[Sunroof]

My daughter is a statistician for the airline not a pilot! Family members can take a ride in these simulators so I consider myself very lucky. The IT guy in the third seat asked us what we wanted to do and for me it was take off and landings. For her it was loops, dives and stuff that acute vertigo brings. We managed to get in all.

So, indeed as requested I was provided the best scenarios with calm winds, unlimited visibility, no traffic, no problem, no sweat! He did throw me an unannounced ringer one time when I was on another approach to O'hare and that was a big crosswind. As I started to crab in I realized instantly that this plane did not react like a Cessna 150. Despite my immediate response the wind blew me far off the runway; however, I had enough speed and managed to get around hanging on. Reality? End result probably would have been massive death and destruction.

The hardest and most challenging part of my experience when on final approach was alignment. My feet were all over those rudder pedals.

I have great respect for all aviators and I know how tough things can be in a single engine plane. It must be crazy in a multi-million dollar jumbo airliner. BUT, I must say that under perfect conditions for me the 777 was easy to land and take off strictly by using the controls and watching the instruments without benefit of anything that really matters (engine management, communication, navigation, etc). I just did it! While sitting in a 14 million dollar simulator safe on the ground I did not have to worry about the realities of what airline pilots face each day. All it amounted to was a few fantastic hours of kick-ass fun. Best arcade game I ever played. It has kept re-igniting my love of flying (little planes that is).

If I have a chance to get into an MD-88, maybe I should ask the instructor to provide more riskier conditions as you suggest. But, for a civilian I have to keep in mind that I am actually moving around in a big box on four hydraulic metal posts and I will live another day. You brave men and women are presented with these risks everyday so more power to you and thank you for flying safely.

Bob