Tdarcos wrote:I forgot to ask.
1. Do you still have your pilot's license?
Your private pilot certificate ("pilot's license") never expires.
2. How does a regular flight simulator compare to the real thing? (I've found driving a vehicle in a game is much more difficult than driving a real auto on a real road.)
It is best as a tool for learning navigation (though I would imagine/be sad to learn that they just installed GPSes in all the planes, which is a lot less fun than tracking VORs and stuff.) The tactile feedback and immersion is not good enough that the actual stick-and-rudder skills would translate to real life, however, you'll learn the basic ideas, how to operate the control surfaces and throttle, what they all do, so that when you get in the real plane you just gotta learn to get the feel of it.
3. How does operating a (simulated) helicopter differ from operating a (simulated) plane?
In a helicopter, you go higher by increasing the pitch of the helicopter blades. In a plane, you go higher by pushing the throttle in.
In a helicopter, when you push forward and backward on the stick, the helicopter goes forward and backward. In a plane, when you push forward and backward on the stick, the plane pitches up and down.
Those are the main differences, as far as I can tell.
4. Have you ever flown a real helicopter?
No.
5. Have you ever flown an RC helicopter? (I have, and it's a bitch.)
No.
6. If #4 is "no," have you considered it or considered adding a helicopter endorsement to your pilot's license (if #1 is "yes")?
No. Copters are way more expensive to fly, and not as fun (in my opinion, based on my zero experience.)
Thank you for the questions.
[quote="Tdarcos"]I forgot to ask.
1. Do you still have your pilot's license?[/quote]
Your private pilot certificate ("pilot's license") never expires.
[quote]2. How does a regular flight simulator compare to the real thing? (I've found driving a vehicle in a game is much more difficult than driving a real auto on a real road.)[/quote]
It is best as a tool for learning navigation (though I would imagine/be sad to learn that they just installed GPSes in all the planes, which is a lot less fun than tracking VORs and stuff.) The tactile feedback and immersion is not good enough that the actual stick-and-rudder skills would translate to real life, however, you'll learn the basic ideas, how to operate the control surfaces and throttle, what they all do, so that when you get in the real plane you just gotta learn to get the feel of it.
[quote]3. How does operating a (simulated) helicopter differ from operating a (simulated) plane?[/quote]
In a helicopter, you go higher by increasing the pitch of the helicopter blades. In a plane, you go higher by pushing the throttle in.
In a helicopter, when you push forward and backward on the stick, the helicopter goes forward and backward. In a plane, when you push forward and backward on the stick, the plane pitches up and down.
Those are the main differences, as far as I can tell.
[quote]4. Have you ever flown a real helicopter?[/quote]
No.
[quote]5. Have you ever flown an RC helicopter? (I have, and it's a bitch.)[/quote]
No.
[quote]6. If #4 is "no," have you considered it or considered adding a helicopter endorsement to your pilot's license (if #1 is "yes")?[/quote]
No. Copters are way more expensive to fly, and not as fun (in my opinion, based on my zero experience.)
Thank you for the questions.