Hi,

I purchased a Sturdy Birdy II about a year ago thinking I could teach my self to fly without an instructor. I didn't even have it in the air for 20 seconds before I nose-dived into the ground at full throttle.

Anyways, I recently found an R/C plane simulator called "Flying Model Simulator". It's freeware, so I downloaded it and tried it out. I was able to obtain some information on how to "hack" my transmitter and hook it up to my computer via the mic port so I could control the plane in the simulator from my transmitter. I've become quite good at flying in the simulator, but I was wondering if anybody's had any experience with FMS and if it's very realistic.

Thanks,
Matt

I have tried FMS( i used a regular computer joystick instead of a transmitter). FMS is o.k. but not very realistic. On FMS the plane does not respond realisticly on the ground or during landings. I have Real Flight G2 now and it's much better. G2 is expensive but worth the money.

Matt,

I have used that simulator a little and I have the Real Flight G1. I think that as long as you have been using a regular RC transmitter for control inputs you probably will have a good leg up when you start with your instructor at the field next time with a Sig LT-40 or somthing similar.

You'll probably be soloing on the third or fourth flight.

Matt,
I flew the first time yesterday after putting alot of sim time in. The simulator really helped me. I took off my first day. My instructor said I did alot better than the average new flyer. I don't attribute that to a natural ability nearly as much as I do to having put time in on the sim. My instructor said I could try landings next time. I have the lite version of g2 I bought on ebay.

hmm.. So I guess it's sounding like It'd be a bad idea to fly without an instructor?

It was a good experience. The instructors out at the field that day were good people. They were there because they wanted to be there. They volunteer their time every tues. to teach beginners like myself without pay. They were happy to help me and were helpful in answering all my questions. I had a little apprehension about seeking instruction at first, but that was just totally ill founded. I said in my earlier post that I took off my first day. My first attempt at taking off wasn't good at all. I stalled it and my instructor took over immediately. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have lost the plane had my instructor not intervened. I think this is one area the sim falls short. Takeoffs are a breeze on the sim. I've never been one to seek instruction. My golf game stinks, but that's ok. I would never get a golf coach or anything like that but this rc thing is a different story. You don't have anything to lose. You can only gain from going to your club's trainer night. There's just no reason not to get help.

SIMMS HELP!!
When you start practicing, make things easy till you get 'time'. Then dial in wind----gusts---make it harder and harder! Even after DAYS practicing------you will STILL make mistakes on the simm! Just be thankfull it AIN'T real! With the simm, you can get lots of hours practice in heavy winds that will get you to react with out thinking. Lots of times, if you think of what to do...It's to late..
My $.02 worth!
PHIL I.