FS2004 Checkrides

[liquid_rockface]

Well, I was just wondering how many of you have done the FS2004 checkrides, and how many of them, and how difficult you found them?

I found the Private Pilot ride almost a walk in the park, the Instrument Rating was a real pain, I had to read the tutorial at flyawaysimulations (I think) by Gordon Wood (made me tear my hair out!), and now I'm on the commercial, and it's pretty easy except that she tells me that I didn't put my manifold pressure at 15 inches for the descent (which I did, as far as I can tell) and she says that I didn't keep my airspeed at 170 knots for the cruise. Now I'm sorry, but try as I may, it is impossible to maintain 170 knots in level flight with 22 inches manifold pressure and 2300 RPM! The best I can do is about 155...

I haven't even attempted the heavy jet checkride yet.

What are your experiences?

[razorseal]

I've done the private like back in fs98 and thats it lol... I remember I even printed it and hung it on my wall :D (I was like 14-15, flying was my biggest dream)

[liquid_rockface]

Well, almost finished the commercial. Botched it up right at the end with the deadstick landing....what did I do? I completely ignored her saying that airfield elevation was 800 feet, and despite having successfully completed the assignment in the training programme, I had forgotten what altitude exactly to start the lining up for the runway (2000' I think it was) and so I was at about 1500 feet and I was thinking how the ground looks sooooo near!!!

I ditched the plane some way away from the airport (Payne) and it tipped over as it came over one little hill. I did get a little tip-off though...if I hadn't crashed I think she would have passed me anyway, because she said "Well that wasn't very good, but the rest of your flight was ok so I'll give it to you"...then the flight reset cos of the crash!

So for anybody here who thinks that "pilot error" is beyond them, think think and think again!!! I learnt a valuable lesson, that one should always think 5 steps ahead, concentrate 200% and check over and over that your numbers all add up...

I'll be continuing my mission to get my commercial tomorrow. Now I'm sure I can get it, except now she failed me for taking off with flaps. I thought that you can use flaps in the Beech Baron 58 for takeoff??

[natedogg]

I found that most of these checkrides a porked! The amount of times ive done the IFR one to the letter on the approach charts and failed, or followed her instructions to the letter and failed is crazy. I don't think i have tried the commercial one properly yet.

Using flaps in the baron during takeoff would only be used for short field ops, though i could be wrong.

cheers