You know, none of us is getting younger. AVWeb has a good article about getting and keeping current on glass panels. Avionics For Old Guys - AVweb Insider Article
I made the transition to glass in 2000 at the age of 30. Never looked back. One of the things that keeps me sharp is video games. No kidding. Flying games, driving games, shooter games. It all helps with the eye to hand coordination. I take my play station 3 on the longer trips. When at recurrent training, I fly the HUD and back up steam gauges exclusively.
I prefer glass because I am getting older! It just makes things so much easier when you can put the force vector on the runway... But that said, I hand fly quite a bit, and I fly my Citabria often, which has no AI or DG at all.
i think I've posted this before, but on my first solo night flight behind a G1000, I had both screens fade to black on my climb. I was departing a class D airport under a 1600' B shelf. The brightness knobs didn't respond so needless to say that was an unfun experience. I believe there was a autodim sensor issue causing it.
Recent fatal crash due to automation competency: Pilot reported autopilot trouble before crashing into south Orlando lake, reports say - Orlando Sentinel
While the glass on the newer 747's is great, I do miss this occasionally.... For visitors to the cockpit, it was awe inspiring. I've read there are 971 lights, switches, and gauges on the 747 classic. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Me & my boys once did that exact visit; They were impressed, I was blown away! IIRC, the flight engineers seat was on a little "railroad track" so (s)he could move back & forth - Very cool! No FE on the later versions I believe? Cheers, Ian
