Jeff Van West - Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots

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Microsoft Flight Simulator X for Pilots: Real-World Training

Published by

Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 970-0-764-58822-8

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To C., B., one yet to seeand all the other pilots of tomorrow.

About the Authors

Jeff Van West (Portland, Maine) is the editor of the professional pilot magazine IFR and a contributor to AOPA Pilot , Aviation Consumer , Aviation Safety , and the Internet aviation magazine AVweb . He has also written more than a dozen books, CD-ROMs, and training curricula on computers and general aviation, including Combat Flight Simulator 2: The Inside Moves for Microsoft Press. He is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in single- and multiengine airplanes and single-engine seaplanes and has developed training programs for glass-panel, technologically advanced aircraft as well as antiques that dont even have electrical systems.

Kevin Lane-Cummings (Seattle, Washington) is the features and columns editor for AVweb and does freelance editing for several other aviation magazines. He is also the chief ground instructor at Wings Aloft, a flight club at Boeing Field, Seattle, andas a CFI therespecializes in technologically advanced aircraft. Kevin has been in science education for years, including managing two planetariums. Kevin also coaches people in giving technical presentations and sings in a jazz choir.

Credits

Acquisitions Editor

Chris Webb

Development Editor

Kelly Dobbs Henthorne

Technical Editor

Dr. Andrew Herd

Production Editor

Sarah Groff-Palermo

Copy Editor

Kim Wimpsett

Editorial Manager

Mary Beth Wakefield

Production Manager

Tim Tate

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Joseph B. Wikert

Book Designer

Patrick Cunningham

Proofreading

Nancy Riddiough

Indexing

Ted Laux

Anniversary Logo Design

Richard Pacifico

Acknowledgments

We doubt any two individuals could create a book like this on their own. We are deeply grateful for the assistance of many people in making this project possible. Chris Webb of Wiley Publishing has shown superhuman patience and faith in seeing the project get off the ground as well as jumping in where needed to make equipment loans work or find key team members. Kelly Dobbs Henthorne, our production editor, and Dr. Andrew Herd, our technical editor, found the short circuits and loose ends within our manuscript and kept us on track. The artists and designers at Wiley also have our thanks for putting everything together in such a great-looking book.

On the computer side of things, thanks to Microsofts FS evangelist Hal Byran and also Leon Rozenshein. Fred Zanegood is thanked for his parts-scrounging skills. Thanks to all members of the FS group at Microsoft and the Microsoft beta testers for their work making FSX the amazing experience it is. Thanks to both Alienware and WidowPC for their support of this project. Without their hardwarewell, it wouldnt have been nearly as much fun.

The greatest thanks, however, goes to our mentors and students and our spouses and children. Their enthusiasm and patience lets us learn new things everyday.

Part I

Preflight

Intro

Why Use Flight Simulator for Real-World Training?

Flying is so many parts skill, so many parts planning, so many parts maintenance, and so many parts luck. The trick is to reduce the luck by increasing the others.

David L. Baker

If you spend enough time around the airport, or just instructing students, you find that everyone comes to flying with a story. One of the secrets to good flight instruction is to find out what a students story is, because thats how you find out what motivates them. Thats the reason they want to fly.

Some folks love the freedom of being in the air or traveling hundreds of miles in just a couple of hours. Some folks love the technical details and perfecting their technique. Some people even come to aviation to conquer their fear of heights or of flying itself. No matter what your story, however, some underlying drivesome passionis motivating you and can be satisfied only by learning to fly.