Poll : would you be able to land a plane in RL ?

[Dingy]

Yes I think I could.  Never had problems here, never had problems in MS Flight Sim 2000.  Even handled virtual crosswinds    

Lemme ask you guys something: anyone else ever have fantasies while flying on a jet of a frantic stewardess coming running out of the cockpit asking if there was a pilot on board?  I can imagine it now:

Scene: A transatlantic flight from Bonn to NY.  Dinner has just been served on the flight and numerous passengers (and crew) have been incapacitated with food poisoning.  The line to the bathroom spans the length of the 777 and at the end of it are ALL the pilots who then pass out from dehydration.

Stewardess: <frantic>  "Is there anyone on board who is a pilot?"  

Dingy: "I've flown various planes: Mustang P-51, Nik, 109s, 190s, Beechcraft KingAirs, Cessnas, and Lears.  I'll help."

With some help from ATC, Dingy successfully lands the plane (not pretty tho) and saves the day.      As I lean back and revel in a job well done, its only then that I found out all I did was turn on the autopilot to let the 777 land itself! ARGGGH!


Anyone else ever imagine that or am I just sick! LOL!

------------------
-Ding
33rd Strike Group www.33rd.org
   


[This message has been edited by Dingy (edited 11-19-2000).]

[TheWobble]

Ill take a pic of my 51 and some inflight shots aswell and such and post them soon.

No sorry no guns on it though  
i have been tempted to make some bombs for it but i think that would not be wise once the authorites got a hold of me.  besides if the wrong people saw me i could end up on the bad end of a AIM 120's flight.

[Kieren]

I soloed in Ultralights in 1-1/2 hours. Most of the reason would be attributed to my aviation interests. Yes, if you can land here, you can land in real life. Wings level, watch speed, watch descent rate, flare, touchdown!

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I'm a flight Instructor, I'm deeply convinced that any of you guys can land a little general aviation aircraft in a no wind condition.

Now when you have a strong crosswind or small windshears, this is where you guys will range from barrely stay on the runway after a rought landing to runing off the tarmac and scrap the grass on 200 yards.

[Saintaw]

I'm with you on that one Dingy  

[Replicant]

Well I had a flying lesson during the summer and I found it a lot easier than I expected.  Like Fury I thought taxiing was the most difficult!  Lucky for me my instructor had a lot of confidence in me and let me make two unassisted landings - he was ready to take control if necessary.  It was an incredibly windy day and on approach I was having to stear full left then right etc., to keep the plane straight but that all added to the fun!  Okay, it was only a Cessna 152 but I found the approach easier to contend with and you have a better perspective of everything around you - I found myself checking all around me all the time as if I was checking my SA!    I was also surprised at the rate of climb or to be more precise then angle you climb of which you can't get to grips with in a flight sim.  I just wish I could afford to have more lessons!!  

Regards

'Nexx'

[Dinger]

I thought they served different meals to the pilot and copilot...

[54Ed]

I've flown several types of planes, and currently fly aerobatics.  I played flight sims (BoB) before I took my first lessons in '92, and it definitely helped me learn faster.

A tricycle-gear airplane like a Cessna?  Yes, you could probably get it on the ground by yourself.  You might bounce like Captain Kangaroo, but with a nice wide runway and easy wind conditions you could do it.

A tailwheel aircraft?  No, you would almost certainly roll it into a ball.  

[Maverick]

I can and do land a RL plane regularly.

Once I got rudder pedals and used them in AW I did notice my rudder technique improved. The practice of using the rudders for yaw got me to the point that I don't have to consciously think about having to use them and then start the process. It is much more automatic for me now.

Mav

[Karnak]

Every so often there are news reports of light aircraft being landed by people who have never flown before after the pilot becomes disabled.

The last one happened a few months ago in Florida.  A family had hired a Cessna to fly them home and on the way, the pilot died.  The father, who had never flown, took control and contacted an airtraffic controller who put him in contact with an instructor who was flying nearby.  The instructor successfully talked the guy through the landing.  It wasn't a pretty landing, but the guy saved his family.

Given how much I've pondered aircraft and how they work, yes, I think I could land a light aircraft if conditions were good.
I'm not saying that it would be pretty, but I think I could do it.

Sisu
-Karnak

[CyranoAH]

Just one thing, remember that if you've never flown a RL plane and you DO regularly drive a car with no automatic gear shifting, the moment you touch the ground and start going on the pedals, you will most definitely go to the left  

I fly a Robin 120, nice lo-wing two-seater. Swift and very agile, has similar performances to a 152.

Oh, and flying sims makes you look more inside the plane -instruments- than outside (which you should do)  

I like AH, but there's nothing like flying RL

Daniel, aka CyranoAH

[Dago]

Dinger, you are right, they do serve differant meals to the flight crews.  Both pilots are not to eat the same meal.
I work at an airline and have flown jumpseat on many flights, I know this is accurate.

Dago

[washout]

 

Originally posted by Saintaw:
Well, Flying Sims myself (but wearing glasses 1inch thick, or nearly...). I often wondered if I could land a Real plane (Kinda like in the movie "Airplane", but I'd start with a Cesna).

What do you think ?
B]

Saintaw,

Anyone can land a plane (i have several hours solo in Cessnas and Pipers)...  With a bit of practice anyone can even land one by themselves...  Landing a plane WELL is the hard part.

[Weave]

If Torque wasn't on my six, maybe

...Weave

[Kirin]

Heheh you right Cyrano, AH (pre 1.4 FM) is harder...  

Only flew Piper Warrior/Archer and Cessna 152 and they were so pilot-friendly you hardly had to do anything to keep that plane up...  as for the landings: did power-off, no-flaps landings regularly and they were way easier than here...    What I would like to do is fly one of those monster-engine warbirds we have here - weeeeeeeeeeeeeee - wouldn't bet my money on landing that one...  

Dingy, you read my fantasies...