Simulator Lesson 1

After months away from the airport, I went for a lesson today. I stayed away because of work uncertainties associated with the federal budget. Since my last lesson, the club got a simulator that I can use for instrument instruction. I've been reading a lot about instrument flight, so I started with lots of questions. After a lot of chatting, we got down to business.

I flew a simulated flight KFME to KCGE to KESN. It was IMC the whole way, with no wind. The simulated 172 was very unstable. I was chasing altitude and heading all day. Just when I got it stable I had to fool with the radio or GPS and the next thing I knew I was 200 feet off assigned altitude, 30 degrees off heading, and banked 30 degrees. This was a recurring theme.

I did a GPS approach to KCGE and an ILS approach to KESN, with a landing. The last approach was was very ugly.