ORIGINAL: on_your_six
Funny how two people can disagree more on this subject. While I respect your opinion, I find that the sim gives me so much more time on the sticks that it has to make me a better pilot than I would be if it did not exist. I have learned rolling circles, pyro flips and any number of timing maneuvers on the sim. I guess that I do not notice the lack of depth perception that you call out. If the major airlines, DOD pilots and private pilots use simulators, I am glad to join their ranks. It is possible to use the 3D modes of the graphics cards and goggles to see in 3D, but I rarely use it. My depth perception must be different than yours.
More than anything, I don't think some people has the right computer equipment to enjoy the full experience. It is costly, but worth it in my opinion. As I said, I do respect your opinion not to use this tool.
Agreed. Before I even attmpted to fly inverted, I spent a lot of time on RealFlight getting oriented to everything being backwards. Once I was comfortable flying inverted on RealFlight I tried it at the field. I won't tell anyone that it was easy, or that I was super smooth, but I was able to fly figure eights inverted and I did bring my plane back in one piece.
Like an earlier poster said "Remember that every crash on the simulator is free - the same crash on a model will cost a bunch."
Once I was comfortable on the