T-6 Texan II sim

[Bluto]

I used the T-38 add on for MSFS while at Sheppard and I thought it helped some. I used it to fly the low level routes and the graphics were good enough to pick out towers and other features. That is pretty much all I used it for other than approaches at unfamiliar fields.

I also used it to fly the 172 during IFT. I had a yoke and rudder pedals and the cockpit setup was 100% correct. That was my only experience flying related prior to IFT other than 1 hour flight time to increase my PCSM score. MSFS has the built in flight instructor for the 172 too.

[HerkDerka]

For those that have gone through the actual training already, would a pc sim have any value as far as practicing procedures and running checklists go? I would think that it would have an advantage over sitting in front of a poster when chair flying.

No. I'd take the poster any day.

HD

[brabus]

The only relatively useful thing is flying instrument procedures...but more just for the procedural aspect and not the actual aircraft specific aspect. However, by the time you get to the instrument phase, you'll be right at home in the T-6 and basically the PC sim would only be useful for "chair-flying" approaches...but in my opinion, I do just as well, if not better, just doing it in my head than having to try and spin CDIs w/ a frickin mouse cursor.

[UPT-hopeful]

For those that have gone through the actual training already, would a pc sim have any value as far as practicing procedures and running checklists go? I would think that it would have an advantage over sitting in front of a poster when chair flying.

As a lot of guys have already said... Once you get into Phase I and get checked out in the UTD you can go over and use those as much as you want. Even with no screen, the T-6 UTDs will give you a far better experience than a PC. You can flip all the switches and get your checklist flows down pat before you even get to the flight line. You'll be able to have all that crap memorized so you'll be able to just get it done instead of having to reference the pocket checklist every freaking step. Then, when you get closer to instruments, you can spend a bunch of time shooting approaches.

Even at that, there is nothing cosmic about the T-6 (or T-38). After a few flights you'll be all spun up.

[Guest PilotKD]

The T-6 checklists were setup with flows in mind. It does not take a rocket scientist to learn the preflight --> engine start in the T-6. About 6.9 minutes after you jump in, you've got the motor going and you're calling ground for taxi. The fvcking thing starts itself! Slide the PCL into "start ready", hit the switch and let it do its thing. Hot start, hung start, you name it, it shuts itself off. A cockpit poster, although primitive, serves its purpose and that purpose is to get you familiar with the general direction your eyeballs and fingers should be moving around the cockpit. You don't need sim-isms to fvck this up (moving the mouse, dealing with one screen in front of you, etc...). I still have my cockpit poster. I kept it as a souvenir. It has separate side panel pieces and I had a nice setup going using a couple mutilated cardboard boxes so that I could pull a chair up to it (when you PCS to UPT, you'll have plenty of cardboard to play with). You're only going to use it for a few weeks. Once you hit the sims, you'll have plenty of time to learn checklists. There is really not much at all to the T-6 cockpit. It's not like a KC-135, which when one goes to Altus, Flight Safety's goal is for you to get the interior inspection done under 50 minutes.

Let the tax payers money do its job. Let LSI do their job. The T-6 program gives you plenty of time to learn these things. The actual T-6 sims are great and you can get signed off to use the UTD's, which are kick ass to practice checklist procedures if you're having trouble. They're great for IFR work too.

[spaw2001]

As everyone has heard and knows, pilot training has so much information to learn you don't even know where to start. Sitting from the vantage point of "Yay...I'm cool...I am starting UPT in 5 months," it may seem that a PC sim would help. Just realize there is so much crap to do at the beginning of UPT just learning the basic systems and how to memorize pieces of the dash 1 when you hit phase II, if you spend more than 3 seconds on microsoft flight sim, you are wasting your time. Why? Because there is more important sh!t to do.

I admit, I bought the joystick and throttle and downloaded the T-38 and T-6 before UPT. I came to find out, the only utility I got out of it was entertainment and playing pretend pilot before showing up to training. Should have saved the money...Trust me, your simming equipment will collect dust once you get to UPT and you will practice your "instrument crosscheck" during the 30ish instrument sims/flights you will have. Put down the sim...go drink and be merry instead.

[brabus]

if you spend more than 3 seconds on microsoft flight sim, you are wasting your time. Why? Because there is more important sh!t to do.

Shack. I should have just said that all along...regardless of your's or my opinion on if PC sims are useful is irrelevant. It is GUARANTEED that you have way more important shit going on than those. Prior to UPT, the important shit is knowing boldface/ops limits like the back of your hand. If you really want to get sporty, look at the "T6 by the Numbers" on t6driver(dot)com. If you're good on boldface, look at that, but don't go any further. Between those two things, you'll have plenty to look at prior to UPT. EVERYTHING else should wait until you start UPT.

[HerkDerka]

'Nuff said.

HD

[Torch169]

Booyahkasha!

The needed penguins will climb onto the ice when the time is right. In the meantime, keep the fun, care-free, boldface reading penguins out of the water for as long as you can by not getting wrapped around the axle about flight sims. Instead, use your computer for its true purpose.

[Guest PilotKD]

Instead, use your computer for its true purpose.

ie: gigs and gigs of PORN.

[Torch169]

Porn? On the computer? You've got to be kidding me!

But seriously, play flight sim for enjoyment or to roll 747s, not to practice anything!

Tons of people on here have mentioned the UTD's and how great they are as training devices. My words of wisdom, and something that helped me, especially in instruments, go to the UTDs and literally fly a whole friggin' sortie. You no sh!t are getting paid to use those things and actually get a feel for the way things are going to go. However, they never did trim right...

Who cares if you can't see outside? Most pilot training bases have nothing good to look at anyway...well, there was always Arriba on a Saturday night...