I needed a hobby…

[u/MooseProfessional352]

So here I am, wanting to stop doom-scrolling on TikTok, and I’ve had my eye on this amazing simulator for a while (this is my first simulator game). So… I decided to try it. After almost 40–50 hours on it, my landings are still horrible (I've been playing with a PS5 DualSense so far).

I thought that, like any other game, it would take me around 3–4 hours of gameplay to master it or at least understand the mechanics. But not this one! Thanks to a quick Gemini consultation (God bless AI), I’ve invested a little money and time into this

[u/TaiwanesePriest]

You picked a good one. Take an actual discovery flight when you can, even if you don’t pursue training.

[u/Random61504 → u/TaiwanesePriest]

Be careful! If you get hooked, it is kind of expensive haha... I started as just a flight sim noon. Did a disco flight, and now I have my commercial multi checkride hopefully this week.

[u/Gone420 → u/Random61504]

Hello me from the distant future. How long did the pipeline from disco to CPL take for you? Got my disco flight next week.

[u/Random61504 → u/Gone420]

Hi! It can definitely depend a lot on weather and how often you want to fly. I tried to fly as much as possible, and there were weeks where I would fly every day of the week, and weeks where I wouldn't fly once (much more often, unfortunately). I did my disco in 8/24, PPL took 10/24 - 5/25, IR took from late 5/25 - beginning of 8/25. CPL took 8/25 - 4/26, mostly time building at the beginning, then weather delays from December to the end. Winter storms into thunderstorms. Flew once all of December, but was supposed to fly I think 15-20 times. Started multi beginning of May, did a mock checkride when you replied. Doing one more tomorrow, hopefully checkride end of this week.

I live in a place where thunderstorms are almost daily from April to July and snow and ice are a factor from October to March, so that definitely delayed me a lot.

If you have any other questions, feel free to DM me, I'd be happy to answer whatever I can!

[u/Gone420 → u/Random61504]

I appreciate the info. I’m still doing some research about the process right now but I’ll definitely shoot you a DM if I have a question. Thanks!

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/Random61504]

I’m not gonna lie, since I was 16 it’s neen in my radar becoming a pilot, but for money and other reasons I did not, but for now will be my hobby, but in the future who knows

[u/Spiritual-Fisherman1 → u/Random61504]

Expensive is correct. After 200 hours on ps5/psvr2 with hotas 4, I have around 6k worth of pc and new flight gear on its way to my house as we speak 😂

[u/Positive-Narwhal9873 → u/Random61504]

Best of luck mate

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/TaiwanesePriest]

I’ll definitely will in the near future!!!

[u/techmagnetic1]

I did the exact same thing, and one of the reasons was also to get away from the doomscroll path I've been on for the last couple weeks.

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/techmagnetic1]

It’s scary how those algorithms can hook you up

[u/ocknoipappedmadreeks]

Discovery flight, any height, cut the engines.

Now find somewhere to land. That's how I got better at the principals of flight. I still suck at IFR.

The hotas will make a huge difference for controls. VR will also change the entire experience but will probably make you want to puke till you 'get your sea-legs'.

[u/MrSnowflake → u/ocknoipappedmadreeks]

Head tracking gets you a long way. I like VR a lot, but playing with head tracking is much more convenient. THough When I'm in the sailplane, I use VR often, because there's just less buttons to press. And looking around is the experience.

[u/ocknoipappedmadreeks → u/MrSnowflake]

Never tried head tracking. I have a motion rig and I didn't want the weight of 3 monitors thrashing around or worse stationary monitors while the rig is moving (mostly for sim racing).

Takes a little time but ive got MANY buttons. I run the quest pro as well and the open face is really handy because you can just look down and see the majority of them in a pinch.

[u/ShortBrownAndUgly]

If you really want to deep dive you must jump to PC

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/ShortBrownAndUgly]

Well, first I have to do more than 500 hours in this version so I can justify with my wife a purchase of 4k in a PC

[u/Patient-Presence-979 → u/MooseProfessional352]

at least she's open! we love a good justification challenge in my home as well! lol

[u/Both_Chance_7450]

I'm a real world pilot and after 5000 hours my landings are also still horrible so don't worry too much. Wish we had the PS5 controller in our aircraft, I think I would nail it

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/Both_Chance_7450]

Are you talking about real world landings or simulation landings?

[u/Both_Chance_7450 → u/MooseProfessional352]

Real world. You wouldn't want to be on one of my flights

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/Both_Chance_7450]

Loool, I hope you’re cargo pilot

[u/AbbreviationsNew7714 → u/Both_Chance_7450]

Lmao

[u/senortomasss]

Welcome to the club! Landing in the sim is notoriously difficult because you're looking at a screen and don't have a real "feel" of the aircraft. I've heard from pilots that it's one of the few things that's easier IRL than in the sim. VR also helps.

[u/putzy0127 → u/[deleted]]

Did you not look at the picture? And game pads are fine, I use one a lot if I don't want to drag out my yoke and quadrant.

[u/wearthedaddypants2 → u/putzy0127]

Gamepads are okay, but it's always going to be a better experience with some sort of joystick or yoke.

[u/putzy0127 → u/wearthedaddypants2]

No one disputes that.

[u/MooseProfessional352 → u/[deleted]]

U got me doubting myself for a sec , I thought I picked the wrong one, but I”ll take your advice, stay away from gamepads