Computer simulation

[jimmyw]

Anyone with any recommendations for a guy taking private pilot lessons. He's looking to enhance his training by purchasing a computer simulator at home.
Thanks

 

[bigD]

Is he looking for a consumer level product like MSFS, or something higher end such as Elite?

Personally, I use X-Plane 7.3, and it's great for IFR work. I find it a bit more realistic in the flight model than MS2004, but really, you're only using the sim for procedural work, and either is fine in that regard.

 

[labbats]

Sims won't help a private too much. I'd suggest that you sit in the airplane you're training in for an hour before each flight. Close your eyes and try and touch the carb heat (Cessna), throttle and mixture without looking. That'll decrease the chances of looking inside at key points, instead of looking at your instruments or outside.
Just get familiar with the plane, and maybe buy a scanner to better understand proper radio speak.