Jetranger wrote:and to think I just Sold a Cessna 172 in good condition always hangered. 1965 model, was my dads, guess I could of kept it,, but I prefer to keep my feet on the ground and tinker with the puter airplanes personally.
I can Fly any Aircraft I want and no need for a Physical, and I never ever get my aircraft inspected , nor do I ever need fuel or insurance !
If I crash, which sometimes I do,, My plane is never damaged, back as good as new with the push of a button
My father flew for 53 years as a private pilot with never an incident.
I been up many times with him,, but never actually did get that bug, he was wantin me to get it, so he could give me his 172,, but,, I just never really took to serious flying.
I personally feel, I wouldn't be too good at it, andI don't think i'm smart enough to actually be flying in real life, and the ATC guys, would be pullin their hair out with me,,,
I Know nothing about how to talk to ATC in their language, for i'm just a former Truck Driver,
Breaker Breaker got your ears on
don't think ATC would like our Truck driving communication skills to much !!!
I can fully understand that...

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I flew an Army Auster Aiglet spotter plane a few times for the British Army 1956.
It was interesting at the time, but after I was demobbed in 1958 I never had any particular interest in aeroplanes until the 1997 appearance of Flight Unlimited II, Fly!, Pro Pilot '99, Microsoft FS '98, etc......
An interest was re-born again, resulting in a couple of trial flights in the local clubs Cessna 150/152's in 2004, (at the time that FS 2004 really took hold!).
I quite enjoyed the flights, aided by my long experience in the various Flight Simulators!
But the enormous expense of Private Pilot activity is for the very rich....
..I spot the private pilots at my local airfield turning up in battered and rusty Ford Cortinas, with the arse out of their trousers, and the soles off their shoes...and waiting for someone to buy them a pint!
A very expensive hobby, all round!
Like Jetranger, I am quite satisfied with my daily explorations all round the World in my FS 2004 and (FSX) for all the various reasons that he mentioned!
My real-time explorations of the countryside are carried out at ground level, (safer), on my Motor Bikes...
...and considerably cheaper!
Real Pilots are a special, enthusiastic, breed, expense no object....but not for everyone..
Paul....Touring California every day in a Cessna 150....with 50 pence-worth of electricity!....

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