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MS Flight simulator 2002 adventure.

OK, this is what I was afraid of. A computer game! I am a busy individual trying to juggle between, running two business, spending time with my wife, going to university, taking care of my dog  and maintaining some level of social life. As if I need to waste hours of precious time plying computer games. Well, that was all honky dory until I saw the MS Flight Simulator 2002. I have looked at the cover in the store and words like: fifteen different aircrafts to choose from, over twenty one thousand international airports in database, real life communication with air traffic control, as real as it gets....who could resist that? So here we go, $ 60.00 later I am home installing the program ready for my maiden flight.

Should I take lesson first? Neee. I know some basic flight principles so I will manage somehow. If you wish though you can take lessons and you will be taught step by step how to fly airplane and all the other important procedures such as how to plan flight, not to get lost while in the air, how to smuggle Chinese over the USA border in wheel well etc. You can actually earn ratings as you go all the way to commercial pilot rating.

So where I am going to fly from? How about from St. Catharines to Niagara Falls USA which should take me right over the Niagara Falls. This will be good chance to see how realistic the scenery is. If this program is any good I should be able to see and fly over the Niagara Gorge and the Niagara Falls. So I have opened the flight planer and punched in CYSN for St. Catharines airport and KIAG for Niagara Falls USA. Both airports came up, including elevation,  number of runways, GPS position. Ok, so far so good. 

Next was to choose the aircraft. Hmmm... do I take the Learjet for out for spin or do I pick Boeing 747? Well lets take it easy, over all I am just beginner right?. Cessna 172 sounds like an easy aircraft to fly. 

Next is to choose the weather. The program offers several weather conditions that can be changed. Wind strength and  direction, amount of turbulence, rain or snow, you can even ask for severe thunderstorm. Yeah, like that is what I am going to pick for my first flight. So no wind, no participation, no turbulence. 

Also you can choose to fly at night (IFR), day (VFR) dusk or don + spring, summer, fall or winter. All right being beginner, lets go for day VFR flight. So that is it, all I have to is push the "Fly now" button and I will be ready for take off but wait, how about snacks? What if I get lost on my first flight and need something to eat? Hmmm toast and coffee? Sounds good. (I also smuggled in couple of Coronas, please do not tell anyone) Should I take some passengers on this flight? No. Dog? No. What if I crash and we all perish. That would not be fair. OK, enough chatting lets fly!

New screen opens. I am behind a dash board of Cessna 172. The engine is running and I am sitting at beginning of runway # 24 at St. Catharines. I can not believe it! I know this airport quite well because this is where I was attending my course to become PPG instructor. I recognize the building they are the same! Wow. I did not expect this at all. Push on the joystick trigger releases the brakes and F 4 gives me full power. I start my take off roll and the joystick shakes and vibrates like I am really on the runway. Nice. I wait for the speed to get to 70 Knots and pull the yolk back. Voila I am airborne. Geeeee I just remembered that I did not do any preflight check. My instructor, if I had any, would not be pleased.  I climb at full power, keeping my speed at 75 knots which is the most efficient speed for Cessna 172 to ascend. I press # 4 on the keypad to look to the left and holy cow, there is lake Ontario just as I expected. Number 6 gives me the view on the right hand side and there is the escarpment. I really feels like I am flying over Niagara region. So if I look straight ahead there should be Niagara on the Lake and Niagara river. Wow there it is! Ok then, let’s follow the Niagara river south which should lead me to the Niagara Gorge and Niagara Falls. I am quite amazed how real the scenery is and how well it correlates to the real thing.  I am at 3 000 ft AGL and there is the gorge and the falls. Amazing! 

Ok where is the Niagara airport? I click on the GPS button on the dashboard and GPS screen shows me that I have 10 NM to go. I alter my heading to 280 and  press the scroll lock button on the computer keyboard to engage in communication with Air Traffic control at Intl. Airport Niagara Falls.  I introduce my self Cessna CIGVV seeking lending instruction. The tower replies “Cessna CIGVV Inbound for landing , altimeter 2990 landing at 8” So I actually communicate with and air traffic controller. This is a lot of fun. Ok, I have couple of minutes so out comes the Corona. Sweet! I was getting little thirsty.  Another look at the GPS and I only have 5 NM to go. I should be able to see the runway now. Where is it? Maybe it is more to the right. I grab the yolk and change my heading to 300. Still not see the runway. GPS tells me it is only 2 NM now. Heck, I will have to overshoot and turn around. Oh, there it is! Right below me!

F2 to decrease power to 30%. F 7 to engage flaps to 20 % and back to yolk. I am in steep descend and frankly, I do not know what I am doing. I am yanking on the yolk like I am about to die. All right Andre come down it is just a game.... CRASH!!! 

I am glad that I did not bring any passengers with me. I would have to call their spouses and tell them that everybody on this flight died. The tower is giving me heck that I did not ask for clearance to land. As if I had time...

Anyway. This program is tons of fun. I can not wait to explore all the options and possibilities and waste more time.

Andre

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