My first flight that wasn’t
The first time I ever flew in an airplane, I was flying it. Crammed into a tiny single-engine plane, the instructor turned the controls over to me and told me simply to fly straight and level. It was far more interesting than I expected and perhaps what surprised me most was the elevator drop effect when flying over trees.
After we landed, I chatted with the pilot who was impressed that a teenager could handle a small plane with such a fine touch the first time. That’s when we started talking about computer games.
I’d been flying planes for years… in the digital world. At that time I think my favourite was Chuck Yeager’s Air Combat. My flight instructor immediately made the connection between my hours on simulators and my prowess in the cockpit. He also suggested I buy Aces of the Pacific, his current favourite, and soon to be mine as well.
I spent way too much money constantly upgrading and rebuilding my computers to play the latest flight simulators. I flew Air Warrior multiplayer by modem against guys I met on bulletin board systems. As a group we ordered hardcover copies of a textbook published by the US Navy on aircraft fighting tactics and we practised the maneuvers on each other, reading up on how historical pilots used the unique features of their aircraft instead of getting dragged into the tactics of their enemies.
At some point, I gave it up. The games became too complex, the computer requirements too steep… I was never all that interested in devoting my life to learning how to play a game. My friends moved on to simulators of the F16, the F18, the F14… but I lost interest.
Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
Julie S 3:41 pm on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Great story David,
I’m glad you brought up the flight simulators. I’ve had friends who have told me how realistic they are but your story really gives evidence to that. I’ve tried them once or twice but I found the learning curve pretty steep so I never got into them that much. It’s interesting to hear your experience of how the knowledge transferred so well from simulation to real life.
Jay 9:47 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
David,
For a while I played a few flying games myself. One was Aces over Europe and set in WW2 and the other being the game based on the movie “Top Gun”. I am not sure how accurate the controls were in terms of in comparison to a flying a real plane, and I am sure that the hundreds of hours with top gun does make me certified to become a fighter pilot. But many of the other simulation games are quite real and I have read arcticles the military uses games and simulation to practice tactics.
I find it interesting that your curiousity and interest pushed you to buy a textbook and learn and practice maneuvers. Do you still have an interest in learning in this area today even though you don’t play simulation games anymore? Flight lessons maybe?
It is always interesting to see how learning in our childhood and youth shapes us and we are still able to recall these experiences, some very vividly.
mcquaid 10:45 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I would have said your interest nose-dived (ba-dum-bum!).
Seriously, flight simulation, I think, is one of those long-time successes in terms of educational / simulation games. I can still remember one of my cousins playing an old one (probably circa… 1993 or 1994), and being totally wrapped up in it. He was a bit of a history / military buff, too. I can remember him chatting with other simulator players, and back then, to me, it was all Greek. The most I ever really got into playing any kind of flying games was arcade ones: Crimson Skies : High Road to Revenge and the Tie Fighter / X-Wing games. I think my interest in flying real planes and having it be very realistic grounded my simulator career.
hall 6:49 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi David,
enjoyed reading your story. It certainly reinforced the fact that game is a useful educational tool. I realised that long hours I spent playing car games was very good because I learnt to drive a car without the help of an instructor. Therefore, I understand the reason that you seemed so adept when you flew an aeroplane for the first time.
jenaca 6:11 am on October 10, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey David,
I also really enjoyed reading your post. It definitely helped me see that games can in fact be a very important and useful educational tool.