Do You Guys Think That Using Instruments

[Boltz]

only is the best way to learn flying in general? I mean using the instruments until it is second nature. Just a newb here looking for the best way to develop some good flying skills. Any recommendations highly appreciated. Thanks :)

["Instigator"]

Any instrument flying should be left to a flight at night, major fog, bad weather when you can't see the base let alone the landing strip. You do need to practice flying in bad weather...and at night. when there's a bogie on your tail there's almost no time too look at your instruments... so, don't worry about flying with them unless the sun went down on you.... :D

[switch]

I think Boltz was refering to flying in RL. Even in the initial phase of private pilot

training you do get some exposure to instrument flying. Not as much in terms of

following proper procedures, charts and such. The focus is on learning how to

read instrumens mostly for confidence purposes. At that stage you are a VFR

pilot but you have to able to fly basic instruments without outside reference.

On some of these training flights the instructor will put a hood on your forhead

that restricts your vision to the instrument panel. Then he`ll throw some wild

manouvers to disorient you. (That also includes power setting changes)

You will have to recover from these unusual situations using only instrument

indications. It is fun!

[switch]

As far as simulators are concerned, I guess Instigator is right.

Well, it depends what your "approach" is. If you`re one of those guys that

constantly scan and interpret various instruments even when it`s not really

necessary (like me :) ) then that could be fun too.

[Indy_BIA]

I think it really depends on the plane you are flying in LoMac. If it's the Frogfoot then you'll need to learn the instruments. The A-10 and others can usually be flown by HUD alone even in bad weather. My advice is to learn them both B) Can't go wrong that way :D

[Boltz]

switch, that is what I was talking about. I've started focusing on just using the instruments to fly and navigate the plane while having my fov pointed down to only show the instrument panel. This has helped me tremendously in learining to read and interput what each instrument does and it's relationship to the attitude of the plane. So far I've focused on the Su-27, as that is the plane I know best from my 2 months of flying Flanker 2.51. (my get ready flight sim for LockOn)

One thing I am having trouble with is navigation to the airport and landing. But I need to watch a couple tutorials again and take some notes and try again :) I also hope this will help with my SA. Don't know, will just have to see.

Thanks for the response guys. I know this may sound newbish, but this instrument only flying is great fun!!