I have posted this within the RC Simulator Section also. Since this pertains to many Flyers I thought this would also be good place to post for those who may not visit the Sim Section of RCU.

I have owned the FMS, Great Planes G2, and Great Planes G3, and although these are all good simulators, I have my own ideas of what would make a great simulator. The technology is in place to have a Sim look, and react anyway one could imagine a good Sim should look and feel. Im would love to hear everyones ideas regarding what you think would make a good simulator. To start this off I will share my ideas.

As you start the Sim I believe it should run in "First Person" much like what you would see in a good video game like "Half-Life", or anyone of the many shooter or war games like "Call of Duty", etc. etc. "First Person" means that you see through the eyes of the character you run in the game or sim. First off the Sim should start with you in your Hangar(Garage). A garage wall in front of you at this point is only stocked with one Trainer Plane. You will have to earn Tokens as you advance to have money to buy other Planes. As you progress your Hangar will be stocked with Planes that you have selected to keep in your Hangar. You should also be able to previously equip each Plane before you add it to your Hangar. For Example: Radio Equipment, Engine, Hardware(A good place for sponsors to get there names used like Sullivan, Dubro,etc.). You should also have the option of using various sponsors decals upon your Plane if you so wish, or have a Monokote Box within your Hangar where you can change colors of any airplane instead of having to do it through a photo editor program. All these features though will have to be earned with tokens as your flying progresses.

Once you have decided on which Airplane to take, you should also be able to decide what field equipment you wish to use. You will start with the basics, and extras will have to be bought by using Tokens(I will give more detail into the Token thing later). Once you have selected some equipment, type of Fuel and amount with your starting funds(Prices based on Tower Hobbies Current prices, and updated each time game is loaded) you are ready to head to the field with your Plane.

Once you arrive at the field you need to first make your way to the AMA(Plug for AMA) frequency board. If you are flying online you will have to make sure someone else is not flying on that frequency, and even offline there should be Computer Generatated People (NPC) who are allready there flying aircraft, and not just frozen still photos. The environment and field activity would actually be going on around you, and in first person mode you should be able to walk around the field. You would also be able to taunt and torment other Online or NPC Flyers be giving "Know it all suggestions", or you should be able to offer kind words of encouragement for someone who is just starting, or to someone who has just crashed. You should also be able to go out and inspect crash sites because crashes should have a more realistic appearence in this sim and based upon type of crash, how fast, and how hard.

Now to get back on track....
After you have placed your AMA Card upon the frequency board, you are ready to place your Plane upon the Plane Stand. A smart computer Sim will not be easy on you here. There is any number of potential problems that could be facing you before you fire your Plane up. Plus you may want to experiment with another Prop or something at this point. In first person mode you turn your Radio and Plane "ON". In first person mode you take the ignitor and starter from your field box after turning on the power and fire the engine over after you have set your throttle on the transmitter. The Engine fires up easily, but you may find that it is running lean, or is running to rich, and you will have to tweak the needles which will be located just like they are on the specific engine you have chosen. Once you have tweaked the engine and you are happy with the way it is running, it is now time to check your control surfaces to make sure they are going in the proper direction. You may actually even have to adjust linkage if you do not have enough room to trim on the radio. Since you are in first person mode, it is always a good idea not to walk into a moving prop, and stay clear of flying Planes because in this sim you could be hit and knocked to the ground, or worse. Tokens will also be deducted for unsafe practices.

Now you are happy with the Plane, and decide it is ready to fly. The sweet thing about this sim is that the Instructor takes the field with you if you choose to use one. The instructor will stand by your side and give you instruction. This smart Instructor will take control from you when you mess up, and save you from losing tokens, because crashing Planes will be very hard on your Pocket Book, and Tokens will be deducted from you for each crash. A good sim will reward you when you do good, and make it rough for you to progress if you do not follow proper procedures.

If you are allready a good pilot then you will move on quickly to advanced, and have no trouble earning tokens to buy better aircraft, accessories, etc. If you are just starting out you will really have to earn your way.

My whole idea is that a sim should be as close to real experience as possible, and with todays technology there is no reason why it can't be. It shouldn't take the place of actual flying, but there it should be a heck of a lot closer than what it is right now. Heavier product advertising could be utilized within the sim to help offset some of the cost since most sims are currently priced fairly high. There would probally be some increase in cost, but a sim of this caliber would be in high demand.

I also think that there should be penalties within the sim. This way you are really trying your best, and not just crashing Planes because it seems like a fun thing to do, and in the current sims there is no penalty. Thus I believe a token system should be used. Every action within the sim will either add or deduct tokens from your account. Every item including Planes will have to be bought by using tokens, and you may find yourself at one point not being able to replace a plane you worked hard to design because you crashed it beyond repairs, and you don't have the funds to fix it. Light crashes will only cost you in repairs, but you might find you may not be able to fly the Plane until you have earned enough to make the repairs. A good sim has to have consequences in my opinion to be really good, and currently none of the ones out today do. If you are brave enough to do an inverted pass 3" off the runway, then you are brave enough to face the consequences should you crash.

Now lets hear your ideas............................................. ....

sounds cool.. But I doubt it's gonn happen

But keep the option of being able to choose anyplane you want to start out with... Or have a free flight mode so you can fly anyplne you want..