Gaming to Keep the Dream Alive

A private pilot introduces his virtual world and the benefits of flight simulation.

Sean Siff

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 02:26 PM ET

Verified

[Courtesy: X-Plane]

Key Takeaways:

The author's lifelong passion for aviation, cultivated through early experiences and FLYING magazine, was initially interrupted but ultimately led to him earning his private pilot certificate.
To maintain his connection to aviation after starting a family, he built a home flight simulator, finding it surprisingly immersive and a valuable tool for practice.
Flight simulators, particularly when integrated with live air traffic control services, provide a highly effective way for pilots to practice complex scenarios, refine skills like radio work and airspace navigation, and keep their aviation dreams alive.

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I picked up my first copy of FLYING at the Concord Aviation Services FBO in the late 1990s, where I worked part-time to help pay for my flight training. My mom would dutifully drive me to work on the weekends since I began my employment there before I got my driver’s license. Concord Municipal Airport (KCON) in New Hampshire was an exciting airport in the summer, busy with general aviation activities, weekend flyers, and the occasional World War II aircraft.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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