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Selective radial scan

Asked by: 5070 views Flight Instructor

When I went through pilot training with the RAF and later as a QFI, I remember the importance of learning and teaching the 'Selective Radial Scan'.  I am retired, but my daughter is now going through pilot training and I was wondering whether you knew of any PC based system that one can purchase to help teach this important skill.  We all know the importance of getting 'ahead of the game' and I am sure I would have benefited from such a device had they been available in my day.

I have seen various pc based game type things, but are thay any good?  I think that for such a device to be of any use, one would need a stick, rudder and throttle, that produce real time responses to the instrument display.  While I know nothing is like the real thing, I am sure that any type of training that saves valuable flying hours could be worth looking at. 

If you know of anything, please let me know.

Sincerely, Patrick Wareham.

1 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Dec 17, 2012

    The flight simulators for PC are quite good. I used them extensively when I was going through instrument training a while ago. To get the most of out it, you will need to have a flight yoke and power control quadrant. They are relatively inexpensive at a pilot shop. I have used both MS Flight X and XPlane. XPlane has all the bells and whistles for an aviation enthusiast… much more than what a training pilot would need.

    Practicing the instrument scan is perfect for the flight simulator. It allows the pilot to pause when things get a little too far ahead and then concentrate on the task at hand. AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

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