Simulators can be used as a tool in training, but are no substitute for the real thing. There are many important aspects of flight that can be tought to the student. Flight is really just a series of complicated judgments. It is important for a pilot to be able to make such decisions on instinct. For instance, on of the trickest things to teach a new pilot is that the turn controls are reversed when the plane is approaching the pilot. This can be done on a simulator. The basics of recovering from a stall, coordinated turns and basic acrobatics can be learned on a simulator. Thermaling and perfection of flight cannot. Simulators are important tools, but not the complete lesson plan.
Kristopher ----- Original Message ----- From: "d. o. darnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 5:54 PM Subject: [RCSE] Simulators and other games > Simulators break planes! > Simulators are video games. But not all of them; Big simulators like the > ones you can't afford, are for learning to fly inside the airplane. Due > to the need to display motion on a computer screen (your computer, not the > screen used on really big simulators like at American Airlines) the laws of > physics are "bent" a bit so as to make the simulation fit the capability of > the hardware. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
