so how many degrees should I do on approach?

There's not a precise angle. It will vary according to wind. If you have a stong downward wind, you'll have to maintain a higher angle and if you have a strong upward wind you'll have to maintaing a lower angle. Just maintain VREF+5 in landing configuration. Probably you'll get 3 to 5 degrees on final approach.

LOL....Seriously, you think a real 747 pilot wants to play FSX after a hard days work flying the real thing?I would hope they have proper access to proper simulations not a £30 game.Chris Farrell

LOL....Seriously, you think a real 747 pilot wants to play FSX after a hard days work flying the real thing?I would hope they have proper access to proper simulations not a £30 game.Chris Farrell

This is not about pilots that use FSX after work. It's about pilots that have a INITIAL training in a PC simulator, like FSX, using addons like PMDG to gain a basic experience before moving to a real simulator and go deeper in the training. And if you're not aware, many pilots (I didn't said all of them) enjoy using PC simulators to have a basic experience in other aircrafts or to try situations they couldn't do in a real airplane and have a bit more experience in the aircraft they pilot.

Thanks for that!....glad you emphasised the word basics, as this is what it is.CheersChris Farrell.

Thanks for that!....glad you emphasised the word basics, as this is what it is.CheersChris Farrell.

I don't think you know what you're talking about. Do you even use PMDG? Judging by your comments you're obviously trying to mock and insult people. By calling FSX a cheap "game" and insinuating that PMDG is just a joke compared to the real thing. First, I think you're underestimating the complexity and authenticity of the PMDG products. And second, I think you should drop the nasty attitude, it's not very pleasant.

Guys, show a little perspective please. PMDG, while only a "£30 game", accuratly reproduces many procedures a RW pilot must stay familiar with. It is no match for a £600 per hour full motion simulator, but then it doesn't cost £600 an hour to use.

By calling FSX a cheap "game" and insinuating that PMDG is just a joke compared to the real thing.

Your words not mine....I've never insinuated that. Please don't try to put words in my mouth. Thank you!!!! and FSX is quite cheap at £30, no mystery there.Fsx is broken in many ways and companies like PMDG do a really good job at putting the icing on the cake, but, it doesn't change the fact that FSX, as a base, is flawed. For training, I guess it's ok for providing basic navigational awareness, procedure awareness, basic knowing your way around, but, no add-on company can 100% accurately simulate any plane in FSX. FACT! Therefore it is no good for any kind of REAL training, it's just a bit of toe dipping to get you started.FSX is fun and I spend at least 2-3 hours a day in it but I'm not going to delude myself. Just my opinion, no need to get protectionist or upset, take it or leave it.BTW, If I hear a real pilot refer to FSX as training, there's no way I would be flying on that airline :(....I can imagine...First Officer: What does that button do?...Captain: Oh yeah that, don't worry about it, it's not simulated!, look! see!!, it doesn't even move.First Officer: But look at the decent rate!!! GLIDE SLOPE GLIDE SLOPE.. TERRAIN TERRAIN ...PULL UP PULL UPCaptain: Hey, chill!, don't worry, I've turned down all the realism settings. It'll be fine.PAX: :(:(:Praying:CheersChris Farrell

Your words not mine....I've never insinuated that. Please don't try to put words in my mouth. Thank you!!!! and FSX is quite cheap at £30, no mystery there.Fsx is broken in many ways and companies like PMDG do a really good job at putting the icing on the cake, but, it doesn't change the fact that FSX, as a base, is flawed. For training, I guess it's ok for providing basic navigational awareness, procedure awareness, basic knowing your way around, but, no add-on company can 100% accurately simulate any plane in FSX. FACT! Therefore it is no good for any kind of REAL training, it's just a bit of toe dipping to get you started.FSX is fun and I spend at least 2-3 hours a day in it but I'm not going to delude myself. Just my opinion, no need to get protectionist or upset, take it or leave it.BTW, If I hear a real pilot refer to FSX as training, there's no way I would be flying on that airline :(....I can imagine...First Officer: What does that button do?...Captain: Oh yeah that, don't worry about it, it's not simulated!, look! see!!, it doesn't even move.First Officer: But look at the decent rate!!! GLIDE SLOPE GLIDE SLOPE.. TERRAIN TERRAIN ...PULL UP PULL UPCaptain: Hey, chill!, don't worry, I've turned down all the realism settings. It'll be fine.PAX: :(:(:Praying:CheersChris Farrell

Hi Chris,I felt an ugent need to respond to you. I can only assume that you are not a real world pilot. let me put it this way. A flight simulator can be used for training. It cannot substitute a level d sim or indeed the real thing. What it can be used for is cockpit familirization, procedure knowledge, FMS/FMGS training. Some friends of mine is flying the 737NG and they used the PMDG one doing their initial type rating and they now fly for Ryanair. Doing my own type rating on the "scarebus" I had a great advantage, because I knew about the EFIS instruments and the general operation of the aircraft. (all of us was straight from steam instruments) I wouldn't have known the A320 as well as I do with out the good old PSS airbus. Yes, the DES profile was a bit off and a lot of things didn't work, but it does give you an overall understanding of the aircraft. My sim buddy haven't tuched FS at all and he was not used to monitor the FMA and the speeds that jets fly at. These things are great for what they are and you just have to respect their shortcommings and limitations. And Chris, our "real" trainging was sitting 8hours a day infront of a poster mounted on some plywood. You see, for a fraction of the cost of a level D sim or indeed a MFTD the computer version can greatly increase cost efficiency and training quality. All because the student can see the airplane in action and interveine with it in real time. Hope this helps,Martin Dahlerup

Your words not mine....I've never insinuated that. Please don't try to put words in my mouth. Thank you!!!! and FSX is quite cheap at £30, no mystery there.Fsx is broken in many ways and companies like PMDG do a really good job at putting the icing on the cake, but, it doesn't change the fact that FSX, as a base, is flawed. For training, I guess it's ok for providing basic navigational awareness, procedure awareness, basic knowing your way around, but, no add-on company can 100% accurately simulate any plane in FSX. FACT! Therefore it is no good for any kind of REAL training, it's just a bit of toe dipping to get you started.[...]Chris Farrell

I didn't feel insultated by his comment at all. Actually, I have to agree with him. I know PMDG planes, I know how many time and resources they spent on them and I know the level of realism their planes have, but the plataform they use, in this case FSX, can't make you "feel" some details that a real pilot has to feel, it can't simulate some features that a pilot has to recognize in order to fly his plane propely. For example, you will have no problems passing thought a severe thunderstorm because FS don't simulate the stress that the turbulence will cause to your plane. You can go throught a severe icing layer because without anti-icing because if you instruments freeze, you can switch to spot view or click CTRL+Z to turn on that little subtitles to check your actual altitude. You won't lose aerodinamics because FS can't simulate that. There is NO reason for you to think that only using FSX or FS9 you'll be able to pilot a real airplane. Training in a real airline simulator is primordial for you to feel those small details that make all the difference during flight.

C'mon guy's let's get serious here. No one is claiming these products are a subtitue for the real thing and I don't know any commercial pilots that get home and fire up FS for serious training. So let's be clear, these products can be a excellent source of additional training eg Systems and understanding FMA mode's and gotcha's on the real thing. Have any of you had a look at the FMGS trainers that pilots use at home? You would be better of using a PMDG product, and as mentioned above a lot of training is spent in front of a cardboard cut out all day.I have allways said PMDG products are great system trainers, even if they have access to LVLD quality data on the 737NGX,MD11,744 nobody owns the hardware to realistically simulate the feel of these aircraft.And for those who think the full motion $60 mill LVL-D sims replicate the real thing, they also function on known data, once you get out of the normal flight envelope the sim has to guess how the real thing will behave, and that guess can be completely wrong.

damn its hard to keep 2 degrees. I normally do 5-10 degrees at normal landing speed 140-150 knots. When I do 2 degrees I go like 180-190 knots. When I do 140 knots at 2 degrees I lose altitude and then crash. How should I do 2 degrees at the regular landing speed?

he means that you should flare the plane +2 degrees of what you currently are,,for example if you are coming in 5 degrees approach, at 30 ft ASL you should go to 7 degrees and the retard (not mental problems) the engines Hope i HelpLuis Laurencio

between 2 and 3

you cant go lower than 2.5 on final approach,,at full flaps and at VREF +5 you will be fine at 5 degrees, as you said depends on the wind but normally it will be the same angle for all landings because of the laws of physics if you are using the right speed you should be getting the same lift component on each landing

Just to add to the FS to real world training I can speak a litle from personal experience. I started messing around with Flight Sim when I was 13 and had no idea what a traffic pattern was. After three years of Flight Sim I learned the basics of the ILS approach and even learned approach charts. Coming to a part 141 school, I finished my private and instrument training in only 8 months...... to give you an idea, some of my classmates haven't even soloed yet. Flight Sim has given me a great base and basic knowledge that made flight training much easier. I also recall practicing basicthings like holds and holding entries on FSX and after a whole night of dme/vor/localizer holds, I was much more proficient at it. Its a great tool for learning and PMDG adds to this experience by creating realistic systems and equipment that responds very close to the "real thing".

Just to add to the FS to real world training I can speak a litle from personal experience. I started messing around with Flight Sim when I was 13 and had no idea what a traffic pattern was. After three years of Flight Sim I learned the basics of the ILS approach and even learned approach charts. Coming to a part 141 school, I finished my private and instrument training in only 8 months...... to give you an idea, some of my classmates haven't even soloed yet. Flight Sim has given me a great base and basic knowledge that made flight training much easier. I also recall practicing basicthings like holds and holding entries on FSX and after a whole night of dme/vor/localizer holds, I was much more proficient at it. Its a great tool for learning and PMDG adds to this experience by creating realistic systems and equipment that responds very close to the "real thing".

I agree. My friend that I met on FS in fact started his training and he told me that he is way ahead of everyone else in his class. Sure FS doesn't train you but it does give you a huge advantage compared to some one that has never touched FS.

FSX/PMDG offer a good opportunity for at home practice. I use it for practice and familiarisation on things like RNAV approach procedures, and also to have a quick refresh on airfields I've not been to for a while.A few days practice going over emergencies and procedures on the PMDG before going in for a full motion sim check allows you to get everything straight in your head before hand and pays real dividends.Its also good for getting your instrument scan rate up to speed.I've no need to feel the simulation of motion or the physical feel of the buttons and controls, I'm quite used to all that, most of todays modern flying is done in the head anyway. Before the days of home PC sims pilots would sit in an armchair and run over procedures and routes in their head, known as armchair flying, so a fully interactive sim like PMDG is obviously much better.I also use FSX for leisure allowing me to fly exotic aircraft and behave like a hooligan without all the rigid regulations and restrictions I experience in the day job.Jon Buntingcapt 744