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Will MSFS2004 be a good starting point before actually enrolling to flight school? How accurate is it?  I want to get a feel first of how flying could be.  Perhaps even buying one of those flight yokes and rudders.  Any comments?

Hi, and welcome to SimV.

Flight Sim has integrated lessons taught by Rod Machado, including ground school. It pretty much has everything you need to get you started.

Flight Sim is no match for the real world. In real life you get "by the seat of your pants" feeling, meaning you can feel how the aircraft reacts. FS can't do this.

It's a good start to an aviation carreer, I think.

Howdy!
FS9 is a pretty good tool for flight training, but very limited in a lot of ways... some of the limitations actually make it harder than the real thing.
I started flying FS9 after getting my PP certificate, and although I don't like the virtual flight lessons (maybe it's my computer, but the virtual instructor seemed really confused),  it's great for pre-flying a lesson, and practicing basic stuff, like using a checklist and learning navigation.  And although the "feel" is not quite right, it's a good tool for seeing how things should look when flying in the pattern and making landing approaches... I've heard some instructors say that their students who are sim-pilots seem to get the hang of such things quicker than those who aren't.
 I think of it as "enhanced chair-flying" when I'm flying the planes I fly in RL in the sim... I've used it to help prepare for longer flights- it's accurate enough that you can get "the lay of the land" before a trip to an unfamiliar airport, or whatever.
And it's just plain fun, especially when you get to fly aircraft you'll probably never get your hands on in real life.
 
I'd definitely recommend it, but don't spend too much money on sim stuff- you'll need it for flight lessons!!  ;D

I'd also recommend taking a "discovery flight" (introductory lesson) first, before spending too much time on the sim. Hard to explain why, but if you take a real lesson first then try your hand at FS9, you'll see what I mean right away.

It's both good and bad. Good in that you can practice things in the sim a hundred times when you can only afford them two or three in a real aircraft. Bad in that you can develop some bad habits.

Learn the right way to do things. Don't take shortcuts. The lessons in the sim are great to understand something but leave a little to be desired as a whole. Learn that from your instructor and practice what you learned in the sim.

The sim is good in some ways and lessons in the airplane with an instructor are good in others. Together they make a great training tool but the real factor is you and what effort you put into the process.

As mentioned above take the discovery flight first before deciding anything. That's what it's for. If you like that and can afford lessons right away get a copy of FS and use that to practice what you learn in your lessons at the flight school.

You won't need fancy hardware right away as most of what you will be learning first is information and procedures. Later if you find you like simming and flying then you can go for the fancy hardware and become an FS addict like the rest of us.  ;D

I think a lot of people underestimate the sim's value.. both as a training tool while learning to fly .. AND.. what it can do for a pilot as the training advances. It's like some people are afraid to be accused of taking a "game" too seriously or giving it too much credit.

First: If you're training in a C172 (and even if you're not), get the RealAir C172 (thanks Rotty). It really adds to the realism and will give you a good feel for things like: pitching for airspeed, trimming, using(and not using) flaps, setting up stable approaches and in general... a good understanding for how pitch, power, bank all interact.

The sim itself is GREAT for getting a handle on patterns, holds, calculating descents, flying in wind and ESPECIALLY navigating. Significant landmarks and nav-aids are all accurate enough for you gain confidence flying cross-country solo.

And by all means.. get a yoke AND pedals. One of the first things your CFI will start expecting of you, as you advance, is propper rudder use (and mis-use). When your turns aren't as smooth and coordinated.. or.. you're struggling with crosswind landing... A couple of hours in front of computer will save you a couple hours of dual (pay for themselves in no time).

I honestly believe the sim (yoked and pedalled) saved me several hours of flight-time, mastering partial-panel/compass-turn flying.

The guy who runs our club is a CFI with over 20,000 hours. He'd never "played" with a sim until I "made" him sit in front of mine for a session. I had to go build him a computer and install the sim that week. Now.. if someone asks him if they should buy FS2004 ?.. he says, "GAWD yes".

Good luck ! You won't regret it !

FS2004 is a good starting point.
I flew a glider and a light aircraft, and I assure you its a good aid.
Plus its loads of fun!  ;)

Alpha

Will MSFS2004 be a good starting point before actually enrolling to flight school?

Yes. "It's a real as it gets."

How accurate is it?

Very "It's a real as it gets."

I want to get a feel first of how flying could be.  Perhaps even buying one of those flight yokes and rudders.

Good "It's a real as it gets."

P.S I am realworld intrumented pilot having owned two airplanes. Flown FS since v.4. "It's a real as it gets."

Any good flight schools to recommend in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area? Anything I need to know before I do the Discovery Flight and dive into the whole process?  I'm a bit nervous going at it but I'm still very determined.  I've checked out some schools and they pretty much average out to about 40 bux/hour/lesson for the instructor and about 80-100 bux/hour for the plane.  Are these pretty much reasonable?  Do I have to complete 40 hours within a specified time to get a private license?

Do I have to complete 40 hours within a specified time to get a private license?

NO. I've been logging flight time since spring of 2003, and i'm only now getting close to my checkride. I've got about 55 hours now. You can take as much time as you need, although you can save money if you flew more regularly, instead of like me

In fact, I just got home a little while ago from going on a cross country flight with my instructor, and next week, i'm planning on going on my first solo cross country!

Im new to forums and flight sim and also want to fly.  It has emensly helped me!!  I've already taken my first lesson flight and I was amazed at how good the realization is.

Hope it helps

cloud9flyer

As far as I know it all depends what country you are in. Some countries make you do it in a certain amount of time others the time limits unlimited.So it all really depends on where abouts in the world you live.  ;) But if you are going to try to get a pilots licence then there are some very informative books you can buy which will help you in flight sim even if you dont get a licence

Maybe being a real pilot would be cheeper than a high test gameing computer, Yoke, Pedels and such. How much would it cost on average to get get a pilot licence and rent a cessna? I know the frame rates would be fantastic!!  ;D

It "can" be done for about $5,000US.. Set aside $7000... or.. be prepared to pay as you go and can afford it.. but that can be a waste.. you end up having to re-learn stuff.

Once you're a pilot.. it's about $100/hour for an average Cessna or Piper. That isn't that much when you share it and "go" some place... but it's an awfully expensive way to kill an afternoon

[quote]I know the frame rates would be fantastic!!