but I've found that PC flight simulators just aren't very realistic when it comes to modeling how an airplane actually flies. The hijackers didn't have a lot of time to "feel out" the planes' flying characteristics. While it wouldn't take a lot of flying skill to fly a plane into a building, if a pilot was completely unfamiliar with the plane's flying characteristics, his chances of success would be a lot less. It seems likely they had some time in a real 757/767 simulator. The PC flight simulators aren't completely useless. They would be useful in helping them visualize their approach to the targeted buildings, but they probably wouldn't be enough to ensure success. These attacks were well planned and executed. I don't think they would've left something that critical to chance.