Home simulator for training?
07-10-2022, 09:43 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Apr 2022
Posts: 14
Home simulator for training?
Hi, I am about to take my PPL check ride in a week or two and then move on to my instrument training. I've been thinking about a home flight simulator set up for running through approaches or whatever else it may be useful for to hopefully save a few bucks on rental time. I'm mainly looking at it as a money saving tool not something for fun. Has anyone else used one throughout their training and found that it saved time and money? I've found a few articles saying it's useful...but those articles are on a website selling simulators so I'd really like to hear your first hand experience. Are they worth it?
07-11-2022, 02:48 AM
#2
All is fine at .79
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: Paahlot
Posts: 4,089
Potential problems could be:
-Differences in avionics setup with the real plane
-Practicing incorrect techniques
If you can pick the exact avionics setup and practice what you’ve been taught by your instructor rather then teaching yourself new things it should be a great tool.
Good home setups are not cheap though so you may not save as much.
A good setup will last you years and us resale value.
-Differences in avionics setup with the real plane
-Practicing incorrect techniques
If you can pick the exact avionics setup and practice what you’ve been taught by your instructor rather then teaching yourself new things it should be a great tool.
Good home setups are not cheap though so you may not save as much.
A good setup will last you years and us resale value.
07-11-2022, 05:19 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Jan 2017
Posts: 50
Definitely get the home sim setup for instrument on. You will be able to practice over and over for practically nothing. It helped me immensely during primary training and has helped with a couple of types too. You dont need a full on setup, just get the basics. Definitely be serious when you are simming as it transfers into to the real plane.
07-11-2022, 06:20 PM
#5
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,293
Originally Posted by foxtroutuniform
Definitely get the home sim setup for instrument on. You will be able to practice over and over for practically nothing. It helped me immensely during primary training and has helped with a couple of types too. You dont need a full on setup, just get the basics. Definitely be serious when you are simming as it transfers into to the real plane.
And ONLY for instrument procedures. Don't try to learn VFR stuff on a PC sim/videogame.
08-12-2022, 06:47 AM
#6
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08-12-2022, 10:19 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2021
Posts: 319
Originally Posted by GSP848
Hi, I am about to take my PPL check ride in a week or two and then move on to my instrument training. I've been thinking about a home flight simulator set up for running through approaches or whatever else it may be useful for to hopefully save a few bucks on rental time. I'm mainly looking at it as a money saving tool not something for fun. Has anyone else used one throughout their training and found that it saved time and money? I've found a few articles saying it's useful...but those articles are on a website selling simulators so I'd really like to hear your first hand experience. Are they worth it?
09-05-2022, 04:11 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Apr 2022
Posts: 14
I had vacation the day after getting my PPL and then decided to switch flight schools so I haven't started my instrument training yet but I'll start on Wednesday. In the mean time, I started my ground school and went ahead and got a sim. I found a 'spare parts combined', self built computer on craigslist for $300, a yolk, throttle, and rudder set for $300, Xplane11 is on sale for $25 because the new version drops soon, and I already had an unused TV with HDMI hookup so I came in at just over $600. Not too bad. It's working well so far. The "feeling" is way off but I can see how it would help a lot with more procedural things in the instrument training. We will see how it goes.
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