Hello friends,

I'm a 31 year old male (husband, father of 3, business owner), on the cusp of being able to afford a real plane (and building a house right next to someone with a grass airstrip - woohoo!). 

I've been fascinated with flying my entire life. One of the very first computer "games" I saved up for was Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000. I used only my keyboard, but even as a 14 year old, I was captivated. I never tired of what my friends considered the peak of boredom. 

Since then I've flown commercials a hundred times, and I've got two friends with planes. One who has a share in an old beat up Skyhawk; the other who has a very nice 2-seat kit plate with excellent technology. 

Admittedly, the feeling of not being in control and the constant vertical shifting of weightlessness and over-weightedness is still something I am struggling to get used to - probably how an Amish kid feels the first few times he's in a car. (In general, I still assume I'm going to die every time we go up. I'm not stoked about the idea, but I am religious and carry a lot of life insurance, and flying is something I *really* want to do and get good at. Anyway: I am looking forward to getting over that.) 

If flying is anything like driving (I drive an M3 pretty hard, often much faster than a Cessna 72, haha), I think I'll be a natural and that I'll love it. 

 

Okay, anyway: I came here to learn, and to do as much ahead of time with real, top-notch Sim equipment so that as much intuitive skill as possible will transfer and translate when I make the move. I'd love to get an Icon A5, if/when they come down to $120k-150k, but will realistically probably get an older Cessna. I just love that angle of attack gauge. 

 

THANK YOU all for all the accumulated knowledge and wisdom here, and I can't wait to learn as much as I can. 

Welcome to AVSIM!  Sounds like you have some nice dreams.  I think you'll learn a lot.  What sim are you planning to use or will you be using all of them.  I recommend Lockheed's Prepar3D.  Enjoy!