Originally Posted by
L8cruiser
Are rc flight simulators worth the money and time to learn how to fly. Are they a valuable tool or more of a game ? I work during most of the daylight hours during the week. I was thinking about purchasing a simulator to give me a head start . What are your thoughts ?
In short, YES, they are worth the money.
For the best results, use them in conjunction with an instructor at your local field, as being that each model flies differently, you can adjust the physics of the model in programs like Phoenix and Real Flight so you end up flying something that feels as close as possible to the specific model that you are learning on.
What this allows for is more rapid learning, but as with any flight learning process, IMO you need to be structured with your learning approach (ie resist the urge to just 'play' on it). Set yourself specific goals, 'master' them then combine that skill within your next goal and so on and so on.
Mines saved me from numerous crashes with my heli, and helped the transition into planes no end. So if nothing else, buying a good one will end up saving you a LOT of money! And that's got to be a good thing right?