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PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 1:56:31 PM   
RevToTheRedline



Posts: 983
Joined: 7/6/2004
From: Fort Payne, AL, USA
Status: online 		Can one really properly learn how to fly a heli with Real Flight PC Sim? I'm interesting in entering the world of 3D helicopters and don't really know where to start, I don't want to be like any other person with more money than brains though, and just go out, buy a kit and crash it within 5 seconds. I have been eyeballing the E-Flight Blade 400 3D RTF, looks like a good value and nicely made.

So should I buy the RealFlight G4 first, or go for the Blade 400 and just take it slow, maybe find someone that can teach me to fly it.

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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 2:50:30 PM   
archiebald


 

Posts: 483
Joined: 6/27/2005
From: Komoro-shiNagano-ken, JAPAN
Status: offline 		100% get the sim - but not realflight. You want Phoenix. http://www.phoenix-sim.com/welcome.htm

(in reply to RevToTheRedline)
       Post #: 2

RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 2:54:55 PM   
Skarn


 

Posts: 558
Joined: 1/1/2007
From: Pasadena, MD, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, get a sim. Phoenix is recommended by many as a better sim than Realflight, but many have used Realflight successfully.

The B400 is a decent heli. But what you lose by getting a RTF kit is knowledge from builing one.

Skarn

(in reply to archiebald)
       Post #: 3

RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 4:05:25 PM   
techrtr


 

Posts: 313
Joined: 9/19/2006
From: Kelowna, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I started to learn how to fly helis with a Blade CP Pro before I got a simulator. I took my time, crashed a lot, and found that my progress was really slow. Got hold of Real Flight 3.5, practiced with it a lot, and my flying skills immediately got a lot better with the real heli. In my case, it probably would have been a lot cheaper for me to buy the simulator before starting to fly the real thing.

A simulator can't completely take the place of flying a real heli because it doesn't duplicate the psychological factors that you experience when flying a real helicopter. There are things that I can do easily on the sim that cause me to freeze up when I try to do it for real. Just one of those things that you have to get over if you want to take heli flying to the next level.

(in reply to Skarn)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 6:25:37 PM   
René N.


 

Posts: 13
Joined: 8/15/2003
From: Hoofddorp, NETHERLANDS
Status: offline 		You can even do the first and dont let it stop the second.
There are several free and not so bad sims, you know.
So you could practice on the the sim and try it out on the real thing.
Have a google for FMS or Heli-X.
I use FMS and there's a lot of models for this one.
Generally speaking: a sim is worth the money.
That's why they aint cheap.

René

(in reply to techrtr)
       Post #: 5

RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 8:16:13 PM   
Big feet



Posts: 647
Joined: 8/7/2005
From: Carrickfergus, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi,
I agree, get a sim. Pheonix is the current sim that is considered the best, but I have G3.5 and it is excellent too. If you do decide to go with a Real Flight sim I would suggest G3.5 if you can get it for two reasons, one-it will be cheaper now G4 is out, and two- you can download loads of free models from Knifeedge's website. There are some for G4, but G4 won't work with models made for G2 and G3.5 and there are loads of these. (this is info I have read online, I can not confirm that G4 won't open G3.5 models)
Both Pheonix and G3.5 give you a virtual instructor to teach you how to fly both helis and planes. Excellent feature.
These sims are so good that top heli pilots use them to practise their moves before doing them on the real heli, and to get stick time when the weather is bad. They really are that good.
As techrtr said you don't get the "I'm flying an expensive model that I really don't want to crash" nerves that hold us all back to some degree, but on the up side, you get a reset button for when the worse happens. That happens a lot at the beginning.
Welcome to the madness, enjoy.

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Please remember, RC is dangerous to your wealth

(in reply to RevToTheRedline)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 8:38:14 PM   
Druss


 

Posts: 3404
Joined: 8/10/2007
From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		I do have G4 and while there are some issues with G3.5 imported models the majority of them work fine. As to Phoenix over G4, I've played on both and in reality there is very little difference. Phoenix has better graphics but either will be a load on a good computer. Make sure that you've got a computer capable of handling high end games.

I also like the fact that G3.5/G4 has it's own controller, some like to use their own but I prefer to reduce wear on my expensive transmitter.

(in reply to Big feet)
       Post #: 7

RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 8:46:17 PM   
Big feet



Posts: 647
Joined: 8/7/2005
From: Carrickfergus, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Druss,
Good to know about the G3.5 - G4 model downloads, I happily stand, err, sit, err, type corrected.

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Please remember, RC is dangerous to your wealth

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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/25/2008 9:19:13 PM   
RevToTheRedline



Posts: 983
Joined: 7/6/2004
From: Fort Payne, AL, USA
Status: online 		So Phoenix sim requires a real radio, hook it via a USB adapter right? So maybe I should buy the B400 and the sim, so I can have both to practice with?

Is the DX6i the same as a DX6 that you can buy retail? It can hook up to the Phoenix adapter correct?

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Mugen Seiki MBX5R : RB C6BBT II L2G w/ RB 2045 : Futaba 3PKS 2.4Ghz Fasst : Ace 1015/1313 : Lots of weight reduction mods

(in reply to Big feet)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/26/2008 1:39:41 AM   
Druss


 

Posts: 3404
Joined: 8/10/2007
From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		The DX6i is a better radio than the original DX6. For one thing it's full range while the DX6 is not (classified for park flyers only).

If you do decide on the Phoenix then get the JR adaptor for it, JR and Spektrum use the same.

(in reply to RevToTheRedline)
       Post #: 10

RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/26/2008 2:23:52 AM   
RevToTheRedline



Posts: 983
Joined: 7/6/2004
From: Fort Payne, AL, USA
Status: online 		One more question I got before I start purchasing, is the Blade 400 going to be something I am going to enjoy long after I really learn how to fly these things? What I'm asking is it a good investment in smallish RC choppers, without going over the top with a fully decked out Trex 450SE or something.

I know the B400 isn't all carbon fibered out and all that, but it looks good to my eyes, and has a great set of included electronics.

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Mugen Seiki MBX5R : RB C6BBT II L2G w/ RB 2045 : Futaba 3PKS 2.4Ghz Fasst : Ace 1015/1313 : Lots of weight reduction mods

(in reply to Druss)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/26/2008 2:51:34 AM   
Druss


 

Posts: 3404
Joined: 8/10/2007
From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		not to be a nay sayer but I don't really like the electronics, the radio (tx and rx) are good but the servos and gyro are not. if you want to get the most out of the blade 400 you'll end up replacing all the servos and the gyro with better.

I doubt that the blade 400 will be the last heli you own if you really start to enjoy it.... it's ok but really is meant as an entry level trainer which can be upgraded to fly pretty well.

(in reply to RevToTheRedline)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/26/2008 3:02:32 AM   
RevToTheRedline



Posts: 983
Joined: 7/6/2004
From: Fort Payne, AL, USA
Status: online 		What is your take on training for over a month on a simulator and jumping in to a nicely equipped T-Rex 450SE? With electronics designed to last. Even with sim time is it bad to jump in to a high dollar chopper?

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Mugen Seiki MBX5R : RB C6BBT II L2G w/ RB 2045 : Futaba 3PKS 2.4Ghz Fasst : Ace 1015/1313 : Lots of weight reduction mods

(in reply to Druss)
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RE: PC simulator vs the real thing? - 4/26/2008 4:21:41 AM   
Skarn


 

Posts: 558
Joined: 1/1/2007
From: Pasadena, MD, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RevToTheRedline

What is your take on training for over a month on a simulator and jumping in to a nicely equipped T-Rex 450SE? With electronics designed to last. Even with sim time is it bad to jump in to a high dollar chopper?



In my opinion, if you can afford it, that would be a great way to go. You build it thus learn a LOT more about it especially for when you have to rebuild after a crash. And you will never outgrow a TREX 450 SE v2 with your own electronics and gyro.

Don't get me wrong, the B400 is a decent heli for the price...

Skarn

(in reply to RevToTheRedline)