Jess-b 420 Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Flying an airbus A320. Yes today I paid a visit to a small company that have just started offering simulator experiences to both current pilots and the general public like me. :-). So for the sum of just €79 (around £65) I spent a very nice 30 mins enjoying a fixed base A320 sim. The sim itself is a brand new set up from flight deck solutions in Canada, and thanks to a projector, domed screen and 5 pc units I got to enjoy two takeoff's and landings at Salzburg airport. (at my request. You'll see why later.) anyway, I was greeted by two very nice Austrian gentlemen. Dressed in appropriate pilots uniform and in no time at all I was whisked into the cockpit. (the austrian's are terribly efficient). My instructor was a trained pilot and we discussed the main differences between the A320 and my favourite, the B737. He told me that his preference was the 737 as it was "real flying" versus the A320's "computer game feel" which I found interesting. Back to business though. I'm not terrible familiar with the A320 dispite it's inclusion as a default aircraft in fsx, but it was a huge culture shock using the controls. Firstly, the side stick is vey firm. Not at all what I expected. If the stick is firm though the rudder pedals are brutally solid. It's very hard to get full deflection on the rudder without 'giving it some' (not that I tried.) With the route planned, the aircraft lined up on runway 34, my instructor told me to advance the throttles. Thinking Boeing, I advanced the throttles to around 40%, waited for the power to stabilize, then advanced them to opt he first stop, which was my first mistake. The first notched sets climb power (something you A320 pilots out there are now laughing about). The second mistake was I was sitting on the brakes as I tried to maintain the centerline. The rudder pedals my be like rocks but the brakes aren't. Finally I set the power to toga and as my instructor gave me the 'veer' numbers, I brought the stick back and we were up. We climbed to 2200ft before climbing again to 3500ft to silence the many GPWS alarms that the mountainious scenery around Salzburg generate. Flying to the SZG VOR i set the autopilot to gently bring us 180° to line up with an approach to runway 16. The aircraft is remarkably stable and the side stick, whist feeling a bit strange coming from a yoke, is responsive and you soon get use to some left hand flying. I dialed in an approach speed of 140kts and began arming the speed brakes, bringing the flaps down and setting the auto brake (all under suggestion of my instructor, of course). Hand flying the A320, I lined it up with the runway, got the decent path looking good (a comment of surprise from the instructor confirmed this!) and I slowly descended to land. And that's where my 3rd mistake came. I floated the landing, sending the nose up temporally before I brought here to the runway. Hmmmmm. My instructor asked if i'd like to try it again. I didn't need asking twice. Turning the aircraft on the runway, I lined it up, checked the config and off we went again. This time I knew what to expect, and I flew a pretty good approach the second time, landing more or less on the centre line and not a float in sight. :-). I finished the session taxiing to the terminal whist my instructor took me though the shut down checklist. The 30 minutes were a more generous 40 and i loved every minute. My thanks to the staff at Vienna flight. If your ever in Vienna and Fancy a challenge, give them a ring. Best wishes, Jess B Link to post Share on other sites
needles 1,013 Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Brilliant Jess. Can't wait for your pics. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Sounded like a great time and not to expensive at all for a fun filled adventure like that. Having prior simming experience really impressed the instructor, way to go! :thum: Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Someday RW instructors will have some level of respect for flight simmer's experience - but probably not today. Nice work, Jess. John Link to post Share on other sites
Jess-b 420 Posted July 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Here's a video of the experience (lynda sneakily used her camera to record it). It's a bit long, some 12 mins and features some classical music that doesn't run to the end. (it's my first Video and I was working from an iPad :-) ) anyway enjoy the scenery and the good landing is at the end. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Excellent shots and experience their Jess! Link to post Share on other sites
Kasper 14 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Nice. That looks like money well spent. Kasper Link to post Share on other sites
needles 1,013 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Great vid' Jess. I wonder if the passengers enjoyed your first landing? A wee bit lumpy on the grass. Looks like you had a brilliant time. Thanks for posting your experience. Oh, the music was typical Jess methinks. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Thanks for sharing Jess, what a great experience and we enjoyed it too, well done! Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Is that why we call you "JeSs", Bach... What video edit pack were you using for the iPad? If you've got the PC handy, try Windows Movie Maker 6.2 (NOT the W7 "Live" version that's rubbish). You can add "earthquake" effects for the landing. Great experience - loved the way you avoided the sheds! Hwyl - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
Jess-b 420 Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Thanks Dai. I used iMovie for iPad. (no pc as we're travelling light.) the reason J.S. Bach is on the video is because I had one music track on the original that breched copywite. So I used you tube to replace the audio so I could post the vid. I'll remove the original track from the video I made and repost with better music plus the amibient sounds of the cockpit intact. Diolch, Jess B Link to post Share on other sites
Gunner 69 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Wow, congrats...it is really worth that money . Have to plan a trip to Vienna Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,315 Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I liked the music, just needed some thunder and lighting to complete the mood. Link to post Share on other sites
PanzerFodder 0 Posted August 3, 2012 Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 Very cool shots and video Cheer's...Graham... Link to post Share on other sites
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