, the simulator really has helped me get accustomed to the layout of the PA28 cockpit and also helping me run through some of the pre-flight check list. Considering the amount of money you will be spending on the actual lessons, the costs of the sim and some add-ons is an insignificant amount of money to help get you accustomed to the environment where you will be training.