Flight Simulator Merit/Activity badge for Scouts

[snowdrop]

Hi,

First, let me introduce myself. I am an Air Scout Leader in Great Britain and I

[machineman9]

Hmm... Personally I think it would be just too easy to gain. I don't really see it as having something special behind it, just a bit of time practising. To me a badge means working hard for atleast some weeks and going through some training which makes it worthwhile at the end.

(Air Training Corps cadet)


But I don't know how they do things like that in scouts. I don't know how the importance changes or how the criterion are different to get badges.


But I don't quite get what you want from us. What did you want to really find out, sorry?

[snowdrop]

How about,

As experienced users of Flight Simulator software, what would you expect a 12 year old to know about and be able to demonstrate with a flight simulator that just doesn't involve the classic taking off, zooming around at full throttle before stalling and crashing.

I recognise that ATC standards are more rigourous but the intended audience is also younger.

[Groundbound1]

Hello, snowdrop, and welcome to SimV.

Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9) comes with a complete set of "flyable" lessons, and after successful completion of each, a printable "certificate" is made available. That might be a good place to start.

I haven't known age to be a determining factor when it comes to actual skill, so that would be a hard question to answer. I will say that the lessons start off very simple, and everything is explained quite thoroughly, so that people of all ages can follow them.

I think you'd find however, that the ATC is usually oversimplified, and may not provide any real, worth while experience, but the rest may prove useful for developing other basic skills like coordinated turn techniques, stall recovery, etc.

Hope this was helpful.

[flyboy 28]

I'm an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and I got the Aviation badge a few years back. Pretty much everything you mentioned for the flight sim badge was covered in our Aviation badge, except for the simulated circuit proficiency part. It was rather extensive and fun. I'm not sure if you have a general Aviation badge over there, but that may be something to consider in terms of practicality for the Scout.

-James

p.s. Nice to meet a fellow scouter!

[expat]

You could also mix in some form of real aviation. Learning the components, what they do, how they operate. I am not talking the internal ins and outs, but more like the function of the flying surfaces. What would prop pitch be used for, what are flaps for. Maybe add a aircraft spotting requirement. They have to note down every aircraft seen for a month and try to identify it. Also as already pointed out, FSX has missions and goals to achieve. A possible visit to an airport/air field as a group activity. Plenty of aircraft museums. The prospective candidate has to produce an report on a chosen aircraft and then fly that aircraft in the sim. Lots of possibilities, just question of finding a balance for 12 year olds.


Matt

[C]

I think Matt and GB1 have good suggestions. For example you could do no worse than a group visit to a local, or even national museum (where, if you don't mind me asking, are you based?). A visit to a local airfield may be fairly painless to arrange too. Real pilot types like talking about themselves, sorry, flying, and I suspect most local clubs would enjoy enthusing a young group about the joys of flying.

[snowdrop]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to remove any confusion, we are based at Biggin Hill airport and have several qualified pilots amongst our staff. Recently we have restored a DeHavilland Comet 4 cockpit and linked it to MS FSX and a beamer which is where this new requirement has grown from.

When I previously mentioned ATC, I was referring to the UK Air Training Corps  (similar to the US Civil Air Patrol?) and not Air Traffic Control.

We already have a syllabus that covers concepts such as Lift. Weight, Drag Thrust, Primary flying control surfaces, Aircraft recognition and aircraft instrumentation.

What I am trying to do is to produce some requirements that a young person is  capable of using a Flight Simulator to the best effect and that they understand what they are doing. In other words, can they drive the software correctly and gain something from it.

I'd forgotten about the lessons in FS and will visit these again to see if I can steal some ideas.

 

[H]

As experienced users of Flight Simulator software, what would you expect a 12 year old to know about and be able to demonstrate with a flight simulator that just doesn't involve the classic taking off, zooming around at full throttle before stalling and crashing.

Ouch... even as a predominant flyer of the older CFS1 (howbeit, some simming with CFS2, FS98 and FS2002pro) I rarely ever end a mission without attempting a successful landing (the sim plane -- I try to stay seated in front of the monitor during the entire procedure). In reality, I assisted in training bomber and fighter-bomber units against ground-to-air radar and only had flight lessons in a Cessna.
I also agree that age isn't the deciding factor. Still, although much is operationally the same between all types of aircraft, there are a few differences when flying different types, just as there are a few differences between civilian and military procedures; you may wish to categorize in that respect.

This reminds me that there is also a growing field in remote-controlled military aircraft.

8-)

[C]

[quote]Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to remove any confusion, we are based at Biggin Hill airport and have several qualified pilots amongst our staff. Recently we have restored a DeHavilland Comet 4 cockpit and linked it to MS FSX and a beamer which is where this new requirement has grown from.

[TSC.]

have several qualified pilots amongst our staff.

Would these qualified pilots be willing to act as instructors /examiners for your scouts?

The reason I ask is because one of our own members who is an instuctor has set up a 'virtual' PPL syllabus for members here to work their way through (SEE HERE). Maybe you could set up something like that?, The students/scouts can do their training (at home if possible) & then perform an FS checkride on your trainer whilst being evaluated by your qualified pilots. The result being a 'Virtual PPL' if all the criteria are passed.



TSC.

[expat]

[quote][quote]Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to remove any confusion, we are based at Biggin Hill airport and have several qualified pilots amongst our staff. Recently we have restored a DeHavilland Comet 4 cockpit and linked it to MS FSX and a beamer which is where this new requirement has grown from.

[C]

[quote][quote][quote]Thanks for all the replies so far.

Just to remove any confusion, we are based at Biggin Hill airport and have several qualified pilots amongst our staff. Recently we have restored a DeHavilland Comet 4 cockpit and linked it to MS FSX and a beamer which is where this new requirement has grown from.

[machineman9]

Well several things, in that case, which they should be able to do:


Take off, obviously

Fly a circuit (set pre-determined altitudes, headings etc)

Plan a route. Not as hard as it sounds. Teach them very basic navigation and compass work so they can get headings... give them a map... make them plot a good route to follow.

Fly a route. Maybe the one they made? A lowish altitude route in less-than-great weather conditions


Maybe that, tied in with completing some tutorial missions might be worth it. Route planning should be quite alright... and will definately help them out in the future if they do walks or DofE type things.

[Wii]

I'll just add this in...
Be able to add/change radio frequencies etc. Using the Comm. and Nav. radios etc.
Use the basics on the standard C172 GPS.