I envy you...I haven't flown as PIC for years now (cost, change of profession, marriage). A wing leveler would certainly have been helpful a few times.

While flying at night in '72 under Chicago Center with an ice storm bearing down on us from the west (several hours away), we suddenly lost all of our Nav instruments and lighting. We had to declare an emergency.  Luckily, I was not flying alone that night - my partner handled the radio (which luckily was still working) while I flew the aircraft by flashlight.  If I had been alone under those circumstances, flying by flashlight, handling charts and Coms, I would have thanked God for a wing leveler...

22 minutes ago, RandallR said:

I envy you...I haven't flown as PIC for years now (cost, change of profession, marriage). A wing leveler would certainly have been helpful a few times.

While flying at night in '72 under Chicago Center with an ice storm bearing down on us from the west (several hours away), we suddenly lost all of our Nav instruments and lighting. We had to declare an emergency.  Luckily, I was not flying alone that night - my partner handled the radio (which luckily was still working) while I flew the aircraft by flashlight.  If I had been alone under those circumstances, flying by flashlight, handling charts and Coms, I would have thanked God for a wing leveler...

Well, I have a lot of folks coming back to flying after 20-30 years of being in idle. The great news right "light sport" airplane category doesn't require medical certificate. My oldest student was 80 years old

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

I've been instrument rated since 2003 and flew instruments on autopilot only twice IRL 🙂

This!

Its information like this that makes these forums worth it.

Simmers are trying to do things “as real as it gets” and the real truth is not what we assume!

Thanks for the insight @SDFlyer its input like this that’s invaluable! 🙂

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

Well, I have a lot of folks coming back to flying after 20-30 years of being in idle. The great news right "light sport" airplane category doesn't require medical certificate. My oldest student was 80 years old

My wife told me a couple of years ago that if I wanted to take up flying again that was OK - really warmed my heart. The thing is - at now 71 years of age, even though very healthy, I am concerned that I might have some kind of medical trauma in the next decade while flying, especially if she was also in the aircraft.

Years ago, there used to be a program for spouses, where they were taught to safely get an aircraft down in case their spouse was incapacitated. Knowing my wife's capabilities (we all have our different skills and aptitudes) this is a program she would never be a part of. 🙂

Guess that's why I enjoy simming so much - not the same as the real world, of course, But, I can practice procedures and go places virtually that I used to do and go years ago.  Also, I get to experience high performance aircraft far beyond my initial certifications and experience (the most advanced aircraft I got to handle in the RW was the Queen Air).

Once this pandemic is over, I might get some dual time in again and see what develops...

That's a good woman, @RandallR! I took 16 years off from flying and got back into it 18 months ago after my wife gave her blessing. We are lucky guys for sure.

@Cmcollazo71 what @sd_flyer didn't tell you is that the reason he didn't use autopilot all those years is because some of real autopilots fly as well as the ones currently modeled in MSFS 😂