Real Flying vs Flight Simulation
It's been awhile since I've posted here, mainly because I have transitioned from simulated flight to "the real thing".
My main goal is to acquire the Sport Pilot certificate, but decided to start lessons in a Cessna 152 which while not an LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) is fairly lightweight, only a couple hundred pounds heavier than the LSA maximum.
I found an instructor from the local EAA chapter (www.eaa66.org) and began lessons in January (2005). I now have 12.4 hours logged (dual) and I'll have to transition to an LSA to continue my training because I am not allowed to solo in the 152 toward my Sport Pilot Certificate.
At the moment, no flight school or FBO in the area has LSA's on their flight line, so my real-time training will be put on hold until I can find an aircraft.
I guess if I'm going to "fly" I'll have to crank up the old simulator again. The only problem is that the computer I was using has been dumped (sold) so I'll have to re-install the s/w onto an older machine. Probably will have to go back to FS 2002 since the machine is slower than the other one was.
I'd like to briefly comment on the differences between simulated flight and the real thing. One BIG difference is visual feedback. In the 152 I'm constantly looking outside of the cockpit and using visual references to control the attitude of the plane. The first few lessons were devoted to "Ground Reference Maneuvers" which require almost total visual reference and very little looking at the instruments in the cockpit. The only inside flying is a quick/brief millisecond peek at the altimeter every so often to make sure I'm maintaining correct altitude. Everything else is done by observing the world outside the cockpit.
Once GRM's were satisfactory to my CFI we began pattern work. Not as easy as I expected. In the simulator I was becoming quite good at landing the aircraft, but in the real world things are quite different. Getting the correct sight pattern for final approach and judging when to begin the flare took some time to achieve and I'm still not there. My last lesson, which was several months ago, was with a stiff cross wind. The X component was perhaps 8 knots (max crosswind component for the 152 is around 14 knots.) It was very cool to drop the windward wing and hold the longitudinal axis of the plane along the runway centerline with the rudder and let the windward main gear touch first, followed by the leeward main and finally the nose gear. Then jam the throttle in, carb heat off and flaps up as we complete the "touch and go". So far I have done around 25 landings, but I have a long way to go!
I'll post back once I'm in the simulated air again.
