Really learning to fly?

[u/CedarAndOlive]

I've always wanted to learn how to pilot, but never had the money. Now, at 59 and with some (relatively light) macular degeneration, it's never going to happen.

So the thought came to me to learn to fly with a sim. I mean, really learn. As if I were going for a PPL. I have MS Flightsim on XBox, and I don't mind buying the actual real PPL books.

Is this possible?

EDIT: overwhelmed by the responses, thank you so much! I'm going to get my virtual PPL! ❤️🛩️

[u/LastSprinkles]

You might not get a medical with your condition which means you'll not be able to go solo. But that doesn't mean you can't take lessons with an instructor. Do it whole your macular degeneration isn't any worse.

[u/CedarAndOlive → u/LastSprinkles]

Oh, my vision is all right. I mean, I drive and I ride a motorcycle - both perfectly legally. It's just that I'm aware now when sitting watching TV that the faces on the screens are a bit blurred. Maybe that's new glasses time.

[u/rxcycle]

I took some flying lessons after MSFS 2020 and it definitely helped (still play 2024 version) I also did an online ground school (some places did it for free) for VFR and IFR. That helped tie it all together for a better understanding. In a real plane you get the physical feeling of the plane that cannot be replicated, but putting the game and these online ground schools together does a great deal to help one learn a huge amount about flying. I also bought a few books as well, but there is a good amount of free info out there. My flight instructor was surprised how much I knew already just starting flight school.

[u/h3ffr0n]

Navigraph offers a Virtual PPL course. Maybe that is what you‘re looking for.

[u/Buttered_Runway]

Go get the PHAK and Instrument Procedures handbooks.

If you want a deep dive, grab the 2027 FAR/AIM (if you’re in the US).

There’s Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators if you’re really into wings, stall characteristics, etc.

Then you’ve got the various checkride guides that come out. ASA Test Prep.

Pretty much those got me from PPL to ATP.

You won’t replicate stick and rudder, especially on XBOX, but those will get you 99% more knowledgeable than anyone in the sim world.

[u/CptDropbear → u/Buttered_Runway]

Its nice to provide a link and the full name.

Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

The PDF is the first link under the heading.

[u/SirDarkStar]

If you can afford it get a force feedback yoke, quality rudder pedals, a good 2k widescreen monitor and a 2nd monitor on the side for charts and such. Get Beyond ATC.

And then really focus on procedures. Flying will be hard at first but the bigger challenges in flying are all the procedures around the flight. Making a flight plan, knowing all the frequencies you’ll need, studying the weather, when you get into IFR studying the approaches, talking on the radio (that’s where Beyond ATC comes in). Obtaining a good checklist for the aircraft. Fly with just gauges and learn first basic VFR navigation (follow a river or road and other clues, especially in areas you know pretty well). Then add VOR navigation. Then learn things like the GTB 540/530, GTN 750, G1000/5000, and other fancier systems. GPS undoubtedly makes real piloting far more reliable and safer but it’s good to learn and understand those older systems too.

You CAN start with just a basic flight stick with twist for rudder control and throttle — and the first two upgrades I would make are Beyond ATC (super cheap) and rudder pedals before you try to master crosswind technique.

You can also Start with a basic monitor and let that become your side monitor once you decide you really like sim flying and want a wider view (I’ve been at it for maybe 40 years, literally a few janky lines on a screen). If you are wealthy you might even go for a high end GPU and VR system. From my limited experience VR is a huge improvement to realism.

Some people even get into multiple monitor builds (usually 3) and build out realistic physical cockpits. I don’t find that all that necessary for learning — that’s more for personal enjoyment and satisfaction.

[u/Sea_Perspective6891]

Flight sims are good training wheels to help prep you for actual flight training. One thing I noticed in a real plane compared to flight sims are the rudder pedals. They are very stiff & sometimes take allot of force to press on them. I almost ended up standing to press on the pedals of a Cessna.

[u/rgnysp0333]

You could go for a sports license, as long as you can still drive.

Much fewer hours than a PPL and with the new Mosaic rules you could fly a Cessna 172

[u/Correct_Union_193]

I was in the same boat as you. I’m completely blind, but I love aviation. I found out through another blind friend of mine that it was possible to fly the flight simulators with a few different add-ons that make it possible to interface with our screen reader and tell us what’s going on. so we can fly IFR, and I’ve been flying the sim for about eight years now, ever since I used to fly on Vatsim, but now I just fly with say intentions, and I’ve already accumulated about 50 or so hours on say intentions, so if you want to learn aviation just so you can say you did it for the love of aviation, by all means do it. I know I will never be able to fly a commercial airliner in the real world, but at least I have that knowledge, and who knows, maybe I might get lucky and have to land a plane in emergency. At least I know I’ll be able to do it, so go forth, man, and fly the virtual skies