celton

Can anyone tell me if the RC Flight Sims really help you learn to fly. I have mastered 2 channel flying and am trying to move on to a Hobbico Ventura and it spends more time on its nose than in the air. By the time I get the hang of it, there may be nothing left! I am stubborn and am committed to teaching myself to fly. Maybe I need to look for another type of 3 channel plane??? Help!!!

billz

Celton,

I think flight simulators can help a little, but I think you are better off going with a 3 channel plane that flies similar to your 2 channel setup. I'm not familiar with the plane you mentioned but I started out with the Hobby Zone Commander (2 Channel with v tail) and went to the 3 channel T-Hawk (elevator and rudder) from Ready To Fly Fun. It was a good transition. A little shakey at first but since the planes fly similar I was flying well with the T-Hawk in no time and am able to do manuvers with the T-Hawk I was not able to do with the Commander.

joeb102072

My Feedback: (9)

Nothing is as good as the real thing. Having said that to answer your question.. YES YES YES Sims are an big aid to those wanting to either practice something they wouldnt dare at the field to get a general feel for the manuver, or just 4 channel know how in general. Lots of people use sims for all different reasons. There are a couple of new guys at my field that have used a sim all winter long and sucessfully soloed in a day at the field with their trainner. While others like me who started flying 12 years ago there were no sims, but when I purchased one never flying 3D before and hoping the sim would help me learn I was tail touching on my 2nd weekend at the field and used the sim the previous winter to get some practice. I think for the time restricted and limeted budgeted they are an invaluable part if learning and expanding your expertise even more.

Matt Kirsch

My Feedback: (21)

Sims are definitely a big help. The original Great Planes Real Flight is where I did all my crashing before ever setting foot on the field with a "real" plane. The practice did me so much good that the guy who held the buddy box my first time out thought I was good enough to land. As it was, I made my first landing on my second buddy-box session, then my first takeoff.

Considering the number of planes I crashed in the sim, it paid for itself the day I installed it

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Sims can definatly help!

There is a free flight simulator called FMS. Not as fancy as the expensive
ones but it works and can really help you get your aileron timing down. It
will also help you learn to fly the plane toward you.

The links below takes you to a site that provides a cable that can connect to
the trainer port on your radio so you can fly the sim using your own radio or
buddy box. If you don't have one perhaps someone at the club will loan you an
old radio with a trainer port so you can practice.


FMS Flight simulator Home Page
Free download
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

Parkflyers for FMS
http://gunnerson.homestead.com/files/fms_models.htm

Glider RC - Another sim. Have not tried it.
http://glider3d.free.fr/index_en.html

Serial Cable/radio adapter +FMS and Preflight Sim CD - any plug - $35
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=5969881882

Flight simulator adaptor for Hitec/Futaba radios with round trainer port- $5
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_in...products_id=654

Flight simulator adapter For JR radios - $9
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_in...products_id=647

Brand new, Low cost full function 4 channel radios that have trainer ports
that will fly your plane AND act as a simulator constoller with one of the
above adapters

GWS 4 Channel Radio - $45
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WD1V

GWS 4 Channel Radio w/ FMS cable and CD - $69
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=5916217443

Hitec Laser 4 - $60 ( better than the GWS radio)
http://www.servocity.com/html/4-ch_l...m_systems.html


Buddy Box with trainer cord - $35
Requires another radio to actually fly a plane
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...dID=AIRVG400TR

JR - Not sure if this is a radio or just a buddy box - $50
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=JRPA400

==============================
Used items on e-bay - Examples

GWS Transmitter

Fly-n-3D

I have Real Flight G3 and it has helped me so much.