I recently embarked on my first flight lesson, something I’ve wanted to do for many years now. Having spent the better part of 30 years experiencing flight with PC based simulators, I was curious to see how close to the real thing sims can be.
I remember my grandfather, who flew planes in World War II, telling me that to really experience flying you have to “feel it in your butt.” This advice stuck with me over the years, and when I took my first hands-on flying experience it became clear just how important feeling the plane and the air around it is for piloting it successfully.
I trained in a Piper Cherokee 140, which is known to be a good aircraft for beginners. My instructor handled the takeoff, but soon enough, I took control and was responsible for keeping the plane stable and maintaining altitude. Conditions were quite bumpy on this first flight, making it even more challenging. But this turbulence became a valuable part of the lesson, helping me to get accustomed to the controls and feeling how the air interacts with them.
What struck me most about the real flight was how different it felt compared to simulators. Despite decades of flying in virtual worlds, the physical input — how the air interacts with the plane — was something completely new. By the second half of the flight, I started to get more comfortable, even managing to land the plane successfully. My instructor said about 90% of the landing was my own doing! Unlike in the simulator, where I frequently veer off the runway, I managed to keep the real plane on the center line (or at least close enough to it).
One thing that simulators do get right is the visual aspect. I’ve been using the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it was amazing to see how closely the simulated environment resembled the real world. Flying over Hartford, Connecticut in the simulator looked very much like the actual experience, from the city skyline to the water reflections. However, the feel of the controls in the real plane was another story. The simulator controls I’ve been using are not even a close representation of the real thing.. In fact I found flying the real plane easier than the simulator!
As I continue my flight training, I’m sure I’ll gain even more insights, and I look forward to sharing them with those interested in aviation. To that end I’ve started a new channel at https://lon.tv/flying where I’ll post diaries of my flight training progress. Right now there’s no content up there but I will be uploading soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!