Why do you play Microsoft Flight Simulator ?

[simmerhead 885]

Love aviation, flying, geography, travel, maps and computers... FS combines all of those neatly into one entertaining package. 

[David Mills 4,753]

On 11/28/2019 at 3:28 AM, Superdelphinus said:

I am often most interested in the take off and landing bits of flying, and less on the rest of it - I find cruising incredibly boring and pointless in a game.

 

I once heard flying described as "long hours of boredom sandwiched between two moments of absolute terror."

 

[jpc55 185]

That was spoken by pappy boyington!

[Cyrex1984 176]

Because i love everything about airplanes and aviation, couldt afford to become a pilot.

[cmpbellsjc 2,960]

13 hours ago, simmerhead said:

Love aviation, flying, geography, travel, maps and computers... FS combines all of those neatly into one entertaining package. 

That’s exactly right. Prior to really getting involved in the FS9 days I didn’t really know a lot about computers, didn’t travel outside my country, did fly and work on a PPL, and was so so with world geography.

Now all these years later I’ve learned so much about computers mainly from having to build them and maintain them for sim purposes. I’ve gotten really interesting in world geography and traveling so much just from simming that I’ve actually traveled to central and South America, Europe and some  Caribbean islands just because I enjoyed flying there in the sim and wanted to see them in real life. I’ve learned a ton about a lot of other countries and cities, some of which I had never even heard of prior to flying to them in the sim.

When you think about it, using the flight sim aside from the aviation part of it, can be a great tool to learn about the world and will be even better in MSFS2020 with the more realistic landscapes.

[Dominique_K 10,138]

It is more expensive to go to the pub.

[Brandon01110 407]

It helps me overcome my ED

[gpf3m 41]

On 11/29/2019 at 3:44 PM, simmerhead said:

Love aviation, flying, geography, travel, maps and computers... FS combines all of those neatly into one entertaining package. 

👍👍👍

[RALF9636 1,951]

On 11/29/2019 at 9:44 PM, simmerhead said:

Love aviation, flying, geography, travel, maps and computers... FS combines all of those neatly into one entertaining package. 

 

On 11/30/2019 at 11:20 AM, cmpbellsjc said:

That’s exactly right. Prior to really getting involved in the FS9 days I didn’t really know a lot about computers, didn’t travel outside my country, did fly and work on a PPL, and was so so with world geography.

Now all these years later I’ve learned so much about computers mainly from having to build them and maintain them for sim purposes. I’ve gotten really interesting in world geography and traveling so much just from simming that I’ve actually traveled to central and South America, Europe and some  Caribbean islands just because I enjoyed flying there in the sim and wanted to see them in real life. I’ve learned a ton about a lot of other countries and cities, some of which I had never even heard of prior to flying to them in the sim.

When you think about it, using the flight sim aside from the aviation part of it, can be a great tool to learn about the world and will be even better in MSFS2020 with the more realistic landscapes.

Pretty much sums up my feelings as well. Add to that the challenge to learn to master a complex airliner and the satisfaction it brings when you finally feel at home in the virtual cockpit staying ahead of the aircraft under all conditions.

It's a great hobby these days and will get even better next year hopefully.

 

Edited December 1, 2019 by RALF9636

[charliearon 3,023]

Heck, where else can you drink and fly an aircraft?

[188AHC 2,138]

Oh my. You didn't really say Play did you. Don't you know this is serious stuff and requires hours of training and a few dollars (mostly for beer and snacks). 😂😂

JK. I fly the computer now because I don't fly as PIC any longer. It helps keep me sharp. 

[SKEWR 364]

In the beginning, low to mid teens, I decided I would be an airline pilot. I bought every simulator I could and read what I could get my hands on (which was sadly not much at that time) I studied the military flight exams in High School and in my senior year, I had an amazing aptitude score for both the Navy and Air Force. Can't remember why these days, but instead of flying the Navy wanted me to do Nuclear something or other and the AF also wanted me to do something other than I wanted to do. In hindsight, I should have gone with it and negotiated. But I was young, naive and had no guidance...

 

During and after college I began flight training. When I first got up in the air, I was a little disappointed as I couldn't do as I wanted. I loved the structure of the checklist and ATC flow, but maintaining a heading and altitude in the hot summers over NJ wasn't what i had learned in the Flight Sims. It bothered me. But I kept going... until I saw it wasn't going to be financially viable to make the hours I needed.

 

Now? I still love flying, I love airliners, I love the thought of being an airline pilot and the ONLY way I can get those feelings now is in flight sims. Sadly I see and work with pilots daily and is a constant reminder that I could not attain my dream. I flew $25 million 777 simulator this summer. It was one of the best experiences in my life (no exaggerations). Senior training captain complimented me on my scan and techniques which should have made me happy, and it did for awhile... But sometimes all I think of is what could have been...

 

So here I am: A broken dreams, wannabe pilot. A washout. But I just can't escape the satisfying feeling of a properly planned and successful execution of a flight. 

[Superdelphinus 718]

14 hours ago, charliearon said:

Heck, where else can you drink and fly an aircraft?

Ryannair, if their taxiing is anything to go by

[Krakin 5,748]

Because flying is fun, I like planes, wanted to be a pilot and this is probably the closest I'll ever get to that.

[n4gix 4,947]

9 hours ago, SKEWR said:

So here I am: A broken dreams, wannabe pilot. A washout. But I just can't escape the satisfying feeling of a properly planned and successful execution of a flight. 

You are not a "washout" my friend.  You are a victim of circumstances entirely beyond your control.

If I were inclined to have any regrets at all, it would only be that I wasn't as knowledgable and wise in 1964 as I am today...