ILS Help

[MeekRN]

nope, i set it up to be a female voice

[steve s]

Ahh, I was under the impression he was wondering how to do an AP approach. Hand flying it is hard!!! Yup, I would start with a Cessna too!

Yeah.. that was probably the initial intention of this thread.. but they tend to wander a bit

[Anxyous]

Ahh, I was under the impression he was wondering how to do an AP approach. Hand flying it is hard!!! Yup, I would start with a Cessna too!

Yeah.. that was probably the initial intention of this thread.. but they tend to wander a bit

[steve s]

Well you still got know how much to turn them, and to what setting...no?

[Brett_Henderson]

This is an excellent point. Getting the aircraft to the point where the A/P can take over, is not an easy task (if done realistically). That does indeed take a bit of piloting skill.

But there is absolutely no substitute for flying it down the ILS by hand. You get a real feel for how important things like a stabilized approach; proper configuration; exact altitudes and airspeeds, can be. When you've got one hand on the throttle, and one hand on the yoke.. and you're trying to keep the needles centered AND keep the airpseed nailed, you are REALLY honing those piloting reflexes. Your sub-conscious instincts get strengthened.. and you'll see your non ILS approaches, in perfect VFR get noticeably better too !

I mean.. if you're gonna take the time to fire up the sim and sit in front of the monitor.. why on earth would you ignore THE most realistic and important part of the "simulation" ?

[steve s]

Agreed.....I make no case for ignoring or neglecting the part of flying that is as important as honing your skills with hands on.  I'm just pointing out that with the flight sim and the quite unrealistic feel that the FS joystick has, and the lack of rudder with the feet (for the most part), and the lost "seat of the pants" feel,  the knowledge required is no less important whether using the AP or not.  It also requires some skills, and a certain amount of that "seat of the pants " memory that for the most part is only achieved by the hands on flying.

I think it is unrealistic for any Sim pilot to feel that if he learns to use the AP first that he can fly without is just as good second.  I believe we all agree on that.  But, I for one enjoy not having to use the simulated feel of the joystick while flying in many situations.  And in these situations the AP is the only other option.  I agree also that more knowledge is required for the ILS, IFR situations than is required of the AP in these same situations, and all those guys flying the AP without the hands on knowledge is doing himself an injustice.

[Brett_Henderson]

Well stated... but I have to point something out. The lack of, "seat of the pants".. and even a difficult to use joystick, actually make MSFS the instrument simulator that it is.

I've worked closely with instrument instructors using both 'On Top' (the original, FAA approved software), and FSX.. and we all agree that desktop simulators make great instrument trainers BECAUSE of these limitations. They FORCE you to rely more on your instrument scan, than on traditional sensations and visual inputs. What you see and feel are not only gone while IMC.. your traditional controling techniques go out the window, too.

Instrument flying (especially IMC approaches) requires a whole new mindset, and well honed ability to rely SOLEY on instruments. That's why the FAA has approved software like this for logging up to 10 hours toward your real instrument rating..

[RC1977]

i dont see anything wrong in using the AP,.i use it almost all the time.That's why its there to use it right?!that's why even real pilots turn the AP on because its damm good.

[BFMF]

i dont see anything wrong in using the AP,.i use it almost all the time.That's why its there to use it right?!that's why even real pilots turn the AP on because its damm good.

It's there to use as a tool, and a resource for pilots. Even real pilots have to be proficient in hand flying an ILS approach. I personally prefer to hand fly an ILS approach. It's a rewarding challenge...

[steve s]

It's also pretty cool to know that a $50 piece of software can fly the ILS approach pretty damn good as well.

[RC1977]

[quote]It's also pretty cool to know that a $50 piece of software can fly the ILS approach pretty damn good as well.