having earned a sel private certifate in 1996, if find the checkride in 2004 quite challenging. I've yet to complete the steep turn manuever successfully in my instructors eyes. Held alt,speed and turn to within allowable limits, (actually pegged twice in a row),45 to 60 degree turn and still receive "too shallow of a turn" message. Guess i'd better turn in my logbook. Anyone else experiencing such a message. Tired of trying, takes too long to get to 2000' each attempt.

Yeah, I really botched that checkride in 2K. Haven't tried it yet in 2K4, but it sounds like it's pretty much the same. Too bad they can't give you a restart option or something so you don't have to sit thru the whole thing just to try that part again. I remember hearing that you could use the replay mode to watch your flight, and then take control and fly it differently at any point. Any chance that would work in this situation?

In reply to my own message, I am now a certified FS2004 Private pilot and will sleep much better having successfully pleased my examiner. She was a tough one. I even had a sweaty joystick palm.Good luck to all the future applicants. On to IFR. What a useful program. I used an earlier version in 1995-6 to earn my SEL rating. Really helped. All future pilots could use it. Saved me lots of moo-lah!!

Just curious: what was the trick to passing the steep turn? I haven't tried it yet, but plan to do so soon.KP

In general, I find that if I keep my eyes FIXED on the center dot on the attitude indicator and keep it pegged on the horizon line, I do fine. I've taken it in each sim and passed with that technique.Good Luck,MarcMarc Gibson

It is probably because of incorrectly simulated flight dynamics! Although the FS 2004 dynamics have improved...I found it MUCH easier in the real thing!Unless MS$ spends big $ for a Force Feedback yoke and pedals, where the resistance is programmed into the flight model, I am afraid it is still just a game. But a lot of fun and very realistic in other aspects...Barry

the 20 deg turn to 090 is cake just after takeoff, the 360 to follow is where I had some issues. However, persistance paid off and I finally satisfied the examiner. Good Luck!!

>In general, I find that if I keep my eyes FIXED on the center>dot on the attitude indicator and keep it pegged on the>horizon line, I do fine. I've taken it in each sim and passed>with that technique.>>Good Luck,>>Marc>>Marc GibsonYes but, this is VFR (eyes outside the cockpit). Whatever works , though. I read a book by A Vietnam pilot who almost got thrown out of selection because his instructor was convinced he was cheating. In a heads down exercise without access to instruments, he held the horizon perfectly. The instructor thought he ws peeking. Lucky the pilot mentioned he picked a shadow falling across his legs and held it in place. If I remember correctly, the pilot at first thought that this was cheating (and not thinking outside the box).

Three phases of the turn be aware: entry, during, leaving. EntrySetup your airplane before beginning the turn. Reach maneuver speed, around 100Kts. Trim. Know that when you enter the turn, the airplane will slow down. Know that in a 360 turn you will be expected to end in the same heading you're now. So, once ready, bank the wings to a 45 degree angle. At the same time, increse power slightly to compensate for the slow down due to centrifugal force. Same force is going to make the nose go down, so apply slight up pressure. DuringKeep rapid scanning between your attitude indicator to maintain the 45 deg bank, your altimeter to ensure you're neither climbing nor decending, and your heading indicator to see when you're about to reach the departure heading.LeavingWhen you're about 10-20 degrees from the departing heading, slowly shallow the bank. Recall you applied power at the entry phase, so slowly take it off to exit at the same entry speed.I've taken it several times, and always have passed. Just as I did for real during my private checkride. Credit goes to my instructor, George G. Regards,Dave Vega