How many of you have flown real aricraft?
 

Just curious how many of you sim fans out there have actually flown a real aircraft?

By this I mean actually flown, not been a passenger in.

Personally I've had 3, 1 hour trail lessons in a light aircraft, 2, 1 hour lessons in a helicopter and finally I have logged 14 hours in gliders.

For those that have, what do you find is similar and what do you find is different?

+/- 130 hours in gliders, and +/- 130 in small single-engines. The main difference is the lack of feel for the airplane, and outside forces like turbulence.
But ofcourse the Cessna is in no way comparable to a Spit or La :P. It's like comparing a Fiat 500 with a McLaren F1.

True, although there is the fear factor to take into account as well, I'm pretty confident pulling a 6G diving turn on BOP, not so ballzy in real life though!

While in the Air Force in the 1970s and 1980s, I was an aircraft electrician, but was studying to get my privates pilots license. However got to where all I needed was my solo flight to qualify for my full single engine license, but stopped short there when I got married and started having a family. So, yes, I few real airplanes for a short while, but never solo'd. Only with an instructor. And yes, I actually flew with the instructor next to me.

I also flew RC aircraft for years, and had lots of fun with that. Not the real thing, but does teach allot about aircraft control, and aerodynamics as well.

I am retired, and disabled now, so I am having a blast with BOP, since I can not fly for real any longer.

Haha, agreed. Although experienced pilots know what they can and can not handle, and by practicing you'll reduce this 'fear factor'. Still, you need balls of steel :P.

I got a few hundred hours logged on RC aircraft (plane and heli,) but alas I crash them as much as I crash in BOP so I dont buy nitro, just the cheaper electric models.

I've been wondering this myself. I've logged a little over 4000 hours total time. About 900 ours of it is as pilot-in-command and a flight instructor. I am a commercial pilot for an airline and the rest of the time is in the First Officer position. (Hoping to upgrade soon to Captain after the recession). I like to think I know a little bit about how aircraft handle. However, I know there are plenty of ppl on here that know WAY more than I do about aviation history and world war 2 in particular. I find those guys to be pretty interesting.

Another RC pretend pilot here, I have a healthy fear of dieing and if youve seen me fly BoP on Sim you'll understand why that means I wont hold a real joystick.

does RC aircraft count? 1/4-1/3 scale?

For a number of years I played Combat Flight Simulator. Several years ago for my birthday, my wife gave me an hour flight in a North American AT6 fighter trainer (WWII). I had never flown a plane before. The flying experience did not seem entirely new because of playing CFS. However, after doing several rolls and a loop I felt nauseous!:grin: I wanted to do other maneuvers but, unfortunately, I didn't have the stomach :rolleyes: for it. Playing sims is great, but it is entirely different when you experience the g forces. It was a great experience that I would heartily recommend to any sim pilot. You have a better appreciation for what pilots endured flying these machines.

Nonsense, you fly very well on BoP. It's giant white goats that you should be afraid of in real life because that is the only reason we die so much in BoP lol.

I'm a full time flight instuctor, about 1300 hrs total time. Wayfindre, what airline do you fly for? I'm trying to get there myself.

Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention, I also flew an F-16.. Ok, Im lying, but I DID get to ride the back seat of an F-16B model (2 seater) when I worked as an electrician on them in the mid 80's in Germany. The pilot didn't let me take the stick, but I got to be honest, I was hoping he wouldn't offer, because I was kinda scared to, but didn't want to actually say it, lol..

THAT was an experience that NO carnival ride can simulate. Even though I almost threw up and pass out on a 7 G turn, I wouldn't give that experience up for anything.

Hey Chanky

I'm at Pinnacle Airlines. It's a Delta Connection regional. I instructed at MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN near Nashville. Where are you intructing at?

:envy: :evil:

When I turned 14, my dad paid a guy off to take me up in his Piper Cherokee and fly around for about an hour. Probably the greatest experience of my life. No Immelmans or anything like that, but it was wonderful! I wanted to be a pilot, until I saw the price tag on lessons and whatnot...so BoP is where it stops.

I've only done a one hour training session about two years ago. The instructor let me do the taxiing and take off as well as a very easy flight (no loops or anything), then he took over for the landing. Really enjoyed it, and if I had the time (and money) I'd love to do it more.

On that note, does anyone know what's the cheapest way to get more flight experience?

I'm actually going to do this very soon. I purchased a Total Immersion Flight, based out of a regional airport in the Chicago area, but still need to schedule the experience. I'm a little nervous, but in a good way... only because it has been a life-long dream of mine to fly. :eek:

Pinnacle nice. I work for ATP in Jacksonville. Actually instucted a pinnacle FO for his ATP ride earlier this year. Said he'd walk my resume in but then another instrctor I work with got a letter from pinnacle saying they weren't hiring in 2009. Blasted recession. How's the 200? I did ATPs crj FTD course on he 200 it was a blast

this one times i did some drugs and i turned into an airplane, does that count?

Once you get going you'll love it, not at all scary. It's so peaceful and calm when you're up there, and you feel like you're in total control and can go anywhere. Try to fly through a rain cloud if there's one about, that's pretty cool.

Go away the adults are talking:roll:

I have done a few trial flights in a Robin 3000. I would love to get the lessons, but as someone already mentioned... recession :(
But the good thing is that the trial lessons do count for the flight hours.
So when I am 'rich' enough, I will probably go for the paper

(after that it will be more difficult, as to keep it you have to do a certain amount of hours per year $$$$$)

does having a flight in a glider count ??

we had a works trip once to husbands bosworth
i got 2 flights in a glider that day we were using a winch launch was pretty awsome tho i must admit the first flight i did keep winching evrytime i looked out the canopy but soom got used to the view :)
the pilot did let me hold the stick and do some gental turns but i still think he was in control all in all was awsome but scary too to think that you are x amount of feet in the air and all that is holding you up is a thin bit of fiberglass !!!:eek::eek:

but would do it again in a heartbeat :cool:

I'm spending something along the lines of 75% of my salary on my airborne pursuits at the moment (addicted to it), instructor says I'm a natural and will probably end up going commercial, buts it's slow going at the moment. I live in the northwest of Ireland too so there's lots of uncontrolled airspace to jaunt around in so it's pretty easygoing too.

Would definately recommend it

I work for a mayor German airline as a first officer. Over the years some flight time adds up.

180h PA-28,350h F-33, 120h PA-42,2600h A319,320,321, 1800h A333-A346 and counting...

Now with the recession going on it might take some time with the CPT´s upgrade, but me is confident we might see better times ahead. It is not a too bad fate being a FO.

I don´t have that much time flying privately, so from time to time BoP or 1946 does it too. Also there are other hobbies to take care of.

Jet noise....the sound of freedom ! :grin:

Cheers

Wireflyer

I am going (want) to get my licence of ultra light aviation (paramotor or powered paragliding) next summer.

Ok that's not a real real plane but it is still flying :) :) And really more affordable for private fly

So I will be able to flight aproximately whereever I want and discover the beauty of Belgium landscape where I live currently....

Good to see a fellow Irishman here, although I live in Australia now Ireland's still home!

I like the CRJ 200... but only because its a jet instead of the turboprop I use to fly. It's a dog in the summer though and the climb pretty much peters out around FL190. It has decent speed and is interesting to land because it has a nose down attitude on approach. I like the all glass interior as well. Yea... the recession sucks... I was supposed to upgrade last year but my class got cancelled right at the start of the recession so I am still waiting. As for Pinnacle hiring, that is correct, no hiring in 2009 unless something drastically changes.

I have my private pilots license, and almost done with the Instrument rating. i have just over 100 hrs. I already have 10 hrs of actual IMC. aka flying in the clouds :)

I use to fly PA-28 with my friend, working on my PPL.