Good cheap Cessna flight simulator?

Hey there pilots!



I've sold my motorcycle and I'm getting a private pilot's license next semester (may have to wait till summer though). I've budgeted myself for 55 hours but when the time comes I'll have enough money to go higher if I need it. The place I will be going to get instructed says they require a minimum of 40 hours but to be prepared for 55-85.



I want to be ready as much as I can when I get there so I was wondering if any of you could recommend a flight simulation game. I will be flying a Cessna (1978 Cessna 152) with a Cirrus cockpit so I guess it would have to be a 2003 game.



Before you all say anything, I realize very well that a flight simulator is in no way an adequate substitute for the real thing. I know that in real life everything is different down to my crappy little logitech joystick. I don't in any way expect that after being good at a flight simulator that I know anything about flying an aircraft. I just want to prepare myself the best I can. Thanks!Good cheap Cessna flight simulator?
Flight sims are great for training. I recommend this for the private and instrument training . The Microsoft flight Sim X. I realize that it is an expensive program to run since the computer requirements are huge. But the older ones do the same basic thing. They are great fr learning how to navigate and fly real time to get familiar with pilotage and dead reckoning skills. I will also give a link for learning about VOR's and how they work.

http://roye.home.netcom.com/flighttraini鈥?/a>

Anything that helps you maintain and expand your knowledge is worth doing.

Good luck
Well i recomend FSX cause its just like reall life they actaully time like reall life like going to Italy for example its actually going to take you 8 ours to fly and the best thing of all you can downlaod any aircraft you want and have fun ;).

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Good cheap Cessna flight simulator?
Hey, I congratulate you for looking into it. I did the same thing, and it helped. Got me aware of how to read instruments, where they were, etc. You're right, it's no substitute for flying, but it's another tool in the arsenal.

If I may, I'd like to recommend three other things....

First, get your medical out of the way first. There's no worse thing, than spending a lot of money on training, and then not being able to get your medical. Mine was about $100...

Second, check out http://www.Sportys.com/faatest - It's a great way to study toward your written. Try to devote 10 to 15 minutes a day. You can even take the practice exam to see how you are doing.

Third, join AOPA. You'll get access to a bunch of stuff that you'd otherwise have to pay for, and you get many great resources online to boot.

As for flight sims, get one with the panel of the plane you are going to be flying. I flew the 71 model 152, so MS Flight Sim 98 was fine for me.

Oh, and it's a 'Certificate', and only a 'License' to learn....

Good luck...
My suggestion for your pre-lesson would be to get a basic configuration of your cockpit and learn all the instruments from there.



For instance, Turn coordinator, Altimeter, Heading Indicator, etc. Find out what all those do and how they relate to the plane.



I am also studying to become a pilot. I have just finished my second lesson in a 1980 Cessna 152. It's a small plane but alot of fun cause you can feel even the slightest wind.



If you have any questions please email me. I love talking about aviation.Good cheap Cessna flight simulator?
get microsoft flight simulator 2000, 2002 or 2004.



flight sim X isn't a good choice coze not all pcs can give you a great performance. They all have at least one Cessna. ( 172, 182, 208 etc.)
MS FSX. Go to the flight training section. Fly the 172 with realism settings to realistic.



You are right that this is no replacement for the real thing, but the concepts that you will learn are the same (coordinating a turn, traffic patterns, etc.)



There is no real substitute for the feedback from the plane (pre-stall shudder can only really be experienced in real life) but this is a good one. And, when you are done with your "lesson" you can have some fun.
Congrats on the decision to get your pilot's license !!



I've found the Microsoft lineup does well. You can get the unloaded version which is perfectly fine for ~$30-$40 (deluxe is $50-60?) There are plenty of websites on line where you can also "download" airplane make / models that are compatible - my guess is a Cirrus is out there somewhere. I've downloaded everything from WW2 airplanes to other civilian plane types - see website attached



As you noted, the simulator is no substitute, BUT it makes a great supplement. I've found they are good for practicing standard procedures you will learn in training (practice startup checklist, stalls, steep turns, emergency operations, and of course the beloved "patternwork".



Also, I enjoy the Microsoft speech where you can use the keyboard to communicate as you fly. Most of us were shy about using the radios when we started. However, the simulator gives a great sense of the lingo and when to say what



The cool thing is that you can set it up to fly at the airport where you will be flying out of. So there may be landmarks in your neighborhood. It helps you get used to the local area environment.



The only area i dont think Simulators work well with is winds / crosswinds. Weather works well, but to practice things like crosswind landings - in my opinion you need to buy too many gizmos (rudder pedals,etc.) to be able to adjust the sensitivities. Things like this in my opinion you'll only learn from real experience in the plane with your instructor. There is a feel to it and you'll understand it with time



A great tool - have fun and best of luck !!!