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Permalink Reply by John Austin on December 16, 2012 at 8:06am

Terry,

I've "flown" sims ranging from a cranky 'ole ATC610 on a table-top, PC-based, and a couple of hours in a full-motion Airbus A300 sim at FedEx. I've always felt that sims are useful to understand procedures such as IFR approaches, patterns, etc., but unless it's a gazillion-dollar full motion sim like at FedEx, it's not going to be useful for transition training. I, too, had been flying Cessnas for years, but it was a few transition hours in a real 750 just before completing my 750 that were invaluable. The transition flights gave me confidence on my first flight - even as I lifted off the runway, I was getting the feeling "Hey, my airplane feels just like the other 750!" This gave me great confidence and a baseline with which to compare the handling and feel.

I don't think sim experience would really add much.

 

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Permalink Reply by John Marzulli on December 16, 2012 at 3:33pm

Nothing can replace transition training. Real hands on time with a 701 will benefit you more than anything else.

If you can not find a real 701, there are two planes that can provide reasonable skills. Concentrate on landings. Takeoffs in a 701 are very simple as long as you rememver 

1) Tail dragger time in a Cub or Super Cub. The 701 and Cubs are both "stick and rudder" planes. I find the landings in the 701 to be very nose high in attitude. You pitch for your flare on short final and then control your descent with power. It will also give you good practice with leading turns and power changes with rudder.

2) A Cessna 150. With full fuel and flaps on landing. This will give you a good idea of the descent rate of the 701. Get behind the power curve on final. Once again this is about keeping lined up with the runway and rudder input.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Terry Hagel on December 24, 2012 at 5:45pm

Thanks for the replies.  Before the first flight I will get some time in different planes to get ready.

Terry

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Permalink Reply by Danal Estes on January 4, 2013 at 3:27pm

I absolutely recommend time in a 701/750.  Carson City NV has an S-LSA 750 in which they can teach.

Having said that, I own a 750 and have X-Plane setup with full Saitek throttle & Switch panel, rudder peddles, and a joystick mounted about where the & stick is in the real plane.  The sim is scary accurate.  I've set it up for the conditions in Carson, and the O-200 that airplane has, vs the conditions in Texas and the Jabiru 3300 that my airplane has... and the sim is very accurate.  For a sim.  Which has no motion...

So, a little sim time can't hurt, if you already have the stuff, or just need a small investment.  But, as everybody says:  Get some time in a 70/750!

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Permalink Reply by Terry Hagel on January 4, 2013 at 4:50pm

Danal

Thanks for information.  I am pleased to hear that your experience with the sim is very accurate.  I have used it to simulate some emergencies that I would not do in a plane (for example, on take off, what altitude can a return to runway be consistenly made).  I may take a look at the Carson City transition option.  I have about 700 hours of time with a couple of flights as a passenger in a 701.  Although I wasn't the PIC on take off and landing, for the 701, it appeared and felt like (in flight) that the bird is pretty good natured.  I'm torn about the time and expense of getting someplace for that transition training.  However, I understand it is the recommended way to go.

Terry

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