Preparing for Instrument Training
 

Hey gang,

So I'm currently a non-instrument rated private pilot. I'm planning on finishing my training at a local Part 141 school in town starting in a few months. I have access to rental aircraft that I fly often currently, and I'm curious if there's anything I can start doing in the cockpit to better prepare myself for instrument training. If I remember correctly, I can log simulated instrument if I have a safety pilot with me that has at least a PPL and is checked out in the aircraft. Aside from that, I'm not sure what else I can do to help me get ready for the real thing.

Any thoughts?

You don't want to start learning bad habits before you even know which is which. Take a look at the instrument flying handbook, but I wouldn't do any instrument flying, or SIM of any sort, until you start training and have a handle on BAI.

I tend to agree with the laster poster, invest in knowledge outside the cockpit and save the money you would spend flying without an instructor for when you do start flying again. Have you passed the INST written yet? Lots to do that are FREE and will help you be a better instrument pilot and save you money for the training. Always better having an understanding about the course material before you start training. Look over the FAA flight test guide, another window into understanding what you will need to learn.

Adding to the (in my opinion) accurate messages above, the best thing that you can do on your own (and VFR) to help your upcoming instrument training is to learn the numbers of your aircraft.
What that means is that if you are told:
descend and maintain 5000 feet at 120 KTS, you don't even have to think (or fiddle) with power or trim settings.
You just set this power level, that RPM, adjust the trim to fit the bill and forget about it for a couple of minutes.
If you know your settings, when you come back to check your airplane will be holding 5K at 120 KTS with minimal control inputs and you just will need to do minor tweaks to nail it.
Learn power/prop/mixture and trim settings for particular altitudes and speed, including gear down speed, downwind, base and final.
You'll be glad you did.
YMMV...