RCU Forums - View Single Post - how well do flight sims replace trainers?

08-15-2008 | 07:24 PM

#23

Spacemonkey71

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From: Rochelle, GA

RE: how well do flight sims replace trainers?

I can see the positive and negative sides of sim training. I think they have a place in the learning process, but they do NOT substitute for the "real thing". ESPECIALLY that "fear factor" you experience (and the INCREDIBLE RUSH!!!!

) when your "real" plane is in the air and you realize that if you screw up, it IS a big deal and can cost a big sack of cash... That "RUSH" is what really got me into flying RC's wholeheartedly

But on the positive side, you DO learn to recognize how the plane moves in terms of it's attitude from your point of view. Intellectually, you may know that when a plane is moving toward you, that you move the aileron stick in the direction of the wing that is dipping or the way you wish to turn, but a sim can really help you get that particular "muscle memory" training down without getting the "death spiral". But in the end, sims are GOOD but they don't simulate the chaotic factors you encounter in the real world (I LOVE the example of a bird attacking your plane! I haven't seen that one yet, but I can't wait to!!!).... and the "blood pressure" effect is something you can NEVER get with a sim!

On another positive note, I know a kid who's 12 years old, spent about 3-4 weeks flying the G4 trainer, and the FIRST time he grabbed the stick on a real plane, an electric Cessna, he took off and landed on his own! (not "perfectly", but hey, any landing you can take off again from is a "good" landing

) That's probably NOT the norm or the rule, but it DID happen....

I like FMS just for it's ability to get me used to how the plane is going to turn and move directionally in terms of how it's oriented in the air and how it's oriented from the fixed camera POV. I can't say that sims are "worthless", because I've learned alot from it, but it didn't show me how to trim my plane, fuel it up, start it, tune the engine, check the throws, or what happens when a plane REALLY goes down..... i got that experience the hard way...... [:@] and I will MOST LIKELY continue to get those lessons "the hard way" in the future.

But I still dig the "rush" [>:] of knowing that that's MY plane in the air and I'M flying it and if "I" hose it up and don't watch my butt it's gonna get ugly.... and embarassing... [:'(] Short of hooking your PC up to an adrenaline pump, a sim can't deliver this visceral feeling

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