If you can fly perfectly on Flight Simulator, would you be able to fly a real plane? (for the most part)?

Question

If you can fly perfectly on Flight Simulator, would you be able to fly a real plane? (for the most part)?

Answer 1

NO.

I am a pilot of a cessna and user of fsx and fs9.

there are huge differences between flying the game and a real aircraft.

the only thing that you could "bring over" to real flying is the navigational aspect of it. everything else is not even near realism.simulators are used to train pilots but FSX hardly qualifies as a simulator that simulates real flying.

it does help you understand certain aspects of flight but if you like aviation and aircraft, you should already know these.

Answer 2

well before i became a licenced pilot i flew the Microsoft FS and i thought i knew everything to flying.... but when i first learned to fly it was very different because its alot more then just lineing up with a runway and landing.... you need to be able to talk to ATC and be able to spot other craft and their are just alot of things u dont pick up from the sim.... its great for teaching students about what does what in the airplane but unless ur learning IFR, flight sim is just skimming the surface

Answer 3

Probably not. But you would do better than if you had never "flown" the simulator. They are great training aids. That is why the military and commercial airlines spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing and building them, and pilots spend so much time in them.

Answer 4

Not even close. The easiest people I ever taught to fly were sailors. They understand "control touch" and "feel" and "anticipation" and such. I can't think of anything you could get from a simulator program that would help you fly a real airplane in the beginning. You may need to have fewer things explained to you but touch is touch my man.

Answer 5

The only hard part is landing. Taking off can be accomplished by setting the elevator trim and just rolling down the runway.

Once airborne, autopilot can be used in several modes to attain level and controlled flight.

Somehow though, the controlled crash (landing), seems to be the most difficult part. There is no PC based simulator that can get you there.

Answer 6

Your time would have been better spent flying a hangglider.

Answer 7

im a pilot and ill tell you something, when i started my training i had many problems understanding from my flight instructor, because each instructor has his own ways in flying,,  i went and bought the flight sim and started flying,, ive learnt everything from there from basic handling to ils approaches in gusty wind conditions,,  now im a flight instructor my self and advice every student to fly simulators cause its the best way to learn...   by the way the simulator is much more sensitive in controles than a real airplane,,  so when you fly in reality you will feel its much more easy,,,,  the sim teaches you how to become a pro ....   take care

Answer 8

You would do better than one that has never used it.

Answer 9

Problably not unless you click on the controls instead of a joystick.

Answer 10

well a simulator is just the tip of the iceberg of an actual flight yeah u will get the idea of the controls and simulate different sitautions but experience is the best teacher

Answer 11

If only that were true. Its a great familiarization tool.

No, FS gives you a basic understanding of flight controls, instrumentation, and navigation. But flying a real aircraft is different. The feel of the controls and the way they react is not the same, crosswinds are different, not to mention that there is a whole lot more on your mind when its your butt in the pilot's seat knowing that your safety and that of the aircraft lies squarely on your shoulders and no one elses'. And in the real world, there is no "reset" button.

You might try going to an airport and paying an FBO for an introductory ride. Most will let you do a little flying (trust me, no matter how much you tell them you're a FS expert, they won't let you land). Then you will see that things happen a lot faster than you expect in a real aircraft and its all for keeps.

Answer 12

You'd be able to control it in the air, you'd be able to fly an approach, maybe you'd be able to take off, and while I don't doubt you'd be able to get it to the ground, it wouldn't be nicely. But there's more to flying than just controlling the plane. You probably don't know all the theory a real pilot does. Doing the communications for real instead of pushing a button. Starting the plane for real according to the procedure instead of ctrl+e. Finding an airport in real life is harder too. Just like navigating. And for the landing part (which is probably what you want to know the most), flaring a plane in flightsim is different than in real life. You don't get the sense of altitude and you dont get a sense for how hard you land the plane in the sim. You might have been doing it wrong the whole time. So I think you'd be able to control the plane, and maybe get it down safely. But that's not all there is to flying ;-). I'd recommend taking a real lesson. Then you can see how good you really are.

Answer 13

Absolutely not!  Playing "Flight Simulator" has as much in common with flying an actual airplane as playing "Grand Theft Auto" does with actually driving a car.

That is why I keep chastising all the 14 year old kids that keep putting their "Flight Simulator" (which is a computer game) questions in this sub-category which is intended for questions about real, tangible aircraft.

Answer 14

NO.  Microsoft Flight Simulator (or any other computer game)  IS NOT a suitable substitute for real hands-on flight training in a real airplane.   It is too easy to learn bad habits that would be hard to change once you start to fly real airplanes.

Once you complete your flight training, Flight Simulator MAY be helpful in learning to navigate by VFR or instrument on cross-country flights, but is not an approved instrument simulator, and you cannot use it to log sim time for your instrument rating.

Answer 15

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Answer 16

If you are referring to the Microsoft Flight Simulator it is possible if you are already in the air.  That's the easy part.  The hard part is taking-off and landing.  Remember 9/11.  It is reported that the terrorists of that terrible day learned how to control an aircraft in flight by playing with the Flight Simulator program.  For someone with no experience the hardest part would be getting the engines running.

Answer 17

Computer-based flight simulators respond in a completely different way from real airplanes.  In fact, the simulator tends to give you the wrong impression about how an airplane responds, and if you want to be a good pilot, you should avoid the simulator until you get some flight experience.

So the answer is no.  Sorry.  The minute you get into an airplane with your instructor, run the checklists, and start your takeoff run, you will see what we mean.  It will be one of the most worthwhile moments of your life.

Go have fun!