Do you think that you could land a plane?

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Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
76
ostif.org
I think i could survive the landing, id almost certainly run it out of fuel first after finding a suitable place to attempt to land, less fire when i almost certainly perform a crash landing.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,297
47,673
136
yea, I could likely manage it (though I'd be a tad nervous)

we used to have a twin engine that the pilot helped me land a few times
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,330
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Landing a small plane isn't really that hard. As long as you can find the runway :)

Depending on where you are landing not being able to talk to ATC could be a serious issue.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,330
126
On second thought, to someone how has no knowledge of flying I wouldn't think they could actually put the plane down.

I remember before my first lesson I always assumed that in order to decrease altitude to land you pointed the nose downwards. Makes sense, point the nose down to go down right? Thats what someone with no knowledge of flying would probably do. Not to mention they would probably never think about bringing the throttle anywhere near idle. Add those two together and you hit the ground really fast.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
I could definitely get the plane on the ground, doubt I would be walking away from it though. I suppose whether or not I survived would depend on how close the paramedics were to the 'landing' site.
 

zylander

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2002
2,501
0
76
Maybe. My friend is a pilot and Ive flown with him a few times, he alawys lets me fly when we are int he air, so I do have somewhat of a feal for the controls.
 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
I think the question should be rephrased as, "Can you find the airport with no radio or navigation skills whatsoever?" I'd probably walk away from the landing IF I ever did find an airport. And if I did manage finding one I wouldn't be able to notify ATC of the emergency and I'd end up crashing into an airliner on the runway.

If I was flying around the area I live in then I could find a small municipal airport via landmarks though.
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I thought that was the entire purpose to playing flight simulator games.

I have a few friends that are private pilots, and they spend tons of time in flight sim games, and say that they're fairly accurate, and could probably teach someone to land.

I've never flown, and have never played a flight sim game, so I doubt that I could land any kind of plane in an emergency.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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I'v elogged way too many hours on flight simulator. I think I could handle it.

Give me favorable winds and it should be doable. Nothing too strong. I struggle with wind in a FS games but I can do instrument landings even in poor visibility.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Without a radio to try and communicate to a tower I don't know. I really have no concept of speed in a plane and probably wouldn't know how fast to even attempt to bring it in.

Best thing I could think of would be to look for a heavy brush area that would somewhat minimize the impact and bring it in as "nice and easy" I could. And hope for the best.
 

Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
4,324
1
0
Assuming a nice and long runway, and a full tank of gas to figure out controls... yeah, I could walk away.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
I've been playing MS Flight Sim since the early 90's. I think I could do it. Slow to about 150 knots, full flaps, hit the brakes when front wheel hits the ground---oh yeah.
 

JRich

Platinum Member
Jun 7, 2005
2,714
1
71
Originally posted by: DLeRium
I'v elogged way too many hours on flight simulator. I think I could handle it.

Give me favorable winds and it should be doable. Nothing too strong. I struggle with wind in a FS games but I can do instrument landings even in poor visibility.

I love cross-wind landings in FS (rudder...rudder...rudder...) :) I usually fly military aircraft or gliders in FSX.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
Eh, i suspect the landing would either kill me or come extremely close to.

Since really, i'd have no clue what i was doing.
 

Fulcrum

Senior member
May 9, 2002
709
0
71
The landing gear might not make it through intact, but I think I could get it to the ground without killing myself.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,297
47,673
136
Originally posted by: everman
I think the question should be rephrased as, "Can you find the airport with no radio or navigation skills whatsoever?" I'd probably walk away from the landing IF I ever did find an airport. And if I did manage finding one I wouldn't be able to notify ATC of the emergency and I'd end up crashing into an airliner on the runway.

If I was flying around the area I live in then I could find a small municipal airport via landmarks though.

Almost all small aircraft have GPS systems in them these days, if you know which buttons to push (most are somewhat intuitive) you can get yourself to an airport. Most will also give you the correct comm frequencies to contact the field.