SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject:

Okay, about the 'shirt' thing....

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

(Highlight this text with your mouse to read the message)
Upon completing your solo flight, the flight instructor will cut the shirt off your back, literally, with scissors (some will just grab and rip it), and will write or draw his congratulatory message.

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject:

Yes!! Planes have heaters, but not many general aviation planes have A/C. About the shirt, after you come back from your solo flight, they CUT THE LOWER BACK OF YOUR SHIRT OFF!!

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:07 am Post subject:

I'll be SURE to wear the old red shirt then. Laughing

So, they do have heaters? Good. I doubted they had A/C in the first place. However, the 2006 Cessna 182 Skylane is offered with A/C, with an additional price of $29,000. That's a lot for A/C. But, I'd bet it helps. Cool

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: Have fun

Having completed my student pilot licence all I can tell you is that there is a lot of study you will have to do.
They will proberly start you in cessna 150 which is a little 2 seater thats made to be thrown around a little then later you will proberly progress to a cessna 172 which is a dream to fly its a very forgiving aircraft very hard to stall.
Anyway good luck have fun and when you do your first solo you will be a little white knuckled but once you land you will book for your next solo.
Gary Very Happy

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject:

The cessna 172 is very forgiving, and easy to fly.

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject:

All this talk of flying has prompted me to call my local FBO. That, and the weather's awesome today. I might just have to get current.

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject:

The instructor did tell me there would be a pile of books ready for me after the intro flight. And he said we would take the Cessna 150. A two-seater?

Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject:

Yep. A 152 (let's hope it's not a 150 for your first flights - it's smaller and has less hp) is like an old Volkswagen Beetle with wings. But it can take the abuse, and it's very forgiving, although I think they did have a tendency to spin out of deep stalls.

Learn to dance on those rudders, that'll keep you out of trouble when performing power-on stalls.

Here's a link: http://www.cessna150-152club.com/

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:45 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the information, everyone. I'm getting really excited about my first flight. I can't wait to see the ground underneathe the plane get further and further away. My grandpa asked me if I was going to get my shirt tail cut off. So I guess that confirms why not to wear a good shirt. But what about rudders? I read on the FS that they're not used much during flight. Turn coordination is about the only thing it said they were used for. That's something I'll need to practice on (with flight sim of course). Cool

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject:

Good luck, FSPilot. Will you be flying out of KEET (Shelby Co?) - I took my discovery flight there when I was living in Pelham.

THe rudders, IMHO, are the most poorly simulated part of FS2004. I guess with the right plane model, and a CH Flight Yoke/Rudder combination you could come close to being able to practice rudder technique, but for me, it's totally different.

For example, I can't slip/crab the default 172 like a real one.

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:

As a matter of fact, Tenspace, that's exactly where I'll be flying from. Shelby County Airport (KEET) is 4 miles from where I live. So, you lived in Pelham? Awesome. It's cool to meet someone that was right next to me in here. I live in Alabaster. Smile

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:57 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I'm down in Destin now... finally escaped Birmingham LOL.

KEET's a good airport to fly from... it used to be 21A, if I'm not mistaken. Just watch out for crazy NASCAR drivers. I was at Bessemer when Bobby Allison decided to make some low passes at full throttle in his Piper Malibu.

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:40 pm Post subject:

KEET is an alright airport. Did you know an instructor named Keith? I belive that's the name of the one I talked to. There is quite a bit of air traffic here currently. Right now (5:39pm) there's a thunderstorm brewing and I'm still seeing planes go over. They're either getting in before it hits or getting out...

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

My flight instructor was a short, chubby guy named Greg. I don't remember a Keith, but then again, FBOs go through instructors all the time.

Just be thankful that the 117th TAC Recon isn't based at KBHM anymore. The MOAs were east and south of KEET, and you'd be flying along when an RF-4 would come blazing by. Scary at first, but kind of cool. I imagine he saw me long before I saw him.