Yours truly before heading into the sim...  We are actually on the second floor on a platform.

 

 

Now the inevitable question, could I fly the plane.  Absolutely...  Could I do it well, absolutely not (at first)  First off the weight of the controls.  Like paperclips if the AC is properly in trim, like lifting weights if it is out.  The tendency of a simmer to constantly counter every movement with a counter movement.  Ridiculous to a r/w pilot.  Move the controls to where you want them, hold them there and re-trim the AC.  The difference between being in trim and out of trim in the real world was what I found the be the biggest variable in how easy it was to control the plane.  It took me a while but eventually I was spot on with the F/D, adhering to every instruction and command and greasing the landings.  If I were ever put in that situation on my own in a real world flight deck, I just think I would be overwhelmed tbh.  The amount of WORK and CONCENTRATION was truly surprising.  I came out of an hour long session mentally exhausted.  I also went on to race Ferrari's in the afternoon  but I think the concentration level in the sim was right up their with trying to hit an apex in a race spec Ferrari.  Very different type of work but work altogether!!  

For anyone who "thinks" they would just hop in the right or left seat and pick it up like they were sitting at their computer I can assure you that once in the flight deck everything changes!!!  Learning to trust the aircraft systems does not come easily and just nosing over and holding it there "feels" unnatural.  So to answer the age old question...  I would wager 95% of us would end up anywhere but safely on the runway and if you did get her down good luck figuring out the toe brakes!!!

 

PS.  Here is the Ferrari

 

1) Did you feel like you were going to get mugged in that area? The walk from the DL campus to the hotel is always a but fun!

 

2) Did you eat at spondivits? http://www.spondivits.net/

This was in Vegas!!

Awe my bad! I've been spending a lot of time at the Delta campus in ATL since we're ferrying our old 767s over there every so often. I always seem to find friends in recurrent-sim, almost get mugged, and then eat my fill of crab legs. 

Did you eat at spondivits? 

 

I had that at one time, the doctor gave me some pills and it cleared up within three days!