the yoke in this sim was very heavy and had about a 25-35 lb torque on it

Wow. I got some work to do to match this at home. Thanks for the info.

Wow. I got some work to do to match this at home. Thanks for the info.

 

I quote myself: 

 

 

 

Of course the controls in the sim have nothing to do with the real plane (at least for the vast majority of simmers who don't have fancy controls, me included), BUT, you get used to the feeling almost instantly. It's like driving a new car

 

I think that trying to replicate the exact feel of the real yoke is useless because:

 

1) You can't really do much with descriptions of the kind "it's hard" "it's soft". You need precise, objective data (numbers) that Boeing won't hand out to the public easily.

 

2) Even if you had the exact data, you'd never be able to replicate it unless you spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours "trying" to adjust it.

 

3) It doesn't really matter that much for the reason I said on the quote. You don't "need" the exact same yoke feel to have a realistic simulation.

 

What I defend is the idea of the "plausible" generic simulation system. That is, good computer(s), maybe 3 monitors or a projector, dedicated seat, good hardware, rudders, yoke (generic ones from PFC, which ain't cheap), maybe a generic MCP and a generic radio panel... A really cool system like this can be achieved for 10.000$

 

BUT, if you tried to replicate the real cockpit of a 737 for instance, you'll end up spending way more (add one zero to the previous estimation) than that and would never achieve the feeling of flying the real thing because that's impossible on the budget of private person. You'd be better off building yourself the "generic plausible" cockpit and going once a year to a full-motion simulator. In fact, you'd be better off getting your PPL and flying for real

 

EDIT: I'm not trying to offend anyone, please, don't misunderstand me. I'm aware that sometimes I may sound as if I was angry, quite the contrary, it's just that I forget to put all the smileys at the right places

I'm not sure if it's the same facility since I know there are more than 1 full motion facilities in Toronto. I did the A320 in Vancouver, where I live, so I don't know if the Air Canada facility in Toronto is where Savidge did his.

It's Ufly, to confirm the facility Pinlifter mentions above.  They are getting tons of free publicity on CNN, and I'm going to be visiting Toronto this September, I just might want to stop by!   Yes, it's a fixed base sim, but that may help explain why the rates are so affordable.

I saw their web site and the sim looks great.  At that price, I am, off to Toronto in the summer.  I think I could live without the motion.  I do a comparison and see which is better. 

Paul, do you have a link to the simulator you rented? Was it in Florida?

 

Is it open to public?

 

regards

Kjetil

Norway

Yes, it is in Miami, open to the public, but you must be a US citizen (they checked my passport to get clearance).

Again with the terrorist paranoia... oh dear lord!

Awesome Paul... Thanks for sharing!!!

Awesome guys!! I took a 737CL sim for a spin last year and after having flown the NGX for almost a year I felt very familiar in the sim (even though it was a classic and not a NG). Reading the FCOM and FCTM also helps a lot with system knowledge and various landing/flare techniques. Addons like FS2CREW also give a great insight into a multi-crew environment and how the roles of both pilots are combined. 

 

And indeed, the "big" level-d sims are much easier to flare and just feel more natural and precise than what you'd get at home with FSX and your 50$ setup but as far as systems and procedures go FSX is a decent simulator.

 

 

 

Having visited a full-motion, level-d sim has once again proved to me that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. 

Hey Paul!

 

You probably don't remember me, but we shared 2 simulator flights at the United Airlines training center during the AVSIM conference in Denver almost exactly 10 years ago!  You flew the B767 and me the A320.  What a blast!  Its great that we both continue to enjoy flight simulation.  I am happy that you got to fly the T7 sim!

 

Al

Paul, do you have a link to the simulator you rented? Was it in Florida?

 

 

 

Is it open to public?

 

You might consider British Airways Flight Training in London. They have a wide range of aircraft, including 747 and 777, both fixed and full motion. If I lived in the UK, that's where I'd go and I don't think they have any nationality requirements. I'm sure there is something similar in Germay but I can't find it just now.

 

Opportunities are limited in Canada so I'll just make do with the UFly simulator outside Toronto. As far as I can see, it looks as if CNN has booked it for the rest of March plus beginning of April.

Yes, I do remember.  Damn, you have great memory.  That was the best conference ever.  United opened the whole complex to us and I think over 100 of us got to fly in Level D sims during the 2 days there.  I wish we could repeat that.  After that, I continued booking sim times just about every year based on what PMDG or LevelD rolls out.  I've done all the Boeings (except the 787).  If someone makes a good 787 for FSX(HINT!!), it'll cost me another $1000 and a trip somewhere in the world to try it out.

Though that Toronto deal with UFly seems good.  I need an excuse (for the wife) to go to Toronto in the summer.

The UFly simulator in Toronto should have a wide open schedule now that Martin Savidge has traded in the 777 for a submarine sim in Vancouver.  I just saw on the news that the sim pilot Mitchell (forgot his last name) has been let go for apparently "not dressing up enough" for the CNN cameras.  Guess the plaid shirts didn't cut it ^_^   With as much time as CNN spent in the 777 sim, one would have thought the UFly managers would have let Mitchell know early on to start wearing a shirt and tie for the cams instead of waiting until CNN's sim time was up some 5 plus weeks later.

Were CNN trying to replicate every possible scenario regarding MH370 in real-time? I've said it before and I'll say it again: let the investigators do their jobs.

 

Best regards,

Robin.

Have you been seeing the Flight 370 news on CNN lately?   Martin Savidge has run a few segments with himself and an instructor in a full motion 777 sim near Toronto, in Mississauga, could this be the same facility?

 

It's not a full motion sim, and did you hear the instructor they had on CNN got fired for "making Canadians look unprofessional" due to his work attire.  Pathetic.