To the Group -

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my son and I are about to embark upon "the hobby" (I love that phrase -- an excellent catch-all term for this crazy thing we do!) and we will be starting with the GreatPlanes RealFlight simulator. I will be getting the software sometime in the next week and we'll start getting our feet wet. That leads me however, to a question ...

Does the software come with instructions about "how to fly?" I don't mean, "This is how you load the software." I mean "This stick is the rudder ... push it here to make the plane turn. This stick controls the ailerons ... you need to use it in conjunction with the rudder to make good turns."

Not having the software yet, I don't know what's included but I don't want to start bad (or improper) habits on the computer that will have to be un-learned when we start trying to fly a real plane.

I realize that becoming proficient on the software is no substitute for a real, live instructor on the flight line. I just want to make sure the software has enough information/guidance to give us a solid grounding in flying principles and techniques that will be transferable.

If anyone has feedback, I'd love to hear from you!

G2 does have an instructor with it. While it is not a written manual, it is a set of on screen demo's that show what to do including a picture of a transmitter. It shows the sticks being moved as the instructor demo's the manuver.

The lessons range from basic first timer stuff to advanced aerobatic manuvers.

Later!

Microsoft Flight Sim has a good tutorial on flying, and I'm sure others are available on the web. Many encyclopedias have good sections on flight.

Basically, flying is a matter of momentum/inertia, and balance along three axes: pitch (elevator), roll (ailerons) and yaw (rudder). Keeping the plane pointed in the direction of travel is a good start. Good luck and have fun.

DCD,

I think you'll be happy with RealFlight. While it's not a step by step video (or at least I don't remember it as such), the instructor section is very good. It has a picture of a transmitter on the screen while the instructor narrates his actions. This way, you can hear and see what is going on.

There is a "One week to Solo" or something like that video around. That may also be a good purchase.

The best bet, is to play around on the simulator while you are looking for clubs, buying gear, etc. That way you get your and your son's fingers used to the whole flying thing. Then when you find a club, go to a meeting and go to the field and talk with some of the people there. They will end up being the best resource for you.

I have Realfligh and I think it's excellent. I highly recommend it, and the tutorial should do you just fine. However, don't think that you don't need an instructor in real life once you've gotten the hang of Realflight. That's a huge mistake. There is so much an instructor can tell you that RF can't. Plus an instructor will save your behind when you screw up after that gust of very real wind comes along, and you plane is spiraling straight at you and you lose control inputs, and it hits you in the face, and you DIE!!! THE END IS COMING!!

Ahem, sorry about that....

There is a [link=http://webpages.charter.net/rcfu/BegInfo/BegGuide.html]Beginner's Guide[/link] on my web page that should help you. You can read it online or download a printable file in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format and read it at your leisure. While you are at it, read the articles concerning R/C simulators. You will have to go to the [link=http://webpages.charter.net/rcfu]main page[/link] to get to the index to view the other articles on the site.

Howard -

I have been all over your site during the last couple of weeks! There is great info there!