ORIGINAL: GraupnerFan
they are VERY effective. BUT it all depends on how you go about it. you can make it an expensive "video game" or you can be serious and make it an invaluable learning tool. i wish i had one when i first started out.
Agree [sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif] - Would have saved a ton of money by having a sim when I began eons ago... (but then I wouldn't have room for my recently acquired stable of kits and ARFs
) Since getting FSM, at about $200 per crash, I've saved about $100k
The sim's greatest feature from a learning perspective is that you can get the general feel for the controls and get the "coming atcha" responses nailed before you risk your pride and joy... The more repetitions you get in the sim with the airplane flying at you, the easier it will be when the adrenaline is pumping as your real life model is bearing down on you at what appears to be warp speed. Those reactions take time and repetition to become instinctive, and I am convinced they must become instinctive for your airplane to survive for long....
With the sim, you can lawn dart virtual planes with abandon and practice without the concern that your several hundred dollar, dozens of hours project will become a permanent monument to your first flying attempts
Am unaware of any "RC simulator syllabus", but would suggest the following sequence, adapted from a FS flight syllabus -
High Altitude - (Get the airplane airborne at an altitude that gives you some room and where you can still clearly see the airplane)
Effect of the controls - how much of which control does what to the airplane?
Interaction of pitch, throttle and trim - trimming the airplane to fly hands off
Constant altitude turns - bank and pitch inputs required
Climbs, turns to a specific direction
Glides - partial power, power off, trim change required to maintain desired descent or airspeed
Slow flight at a constant altitude - straight and turning
Stalls and recoveries
Keeping oriented to the airplane, especially when it is at a distance
Flight towards and away from pilot.
Recovery from unusual attitudes.
Low Altitude - 5-10 feet off the ground (eye level or so)
Flying in a straight line at a constant altitude (over or adjacent to the runway)
Flying rectangular patterns at a constant altitude (over and away from the runway)
Flying S-turns at a constant altitude (linked 180 degree turns, alternating right and left)
Flying the airplane close to the ground without landing (over the runway)
Flying the airplane towards and away from you
Traffic Patterns
Takeoffs, climb out, rectangular pattern to approach, landing
Landing flare timing and rollout
Deadstick landings
Cheers!
Jim