Can we fly the real plane??

[siron]

I was wondering, after flying so many years in the FS, if we were out to a real plane say 747, can we actually operate the plane? as in Fly from point A to B?

Hmmmm

[Matt]

It could be possible but I doubt you would last two minutes on a windy day, yet alone starting the thing and programming the FMC (which FS dosn't have).

[commoner]

...not with me on board mate.

[JBaymore]

I was wondering, after flying so many years in the FS, if we were out to a real plane say 747, can we actually operate the plane? as in Fly from point A to B?

scion,

We'd probably be a tad more successful than the average bloke walking in out of the passenger cabin.... but that's about it.

[Nexus]

LOL John.  ;D

I guess I should be flattered, but that also means I really don't have a life....  ;)
But the truth is, I'd be fumbling after the right switches in a 747. I'm not really familiar to their systems indepth (apart from the Honeywell FMC), as I am with the 737 and the Airbus series.

It would be a trial and (many)error process, but I think I'd be able to start it up - but again - it would not be a smooth procedure  ;D

This question frequently pops up, and I always say the same thing: Give it to a person who has a PPL and he will do a much better job than you ( the regular simmer)  :)

[Chris_F]

I put my chances at taking off, flying the pattern, and successfully landing a Cessna at about 25%.  And I've been flying the MS Flight Sim series since version 1.0 came out.  If someone handed the controls of a 747 to me while in flight (no way I'd ever get the engines started or even taxi to the active) I'd put my chances of survival at about 5%.

The real world is MUCH more complicated then the sim world.  That always holds true.  There's a reason pilots don't do all of their training on a computer.

[BDS]

I'd say Chris is probably most accurate here. Yes, running through procedures could probably get you familiar with how to start her up, maybe even taxi a little, but until you feel the inertia of the mammoth plane underneath you, it would be a task just to make it to the runway.

Taking it to a smaller scale, even a cessna is different in real life than the sim. I have more than 40 hours logged in my never ending quest for my PPL and I would say the greatest benefit from the sim is the sight picture while in the pattern. When turning base to final I find the forces in the sim that carry you past your intended path, etc (provided the sliders are maxxed) really help. Also, you get a feel for how to keep your eyes moving around from the panel to the runway to keep crucial information at the ready (ie airspeed, vs, & rpm).

Still though, nothing simulates thrust, drag, lift, and gravity like the real thing.

[iwannaflySC]

Interesting thread y'all.

[Dan]

I have flown in a Grob 115E Tutorm which is a cool little low wing trainer. I had about 50 hours in FS2002, and my instructor said i was excellent. While i probably couldn't start up / take off. I could probably land without killing myself, but I would probably break something! lol....  ;)
Dan

[jordonj]

Small Props...yes.  Heavies...no...

[mark_av]

I've wondered about this too, and my father once asked the question if I thought I could fly a real airplane.  I responded by saying that if something happened to incapacitate the whole crew, I doubt that the airplane would be in the "pristene" condition that I fly MSFS in!
But, hey, I couldn't do any worse than anyone else!

[codered]

After 9-11 there was the big debate about if someone who learned to fly in FS could actually pilot a real aircraft.  I would have to say yes and know.  A small plane is much easier to fly than a complicated airliner or corporate aircraft.  While some addons try to replicate the systems of a large aircraft, this replication is greatly abbreviated.  If the aircraft was already flying, one could probably take it over and do well.  If one tried to start it up and get it in the air, I don't think they would get out of the gate.  I have plenty of flying experience in small general aviation planes, but I wouldn't have a clue what to do in a large complicated aircraft.

[siron]

So whats the outcome? Can we operate a plane like what we did in the Simulators?

Well I guess for me, I would say not really but we do know some basics? etc? maybe 30%-40% ??

Hmmmmm.....anymore?

[jordonj]

[quote]After 9-11 there was the big debate about if someone who learned to fly in FS could actually pilot a real aircraft.

[Nexus]

Have a look at this picture Siron. This is probably how the aircraft will look like when you enter the cockpit. You think you can get the systems to work?  :D
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/398068/L/

the real 747 is a whole lot more complex than the default one.  :)