Flight simmers out there?
 

I know there are a couple pilots and even ATC guys around here. I may finally put aside money for a Sport Pilot license someday now that the regulations are even less strict and there's a whole class of UL aircraft, but I've always found simming to be more enjoyable. You can recreate a lot of the realism involved in actual flying, from VFR scenery to ATC in addition to the actual dynamics of flight of course. You also have control over the weather. You can also do it pretty much whenever you want and for free past the initial investment in software/hardware.

I've been simming in Flight Simulator since the late 80's when I was only like 8-9 years old. I still have the original FS II manual :) It's been an off and on thing over the years - I had MSFS 5.1, 95, 98 and 2000 - skipped over 2004 and now am flying FSX.

Lately I've gotten back into it again, finally adding a flight yoke and throttle quadrant to my HOTAS combo and started blogging about my flights. Anyone else flying the virtual skies and blogging about it? Wouldn't mind reading about other people's travels!

I like Flight Sims a lot. I used them all the time in college too to practice my instrument procedures etc while in the dorm.

Here was my favorite Sim though...


http://www.erau.edu/db/flightdb/images/crj-ftd.jpg

Thats a shot of our actual Lvl 6 CRJ-200 Sim

It's fun.. :)

I do a little bit of FSX in my spare time.

I hate flight sims, there's ALWAYS something that goes wrong when I'm in there. :thumbsdown:

I know what you mean!

First it's severe engine vibrations, then it's engine fires, then your landing gear isn't down and locked, asymmetrical flap extension, explosive decompression... :eekdance:

not to mention my ticket is on the line every time I go!

Well it would be easy if you weren't gambling with something... :roflpuke2:


Who you flying for Mike? Equipment?

Delta 777 FO, kind of. I get a regular paycheck but am only on reserve. Plus all of our trips are 2 legs with 2 captains and 2 first officers, so my only landings are in the simulator every three months. I got home from my last trip september 1st. Its kind of nice actually! Leaves time for my requisite 2nd job that just about every airline pilot has these days.

^haha I know what you mean about the 2nd job.

All my friends are on furlough or flat out laid off.

Thats cool as hell though that you drive a 777! Biggest thing I've gotten to sit in was a 767.

Where do you fly usually?

I finished training on may 25th. Since then I have done 1 trip to Seoul, 1 trip to Mumbai and 2 trips to Dubai. My airplane actually flies to Shanghai, Narita, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Sydney, but I haven't done any of them yet, other than Joburg in the last plane.

Before this, I flew the 767-400 and flew Europe, Africa and South America.

What do you do?

I'm fresh out of college, meet the minimums for the regionals but whose hiring and whats the QOL at this point not to mention upgrade time of like 5+ years..

I'm trying to get selected for the NYPD aviation unit to fly their Bell 412s and Augusta A119.

I used to hope flights on 767s all the time though to Europe and South America. My mom was a flight attendant for AA

Thats cool. Now isn't a great time to enter the field though. Have you thought about military aviation? I really enjoyed my time in the Navy.

sorry to take it off topic there, Gaiiden!

Yeah I looked into Military via USAF but I feel like my opportunities are greater in a paramilitary organization like the NYPD. I'm planning to do both the Air National Guard and PD though. I'm hoping that if a spot ever opened up for a C-130 at my local base I could get selected for it.