I like to use RealFlight to "warm up" my thumbs before I go flying -- particularly if it's been a while. I notice that I tend to have "dumb thumbs" for the first few minutes of each new flying session so I've started using the sim for a few minutes before heading out to the flying field. This gets my head and thumbs back into things.

How about you? What do you use your sim for -- once you've basically learned to fly?

I use it mainly for the same reasons, sort of warming up and to reftersh my skills.

Once you have learned to fly, its very easy to remember everything, takes just couple minutes on the sim. I do figure eights, inverted figure eights, a bunch of landings and i am ready to go.

Before Flying (night before):
Practice new routines.

After flying (same day!)
Work on stuff that didn't come off well at the field, either due to "bad thumbs", weather conditions, or both!

what kind of maneuvers do you include in your routine that can be practiced on RF?

Same here...good warm up. Sometimes I like to fly different models on the sim just for the variation in flight characteristics from plane to plane. This seems to keep me from getting into any bad habits, that I might carry over from one plane to another...if that makes sense.

I learned how to do rolling circles, hover, and rolling harriers on g2. I upgraded to the full version recently and got a few of the add ons. For the longest time I thought the 3D guys were gods with their profiles. I had the extra special on g2 lite and assumed all the profile planes flew like that.

I use it all winter to keep flying.

I practice new stuff before trying it on a real plane, and often use it to "refresh" my fingers after a couple of weeks away from the field.

wings,
You can use a Sim to practice ANY manuever or any full routine.
Dennis-

Another good use for the sim is when flying a new aircraft. I'll typicly select a plane similar to the design of my latest creation and practice flying with the trims off a bit and practice with the CG moved for and aft. This has saved a crash or two I'm convinced.

Darren