Microsoft® Flight Simulator as a Training Aid: A Guide for Pilots, Instructors, and Virtual Aviators Second Edition

I've compared this book to an alternate selection. Personally, I like this man's writing style far, far better than that of the authors of MS FSX for Pilots Real World Training. This book is not as many pages as the other. It contains no Appendices, but it doesn't refer you to one either as does the other, BUT there is no Appendix in that one either, it does refer you to one though. Visit wiley.com and see what you think you'll find. That's the web site of the other book, then compare that to what you see at BruceAir.com.Also THIS book comes with a useful CD-ROM. Some of the other reviewers did not appreciate the usefulness of either of these books. I bought both. I like this one better. There is some humor. Sophisticated humor, in contrast to the more light-hearted mish-mash that will drive me out of a room and away from someone faster than the onset of diarrhea, which more accurately describes the writing style of the authors of the other selection I've mentioned here.So, your choice, a more serious style of humorous intrjections if you'll pardon the oxymoron or light-hearted, "Hey gang, let's just have some fun!" approach.Either way, there is a wealth of information to be had by buying both as well as just buying one or the other. Again, I did buy both. There is disagreement between whether accessories such as throttle quadrants, pedals, or yoke are necessary, but I think Mr. Williams, the author here has the right idea for VFR in that a Joystick will do just fine. Myself, I'll be going for a throttle quadrant. Althought the author says you REALLY don't need those things, he DOES recommend the better products to buy to accompany FS. This is in agreement with the authors of the other selection who ALSO recommend CH products.I've read some reviews of certain non-CH products, and I decided I didn't want any. I will look into CH products but this is not about CH products this is about MS FS as a Training Aid and I am comparing it to the other choice by Messers. West & Cummings and with all due respect, lets just say I like Bruce Williams writing style better. WAY, way better.At the same time, if you prefer light-hearted, blah, blah, blah: West - Cummings is the way to go. BUT also at the same time, if you're like me and even if you don't have the stomach for that, get THIS book, or maximize your investment in FS and aviation in general and get both books. You will learn even more. For style, personally, I just like this one better.

A good basic overview of all simulators and pilot training and how FSX fits into the scheme of things by a very experienced flight instructor and simulation pioneer. The CD's contain some good flight instruction but some assembly is required- you have to read to know which sub folder on your PC needs to contain the files, they do not work directly from the CD.

I have to say that this is a great book, though not what most people I know flying any Flight Simulator program would buy. The key to this book is in the title - "as a training aid". It provides an academic look at flight simulators and how a student or instructor can use the program to aid in understanding real life and in-game flying. There's nothing wrong with that. As an educator myself, I think this is an awesome approach. It is not, however, a how-to book in terms of flying - nor does it claim to be. The closest it comes to that are the included/online flightplans which demonstrate concepts. Would I buy it again or recommend it to the "casual flyer" looking to get something more out of MSFS or any similar flight simulator? Probably not. Would I recommend it to real world flight instructors and students looking to see how they can each use computer flight simulators to augment real world ground-based instruction? Absolutely.

I have wanted to get my pilots license since I was 13. I could never get the cash.The Flight Sim Pilot Training on Flight Sim 2004 and Flight Sim X is OK but not great.This book is so incredibly awesome when it comes to how you can use Flight Sim to lean how to fly and the things that you shouldn't. (Let's just say the computer program is a little "optimistic")I have talked to so many trainers who told me dozens of stories about people who got their sport or private pilot license in a much shorter time and cheaper because of this book.And my local flight school instructor told me the more I can learn in Flight Sim the better pilot I will be because when he goes over the stuff I need to know he will be reminding me of the things I already know and filling in everything else.He says all his pilots who have used Flight Sim saved from $1000 to $3000.

I was expecting more information for the student pilot. I'm using msn sim x and could use a lot more help. I'm frustrated by the unexpected termination of certain lessons abruptly and there is no information that i can Find as to what I did wrong ?Learning to fly is on my "bucket list". I had 3 1/2 hours logged time in a taildragger and just didn't have the time to go on because of business.So, when you get something like "you seem distracted, I'm going to end this lesson now", or something similar, it is very frustrating. I want an intelligent exsplanation of my errors. I'm 71 years old, and I don't have the time (litrally) to keep repeating these lessons.There, that should cover about every thing.DR

informative

Spend a little time with this book, take an online class, and you can get credit from the FAA in their "WINGS" (pilot safety) program. That's how highly the FAA views this material. I have my private pilot license (slowly working on instrument rating) and find this comes in handy for when I want to practice at home/using MS Flight Simulator rather than pay to use a "real" (moving) flight simulator and instructor.

Not what I was wanting. This book and CD are for instructors which is stated in the title but I didn’t catch that wording before ordering. I wanted an instruction book to get more out of Flight Simulator, this book just doesn’t do that. The practice flights on the CD, set up the aircraft and the environment then it is up to the sim. pilot to carry on. I already know how to set up and save the flight to fly again. I have to say this book is just a training syllabus, okay for some folks but disappointing to me.