FT BA Flight Simulator Outing to Heathrow [UK] – 26 October & 2 November 2018
 

Back again, FT outing to the BA simulators later this year. This will be a repeat of the outings I have previously organised in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

A bit of background on my own experience so far. I am very enthusiastic/geeky about flying, and I know a few others on here enjoy what happens in the cockpit as well as just being sat in the back enjoying the champagne.

I have one hour in a Cessna 172 which I did in 2013, and which you can read about here, and since then a few hours in various PA28 aircraft. I do plan to go for a PPL at some stage, but money and time needed mean it won’t be for at least a year or two yet.

I have also been for a couple of Emirates sim sessions at their Aviation Experience near the O2 arena in London. This is very much at the more fun end of simulators. The only things that work on the cockpit are the throttle (inc. reversers), yoke/side stick, rudders, foot brakes, and gear. The primary and navigation displays work but you can't adjust anything on them. They have recently upgraded them so the speedbrake lever and a flaps lever work as well. All the buttons shown are just graphics, there are no working buttons. So basically it does feel like a very sophisticated home simulator, kind of FSX but sat in a simplified cockpit. It is not equivalent to a full simulator, and there is no motion. However, if you accept these limitations it is actually very enjoyable.

I also went to Virtual Aerospace near Northampton in February 2014 on their 737 simulator. This is basically a fully workable fixed base cockpit with fsx graphics projected in front. More absorbing and real than the Emirates experience, but still not a full motion or fully wrap-around graphics. I have also previously gone to the 737 iPILOT simulator near Edgware Road in London.

Finally over the last few years I have been going fairly regularly to a fixed base 737-800 simulator near Rochdale. The simulator is this one Flightdeck Experience. As well as the cockpit the guy who owns it has built a cabin as well with 12 seats. You can see photos on the website. You actually get a simulated view from the windows as well. It makes it good for group outings and you can sit in the cabin for the time you are not flying in the cockpit.

I realise we have a wide spectrum of experience on these things, but hopefully it would work. You should certainly not feel you need any experience to come, and in previous years people with no experience have come and enjoyed it.

Please only express an interest if you can make at least one of the dates and are prepared to meet your share of the cost. I realise this is not a cheap activity, but having done it twice now I can say that it is very much worth it.

Rather than doing this as a poll, please just post any date preferences in the thread. I expect we will settle on a specific date in the next month or so, and I hope we have finalised plans by early May. Please say whether you could make 26 October or 2 November or both (don’t worry you are not committing to both dates). Also please let me know whether you have a preference for a 777 or a 747 or don’t mind either.

Thanks for organising again! I can only attend on 26th October. I prefer the 777.

I’m definitely keen for this. I can do either date and would be happy with either type.

I would also be happy to be in a group of 3.

KARFA

I'd be interested in attending this year please, the 2nd of November is the only date that works for me and I'd like a go in the 747-400 simulator please before they retire from the field.

Thanks

DMF

As he is based in Leeds, I am surprised that Karfa does not mention the organisation near Harrogate that that runs a 737 simulator (and also an F-111 simulator).

The 737 simulator has hydraulic motion and good but not brilliant visuals.

I’d like to come again this year please with 2 guests (3 people in total) in a group of 4 on 777. We can only do 2nd November.

2nd November for me! this time the 747 please :)

KARFA - Assume A320, A380 or the B787 are not available?

Thanks for organizing this Karfa
Do you get a special group deal?

Thanks all. I have noted dates and preferences. 777 isn't guaranteed unfortunately as they are being heavily used atm so I can't promise we will get one. However, if we do I will do my best to ensure everyone gets their preference. At the end of the day the 747 is a fantastic aircraft to fly too.

Thanks RGS5526. I have seen that one before but never tried it for some reason. Having looked at the website again I think it's a 737 classic so lots of dials which I don't like very much.

No chance unfortunately. Only the 747 and 777 are available to the public.

Our price is certainly cheaper than the price for the public on the website. Based on 4 in the simulator we are paying £425 per person, the website price is £449. Also we usually get shown around the cabin safety training section on the way to or from the sims (you may have seen photos of that in previous years). And I think that you have the added advantage of being in a group and being in the sim for nearly 4 hours rather than just being in an out in 1 hour - obviously in either case the amount of time you would have flying yourself would be the same.

Hi again KARFA

My father in law now wants to join us so we can make up a group of 4.

Thanks

Thanks for letting me know GeorgeAmbler89.

I would like to come, I have a definite (but not absolute) preference for the 747, and I can do either date.

I would also like to bring along a work colleague, not an FT person but an aircraft enthusiast none the less. He's reliable in the matters of payment and attendance.

Thanks flatlander. Any preference on a group of 3 or 4?

I'd love to join you, either date, either type.

2nd of November for me + 1 pls :)

Any chance of it being earlier? Can't do so late on a Friday....

Thnaks, noted.

Unfortunately not. It has always been late to give me a chance to get down from work.

Thanks for organising. Please count me in too.
Either date, either type fine.

Thanks or organising! I'd be keen to join too. Happy with either date and either plane.

Hello,

I'm in. Either date and either aircraft. Ideally I can join a group that has already flown in the sim in order to cut out that first circuit to get familiar with the sim.

First time for me last year and I have to admit I was nervous attending the event. What a blast. Highly recommend it for anyone sitting on the fence.

Thanks,
Neil

Hi KARFA!

So excited that this is on again for another year! I can do either date and either sim. I'm off to collect avgeeks to come along, will probably go for 4 people/slots as last year

So, the colleague is Ralf and he has some glider flying experience, fixed base sim experience, and a lot of time on MS Flight Sim.

We would both much prefer:
Group of 3 (at increased cost, of course),
747 sim,

and somewhat prefer date in November if possible.

Thanks again for volunteering to organise this.

(Note to everyone else: do not back out at the last moment, it really screws things up for KARFA and the deal we get with BAFT)

Hotel - HGI again?
 

I intend to stay in the Hilton Garden Inn again, and propose it as the bar to gather in afterwards.

(Note to first-timers: booze after flight, not before)

Hey guys, I am back and interested again for round 2 of this. As part of some nested itineraries I have a flight to ARN booked over the weekend of October 26th, so that would be the ideal weekend for me. That being said,I can change that flight if need be.

My preference is for the 747, but I really don't mind either.

-Andy

I'd love to join again this year, flexible on sim type, group size and date (although with a slight leaning to the October date) ^

Hi, would like to join, available for the November date, with a preference for the 747. That's my birthday present !

I'm in. Either date is fine and happy with either 777 or 747. Fantastic night out so well worth it if anyone is on the fence. Karfa is a superb organiser.

Thanks for the last few posts. I need to update my offline spreadsheet which I’ll do this evening.

Either dates. 747 please

I did this last year — a birthday gift! If anyone reading is in two minds I’d recommend going for it! Brilliant couple of hours ... thanks @KARFA

I'm interested, either date is OK. Prefer to try the 777, the 747 last year was too much to handle for me.

KARFA

Can you ask to land at a different airport? I'd like to try SFO

DMF

You can fly the sim anywhere that's in the database. Some locations have better graphics than others. The locations on the BA-oriented sims are BA's route network and some other major airports, the locations on the more third-party oriented sims are most of BA's network and other major airports.

Personally I have taken the sims to LHR, LAX, FNC, INN, HKG and others. I would be very surprised if the sims did not have SFO in them too.

Usually the way it works out is that the group in the sim discusses what they would like, by each putting in requests (eg, "I'd like to land at SFO", "I'd like to try an engine failure on takeoff, go around and approach", "I'd like to try a cat II visiblity landing") and the BA FO who's herding the cats and setting up the sim will try to make sure everyone gets what they want. For takeoff the sim is typically positioned at the runway threshold or nearby, and you taxi onto the runway and follow the standard departure route or do a circuit, for landing either you're doing a circuit from takeoff or the sim is positioned a few miles away on a standard approach and you then follow the approach to land.

"Position" in this sense means that the sim changes its internal idea of where the aircraft is and then acts like it just appeared at that location. The visuals go grey, then clear to show the California coast with SFO ahead (or whatever you want), and the aircraft starts off in a nice cruise at 20000 ft or something like that.

I did the SFO take off and landing circuit for SFO last year. The FO would NOT let me fly under the golden gate bridge :(

How the hell are you meant to safely do it for real if you can't practice it??????:) :) :)