Like anything else (and especially like learning to play a guitar) there are two phases you go through learning a skill.

Firstly you start to realize that, for instance you should move the aileron stick 'toward' the drooping wing when the aircraft is coming toward you to level the wings. This is a useful thing to keep telling yourself, but is still no use in difficult situations until you reach the second stage. . .

Guitarists call it 'finger memory' and it's the state you get to when your fingers (or thumbs!) move before you seem to think about it.

It's similar to an experienced tennis player telling you that if he is given time to think about a stroke, he is more likely to fluff it!

It's this second stage that simulators teach you, especially the G2 , which is amazingly realistic. It allows you to get in many hours of experience (and many crashes!) in a much cheaper way than the real thing!

-David C.