what should a biginer buy first? a trainer or a simulator?

to me nothing works like hands on, but a sim is good if ya want to get the stick movements down and the abilty to move the sticks when the plane is going away or coming at you

If you're going for one or the other then I'd say spend your money on a trainer, and download one of the free simulators like FMS. The simulators can be absolutely invaluable, especially if you use them in a disciplined way (i.e. make sure you're flying a good squared and level pattern, practise your landing approaches again and again and again etc.) but they're no substitute for stick-time with a good instructor. You'll never get an adrenaline rush like you get flying a carefully constructed kit aircraft with a simulator

Having said all that, I've found my copy of RealFlight G2 to have been a fantastic learning aid. I put a lot of stick-time in on the sim - enough so that I could fly the PT-40 trainer model blindfolded - and ended up solo'ing after just three trips to the local flying field. They really do help you with orientation and control-reversal issues. They can also expose you to a lot of the 'in flight phenomena' like gusting, thermals, turbulence etc. without involving the fear of smashing $500 of plane into match-wood. I've found that the G2 stick-time I've had so far (comfortably over 100 hours) has been pretty close to the (albeit somewhat limited) experiences I've had flying my LT-40.

Summary of all the above: Download FMS... get yourself a trainer and an instructor... go out there and REALLY fly!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I am a newbie, not an expert. But I am having success teaching myself to fly with Aerofly Pro and a Sky Scooter electric. I started back in to the hobby with FMS, but the Aerofly Pro/Game Commander is much more realistic. You can record your flights and edit the wind conditions. Fly in simulated gusty wind conditions, crash less in the real world. I hear G2 is good as well.

The Sky Scooter II is a practically indestructable very stable speed 400 foamie, with all radio gear included and installed, that sells for around $160. Tx too; and the radio gear could be re-used in another other speed 400-class plane.

hey how about the cables to connect your radio to the computer when u download FMS??do they sell it elsewhere?

i really dont believe in simulators but they are fun to fly( i actually have FMS and use the comp. keyboard to fly it..its like one of those computer games you play when u really miss the real action on the field when its not Sunday!!!!!(i get to fly mainly on Sundays only)
So jsut was curious on where you guys but the cables alone for FMS...My LHS store sells other sims with the cables but they are expensive..

Do a search on Ebay. There is a guy selling cables and the FMS software on a cd.

alright thanks
will have a try and look around there.

I used FMS and a Gravis Game Pad I bought at Best Buy for $22.
The game pad has two thumb sticks and can be set up just like a real Tx. I used to take in my lunch box to work when I was on nightshift and do a little flying.

bikz

you could always go to http://www.sekiriki.jp/smartpropo/downloads.html

and download a software interface for you TX, all you'll need is a trainer cord and a sound card no need to go and buy anything..

works great

Silly me,
That site warns you that "smartpropo" is "risky software" and "may cause your computer to crash". I know I want THAT on my computer. Besides, how do you connect the trainer cord to the computer?

Bikz,
http://www.mattclement.freeservers.com/fms/fms.html

This guy makes and sells an interface for FMS, PC to Tx. about $22 shipped.

Dennis-

DBCherry

scared at some software??

I have loaded smartpropo, but there a two versions..

First one is the winme.dll that you just copy to the fms folder on your computer, that work great and no risky stuff

all you need is to plug your trainer cord into the "mic in" of you sound card, if you have a JR radio your all set, futaba needs to change the cable but nothing hard to do

Secondly there is a WDM version that makes you TX work with any program that could use a joystick,

this includes Aerofly, MS flight simulator, reflex, etc but I must add it does crash my PC after about 5 min, and I have to restart.



If your only loading FMS there is no reason to worry.
no we could all fly on a rainy day

SILLYME,

i dont have a trainer cord as well so looks like i cant do the modifications
anywayz i will try to order one if i can.... well its $22 so will be around RM83.60 (Malaysian currency) shipping about another RM76 at least...so total of RM 159.60 at least....Man i dont think its worth it...... i can get a basic low wing sports plane for about RM100 more...
maybe i should see if anyone can make it locally!
thanks anyway guys for your info.
appreciate it.

ok

I use to say get the simulator and learn to fly it but what I have found is that when a person can land the simulator once without crashing, they think they are an RC expert. You have to spend a LOT of time on the simulator getting into and recovering from a lot of different attitudes as well as showing a proficiency to fly. I still think the simulator is a good TOOL but it is just that, a TOOL!!!!

I just soled recently...

I also just purchased Real Flight G2 after I soloed.

To me I'd just get a trainer and do the buddy box thing with a good instructor.

Real Flight G2 to me is nothing like flying. A lot of people love it but flying in it seems trivial to me. I can do constant spot landings 99.9% of the time in it and even do 3-D type manavuers like hover and harrier and there's NO WAY I'm that good in real life.

I mean I can still only land into the wind in real life but in G2 I can land in a big crosswind.

To me the only thing it's really good for is orientation - once you get that down (which you can just as easily do in FMS for free) I woulnd't bother.

bikz,
I believe there's a link on the FMS website that explains how to make the interface. It only takes about $5 in parts, and they should be available locally.
Dennis-

You can find transmitter to PC interface cables in these links:

http://www.rc-electronics.co.uk

and

http://www.tti-us.com/sim/products.html

I went straight to the the plane. I crashed and I flew. Now with 50 flights under my belt, I fly with confidence. I now have three planes.

I recently got a copy of FMS and a cable ot us it with my radio. I can't get the hang of the damn thing for nothing.

I would rather fly the plane. However if you are a big computer game freak, the simulator may work very well.

If you think simulators are boring, you should try landings in some of the F3A type planes in AeroFly Pro with a gusty 45 degree crosswind blowing about 18 mph.

Try to fly the IMAC Intermediate sequence. Definately not boring, unless you are an unlimited class pilot!