my buddy is getting into planes he wants a sim but im not sure how helpful its gonna be for him. Any ideas as what to tell him????

I have borrowed a friends and it helps out a lot. It helps by making you get used to turning while the aircraft is facing you. It is as close to flying as you can get without actually doing it.

Wouldn't go to the field without one. It's also great on those cold snowy winter days when you can't fly...keeps your "skills" relatively sharp.

Why don't you get him a couple of intro flights that way your buddy can see if flying is for him with 0 cash out lay

I've used both dave browns and realflight and prefer realflight

If you do a search under RealFlight you will see that it is highly recomended. Could be the difference between someone investing a lot of money in a plane and setup and flying a handful of times and quiting frustrated and someone really enjoying the hobby. I wouldnt have near the confidence or ability in the realatively short amount of flying time I have without G2.

Shoot, I have been flying for 27+ years and use it a lot. Some for fun, some for practice, some for trying new things before I try them on the heli. The sim has come a long way. Its always a good idea, and sometimes just plane fun when there is nothing else to do.

yea i just le thim borrow mine so he doesnt have to buy one. I had the dave brown one, way back in the day. You guys know wich one im talking about, the lil brown box.

Will it help? Yes

Will it teach you to fly? No.

I bought one after 15 years of flying.(RealFlight G2) It will sharpen your skills and teach you the correct inputs. It's just to easy to fly on it to totaly learn.

David

I must disagree with you daveopam. I purchased G2 lite and practiced with it about a month before I flew my Ultra Stick 40. I have never used a buddy box and have not crashed my plane. I'm not saying I will never crast but I am saying that the sim taught me how to fly.

I practiced on the simulator for a while and then flew my airplane without an instructor and without any help from anyone. I can say that it did teach my how to fly and even now it helps to practice new things.

I consider the simulator as my best investment in RC flying.

just my 2 cents

I also introduced myself to sim BEFORE ever flying.

My first day I soloed with take off and landing. Flew inverted and did a tail slide.

The veteran at the field flew my plane initially just to check the trim...He was trying to help me and very kind... but deep down I could just see the (hidden) grin on his face assuming I was going to learn just how "not easy" this is.

There was total silence after my flight....and he and his friend merely said...."You're on your own!"

I have of course crashed too many time from either being too daring or not being aware of where the sim education stopped and the real flight education began.

I don't envy one bit the poor guys who built kits and learned the hard way....MY UTMOST RESPECT TO THEM.

ARF's and Sims and I am still overwhelmed and often frustrated to the point of quitting. Can't imagine a world without them.

_Deadtired.

I think the sim can do the bulk of teaching to fly. It will definetly help dumb thumbs. Also, I think in a lot of things the sim is harder. You dont have the perspective with the sim like in real life. I think takeoff is a little too automatic on G2 (not very accurate for tail draggers especially). But overall I can do anything with my plane that I can do on the sim. I cant imagine a program being too much closer to reality. Remember its only a computer.