Thanks for the information, everyone. I am certain it will come in handy at the field. If anyone should have any thing else to add, please, feel free to post it. Like I said, I want my first flights to be successful flights, and I think that through your knowledge I can make that happen.
Also, Eagle, thanks for posting the correct process to land in a strong cross wind, I was actually already doing something very similar. It is good to see that I was close to being right (In the sim, anyway. It remains to be seen how I do with the real thing).
mrbass, I don't think I will remove the air brakes just yet. The simulator has them installed and I think it would be unwise to change the flight characteristics of the real thing before gaining some flight time at the field after practicing in the simulator for so long. Still, I appreciate your comments, and I do plan on removing them when I think I am ready, just not yet.
wrig, it is interesting you should mention that you have difficulty in landing on the runway in the sim. I had the same problems until about the 5th hour in the sim, after that I was able to line up about 95% of the time. What I do is concentrate on the shado beneath the plane in addition to the plane itself. Although, I do agree with you, the simulator does lack peripheral vision, which, I am sure, will have a strong effect on my landings. I will be sure to keep a close eye on the landing gear. I have seen, and heard, countless tales on forums and reviews across the internet about wayward landing gear, I don't intend for the same thing to happen to me.
warhwk, I will be sure to use only the rudder several times in the simulator. Heh, although, that will bring back bad memories of my first RC plane, a 2 channel .049 Cox EZ-Bee. Heh, that was the worst remote control experience I have ever had. I hope I never have to see another one of those evil abominations again.
Pilot Chad, thanks for the information. Whenever I do use the rudder I always use (Or try to anyway) the ailerons to keep her level. Especially on landings.
By the way, what is the AMA? I checked the AMA forum but found little more than petty political bickering on the evil of park fliers and how the hobby is doomed to die a horrendous, yet rapid, death due to a constantly dropping membership, FAA restrictions, evil, galaxy destroying park fliers, accidental collisions, alien abductions, "old people"
, poor leadership, a plague of locusts o'er the land and a secret conspiracy by the governments of the world. Normally, I wouldn’t really concern or associate myself with an organization that seems to have so many internal conflicts and be so universally hated, but it doesn’t seem like I will have much of a choice. The club I plan on joining seems to require an AMA license to fly. [
] Still, I suppose I might as well make the best of this situatation.
Oh, one more thing, is there anyone from the Loveland propbusters (near Cincinnati, Ohio) on this forum?