I was able to fly an old single engine Cessna about 18 years ago with a friend, but that was only straight and true, no fancy stuff. Ditto for a two engined plane that flew me to MEPS a few years later. Since then, it has been mostly flight sims and AH2.
Well... I started my official real life honest to goodness flying lessons last week. His attitude was "You're here, no sense in just watching. You learn how to fly by doing, not watching. So take the controls.", and away we went down the taxi line. He was impressed by how smoothly I did and how easily I learned the aircraft. He kept probing about my previous flying experience and I assured him I had not acually had my hands on the controls for 12-15 years. Then he asked about flight sims and my response was "a little bit on a MS flight sim and I have been playing Aces High online for 9 mos or so", his eyes lit up and responded "that is a fun game!". Mind you, we were at 5000ft and moving at a wopping 100mph in a 1971 Cessna 150 and it was noisy as Hell.
In my opinion, this game/sim will not teach you how to fly becuase it lacks so many realistic aspects that can not be mimicked. It cant mimick the quick ups and downs, ot the sudden sways left and right. A small planes isnt steady when there is a breath of a breeze or more. There are many other factors as well. However, it can help with the basics of turning, etc. I did take up a P40B and getting it crusing at 150mph. Just ot see if I can try and mimick the Cessna and it wasnt even close.
