Basically in this mode everything still works, but nothing moves (aircraft, missiles, etc). So you can change weapons, hud modes etc, lock on to a target, change your mind, check the manual, realise you chose the wrong weapon, try another, turn the manual the right way up, try it all again... you get the idea ;-)
It's not realistic, obviously. But there's more to a sim than 100% realism, and as a learning tool for complex weaponry and avionics, this would be invaluable. I seem to remember Janes' F/A-18 had the same thing. It's been a while since I flew it though, so I may be wrong.
Of course the Mother of All training aids were the tutorials in Longbow 1 & 2. I can still hear that bloke's voice in my head. Scary.
"To engage eye-hadz mode, press the <pause> eye key".
Yes sir! Sorry I didn't press it sooner. The manual fell off my lap and I lost the right page and...
"Climb to 100 feet and hover. Notice..."
But I haven't done the IHADS things yet. What key was it again? And notice what?
"Climb to 100 feet!"
All right, already! Give me a break. I didn't sign up for this. They said I'd see the world. All I've seen so far is a dusty bit of Nevada (is there any other kind?), and the only excercise I've had for two weeks is carrying the manual to the bathroom for extensive study. Where's the foreign travel, the exotic women, the Hershey bars available 24/7 in any US base across the planet? And what happened to...
"Climb to 100 feet!"
Do I get the Hershey bar then?
Andrew "easily distracted" McP