Re:How did Microsoft make Flight Simulator seem so real?
by tjohns on Monday April 05, 2021 @01:09AM
(#26695551)
Now that you mention it, I could see MSFS being useful for general area familiarization.
Foreflight has 3D mode now for the same purpose. But MSFS would certainly be more fun, and an instructor could mix in other navigation skills. It would be a good exercise to drop someone into an unknown area to practice VOR navigation.
(And 100% agreed about the "VFR students" thing. Poor choice of words on my part.)
Re:How did Microsoft make Flight Simulator seem so real?
by mastazi on Monday April 05, 2021 @01:41AM
(#26695679)
Oh yes I love Foreflight 3D mode.
> an instructor could mix in other navigation skills
Yes you made me realise that my initial comment was not very clear, I said “VFR” but really I meant visual navigation.
I agree but I wasn't talking about stick and rudder skills, I was talking about cross country VFR preparation (learning landmarks etc.). I guess you can do it just using Google Maps, but it would be fun to do it in sim IMHO.
PS regarding the expression "VFR students": there is a preconception where VFR skills are just something that you learn as a beginner pilot, and then once you have enough experience, you start focusing on IFR. I think this mindset is wrong. There are some very experienced bush pilots who regularly - and sometimes mostly - fly VFR; aviation is not just airliners.