Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
The AVSIM Community

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Real World Pilot, or Sim Pilot only?

Noel
in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020/2024)

Real World Pilot, or Sim Pilot only? 77 members have voted

  1. 1. Do you currently have or have you ever had a PPL?

    • YES
      62%
      48
    • NO
      37%
      29

  2. 2. If you answered YES above, have you ever flown commercially?

    • YES
      24%
      19
    • NO
      75%
      58

  3. 3. Are you essentially a Sim Pilot Only, never having meaningfully flown any plane in the real world?

    • YES
      40%
      31
    • NO
      59%
      46

  4. 4. If you answered YES re Sim Pilot Only, how many years have you been flight simming?

    • 1-5y
      1%
      1
    • 6-10y
      5%
      4
    • 11-15y
      5%
      4
    • >=20y
      88%
      68

Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Featured Replies

Just for fun looking at Avsim members who frequent the MSFS forums. So if you use the other flight sim fine, doesn't matter for this poll.

Noel

System:  9900X3D Noctua NH-D15 G2, MSI Pro 650-P WiFi, G.SKILL  64GB (2 x 32GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 6000, WD NVMe 2Tb x 1, Sabrent NVMe 2Tb x 1, RTX 4090 FE, Corsair RM1000W PSU, Win11 Home, LG Ultra Curved Gsync Ultimate 3440x1440, Phanteks Enthoo Pro Case, TCA Boeing Edition Yoke & TQ, Cessna Trim Wheel, RTSS Framerate Limiter w/ Front Edge Sync.

Aircraft used in MSFS 2024:  Fenix A320,  Aerosoft CRJs, I-Fly 737 MAX 8, PMDG 777-200LR, Citation Longitude.

 

5 minutes ago, vbazillio said:

Impossible. Doesn't really make sense

Ra0R2T.png

I had the same issue. Cannot meaningfully answer the poll if you are NOT sim pilot only...

FWIW I have ~450 hours of flight time from about 2000-2008

    •
    • Like 2

    Yeah, the last question states it's for sim pilots only.

    Yet the poll mechanism insists you answer it.

    Bill 😎
    FS2024 • Currently enjoying : ISW Evektor EV-97, A2A Comanche 2024 & Aerostar • Black Square Commander 114, Bonanzas, Barons, C208, TBM850, Dukes • COWS DA40 & DA42 • FSW Legacy, C24R Sierra & C414 • Echo Falco F8L • Got Friends A32 Vixxen • FSReborn Sirius TL3000 • Flying Fries Gabriel 160TR • Flyboy Rans S6S • Skyward DA50RG • SWS Zenith CH701, RV-8, RV-10, RV-14 • Bagolu C172M & ICP Savannah Currently flying IRL: Evektor EV-97 EuroStar, Pipersport SportCruiser, Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, Bristell Classic, TL Sirius TL-3000, Rans S6LS
    TrackIR • BeyondATC • PMS GTN Payware • RealTurb • Axis & Ohs
    9800X3D • RTX 3080 • 64GB DDR5-6000
    Former PPL IR, grounded by diabetes. Now UK NPPL(M)

    Plus #4 suggests only simpilots can answer this or IRL pilots do not flightsim

    Phil Leaven

    i5 10600KF, 32 GB 3200 RAM, ASUS 4070 12GB EVO, Asus ROG Z490-H, 2 WD Black NVME for each Win11 (500GB) and MSFS (1TB), Rolling Cache 16GB, Photogrammetry always OFF, Live Weather and Live Traffic always ON, Res 2560x1440 on 27"

    • Like 1
    • Author
    8 hours ago, vbazillio said:

    Impossible. Doesn't really make sense

    Ra0R2T.png

    This is a question about members here that are ONLY Sim Pilots, never RW pilots. And for that group, I'm curious how many have been at flight simming long term, yet never jumped into RW piloting. I'm in that group and have been at it over 20y.

    Noel

    System:  9900X3D Noctua NH-D15 G2, MSI Pro 650-P WiFi, G.SKILL  64GB (2 x 32GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 6000, WD NVMe 2Tb x 1, Sabrent NVMe 2Tb x 1, RTX 4090 FE, Corsair RM1000W PSU, Win11 Home, LG Ultra Curved Gsync Ultimate 3440x1440, Phanteks Enthoo Pro Case, TCA Boeing Edition Yoke & TQ, Cessna Trim Wheel, RTSS Framerate Limiter w/ Front Edge Sync.

    Aircraft used in MSFS 2024:  Fenix A320,  Aerosoft CRJs, I-Fly 737 MAX 8, PMDG 777-200LR, Citation Longitude.

     

    9 hours ago, vbazillio said:

    Impossible. Doesn't really make sense

    Ra0R2T.png

    I answered the sim pilot question even though I’ve got a PPL.

    Cheers, Pete

    Pete Solov - Lake in the Hills 3CK

    and Schaumburg Regional 06C
    Proud AOPA Member - PPL 2001
    Real World Piper Cherokee Pilot

    58 minutes ago, Noel said:

    This is a question about members here that are ONLY Sim Pilots, never RW pilots. And for that group, I'm curious how many have been at flight simming long term, yet never jumped into RW piloting. I'm in that group and have been at it over 20y.

    I'm still confused. #3 does not logically connect - it is negated by #1 and #2

    •
    • Like 2
    10 hours ago, Noel said:

    Just for fun looking at Avsim members who frequent the MSFS forums. So if you use the other flight sim fine, doesn't matter for this poll.

    I'll help you out - Navigraph has already done the hard work and answered all your questions and then some which probably includes a bunch of AVSIM users.

    https://navigraph.com/blog/survey-2026

    Gaming rig
    Intel i9 13900k - NZXT Kraken Z73 cooler - ASUS Maximus Hero Z790 
    64GB Trident Z 6400MHz DDR5 - Gigabyte 4090 GAMING OC 24G
    10 x 120mm Lian Li UNI fans - Lian Li OD11XL Case - Corsair HX1500i PSU

    3 hours ago, Noel said:

    This is a question about members here that are ONLY Sim Pilots, never RW pilots.

    If question #4 is only for those who are only sim pilots, don't make it mandatory to all.

    That's my point from the beginning. If you're a real pilot as well as a sim pilot you can't fill the whole survey or you have to fake question #4 which is weird for a survey ;)

    Edited by vbazillio

    Vincent B.
    Check my free MSFS sceneries : https://flightsim.to/profile/vbazillio/trending and my hardware configuration.

    • Like 3

    So you're not interested in national licenses? I have a Dutch national microlight license (max MTOW 600 kg). I'm a pilot too, you know! 😜

    Cheers, Bert

    Be Quiet! Pure Base 501 - black | ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WIFI | AMD RYZEN 7 9850X3D - 4,7GHz | Kingston FURY Beast 32GB RGB (6000Mhz) | Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB (M.2) | NVIDIA RTX 5080 16GB | Be quiet! Dark Rock Elite | be quiet! Pure Power 13 M (1000Watt)

    •
    • Like 2
    • Upvote 1
    2 minutes ago, Rimshot said:

    So you're not interested in national licenses? I have a Dutch national microlight license (max MTOW 600 kg). I'm a pilot too, you know! 😜

    Sport and microlight categories are real pilots, as far as I'm concerned. Just with lotsa limitations, but it's all about fun right? Just can't take more than one person anywhere, or very far

    •
    • Like 2
    10 hours ago, Noel said:

    This is a question about members here that are ONLY Sim Pilots, never RW pilots.

    Yes but what we're saying is that, even though you intended that question to only be for 'sim pilots only', the poll won't let you submit your choices unless you also complete that question. It's set as mandatory for everyone completing the poll, not just 'sim pilots'. That's what @vbazillio is explaining also.

    Bill 😎
    FS2024 • Currently enjoying : ISW Evektor EV-97, A2A Comanche 2024 & Aerostar • Black Square Commander 114, Bonanzas, Barons, C208, TBM850, Dukes • COWS DA40 & DA42 • FSW Legacy, C24R Sierra & C414 • Echo Falco F8L • Got Friends A32 Vixxen • FSReborn Sirius TL3000 • Flying Fries Gabriel 160TR • Flyboy Rans S6S • Skyward DA50RG • SWS Zenith CH701, RV-8, RV-10, RV-14 • Bagolu C172M & ICP Savannah Currently flying IRL: Evektor EV-97 EuroStar, Pipersport SportCruiser, Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, Bristell Classic, TL Sirius TL-3000, Rans S6LS
    TrackIR • BeyondATC • PMS GTN Payware • RealTurb • Axis & Ohs
    9800X3D • RTX 3080 • 64GB DDR5-6000
    Former PPL IR, grounded by diabetes. Now UK NPPL(M)

    •
    • Like 1

    Despite the flaw I like the questions.

    I've been seriously simming since 2011 (when FSX was suddenly on sale) and more seriously ever since (from single screen and Microsoft sidewinder joystick to quad 4k TV's and throttle/stick/yoke/pedals/VR/laptop/ etc.).

    Less serious simming happened between the early 80s on our C64 and via Amiga500 to 386/486/pentiums and amd's when I occasionally flew jet fighters, c172 or Learjet using my keyboard😀.

    The question how long I've been simming exactly was hard to answer.

    Have a nice day!

    Jozeff

    • Author
    16 hours ago, JYW said:

    Yeah, the last question states it's for sim pilots only.

    Yet the poll mechanism insists you answer it.

    I see what you're saying. For those that are also RW pilots, and since the poll demands an answer to all questions, I think it's safe to assume those RW pilots who also sim are going to choose the numbers of years of simming that best fits for them, right.

    It's showing what I had hoped. So far, exactly 2/3 of respondents are or have been active RW pilots. And, nearly all have been simming over 20y.

    Cheers

    Noel

    System:  9900X3D Noctua NH-D15 G2, MSI Pro 650-P WiFi, G.SKILL  64GB (2 x 32GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 6000, WD NVMe 2Tb x 1, Sabrent NVMe 2Tb x 1, RTX 4090 FE, Corsair RM1000W PSU, Win11 Home, LG Ultra Curved Gsync Ultimate 3440x1440, Phanteks Enthoo Pro Case, TCA Boeing Edition Yoke & TQ, Cessna Trim Wheel, RTSS Framerate Limiter w/ Front Edge Sync.

    Aircraft used in MSFS 2024:  Fenix A320,  Aerosoft CRJs, I-Fly 737 MAX 8, PMDG 777-200LR, Citation Longitude.

     

    •
    • Like 1

    Create an account or sign in to comment
    Go to topic listing

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.