ok,

Lets get an idea of how many people learned to fly, or use a flight simulator to improve thier flying skills..

I use RF G2.
I didnt learnt to fly on a sim but use it as a practice tool. IMO, The planes that the sim comes with are too easy to fly, the key is to adjust them to make them fly like your own planes do.
Its also a good tool for orientation. For example, When I was learning TR's it really helped with the rudder and pitch corrections while the plane was spinning around.

I like it but there is no replacement for getting outside and doing it for real. There's no spacebar outside. ( reset after a crash )

Hmm.. a hickup in the system lost my post.


Anyway, lets try it again..

Yep I got G2, and modified it to match my planes.. I think the sims can help teach people the "basic's of flight" faster than anything. They can see a plane react easier..

I have been looking for the spacebar on my TX, ain't found it yet!

I am just getting back into sailplanes after ten years and bought the Game Commander and Easyfly combo. I also use the latest version of the freeware FSM. I did get a chance to use both Realflight and Dave Brown's but I felt I could get what I wanted out of a lower priced sim.

My goal was to get use to using a TX box again and regain my sense of orientation before banging up the 2X6 I am working on.
The low end sims are doing the job for me plus are a fun way to take a break from the building board.

All I can say is that I wish the powered models I flew 10 years ago flew half a smooth as those in the computer simulations

I believe these simulation can be constructive way for the FNG
--> Fabulous New Guy to get some coordination and orientation skills, but they are a long way from replacing a good trainer and instructor.

Please let me know if you find one..

Bob,

I don't think anything will replace a good trainer and instructor...Thank goodness for the buddy box!

For some people the sims are harder. Although I did not stay in it long, I first flew almost 15+ years ago. It was a .25 size low wing, we called them barnstormers.

That was before sims and before buddy boxes. Most people would discorage anyone learning to fly except on a trainer. But, with the right instructor I think you can. The guy that was teaching me then took the plane so high you could barely see it then handed me the TX.

I didn't do to bad either, I only gave it back when it was time to land. I wasn't about to temp that

I used Dave Brown and FMS to work on flying, while I was putting my trainer together. I soloed in about a week. I now use Real Flight Deluxe to practice. I am working on my third plane and hope to have it flying in a week or so, due to my schedual.

burnsie90


P.S. Great job on the forums.

I have CockpitMaster, but I didn't really use it to learn to fly. I found that there is no replacement for hours logged at the field and in the air.

Nothing can replace real stick time.

But I do use it occasionally to play around with.

Oopps! I just realised that the name of my simulator program has a 'naughty' word in it and was censored.

That should be CockpitMaster.

I fixed the use of that "naughty" word. One of the moderators should be able to edit it and fix now....

RCadmin

No problem. I know that there are always tweaks to be made with any software. What I see so far though has impressed me. Good work.

Burnsie,

I have not used Dave Sims or FMS, but they do help. Do you have the G2 upgrade? If not consider it, then find a plane like yours and modified it to match your engine, controls and CG.

Willl make it better when you do get that thrid plane up in the air!

Sims may not be for everyone, I have race R/C cars and flown heli's (ok, heli's a little ). So the left and right controls and the change when the airplane is coming at you did not take me long to learn.

If it had not been for fixing the nose wheel on my trainer all day I would have soloed in less than 5 flights in one day! The sims did help me a lot.

Maverick

Marc is going to fix it so I can correct your post..

As far as flight time and stick time you forgot one thing. A good instructor ! Without someone to help - your are probably doomed!

Yes, I agree. A good instrucotr is an absolute must. I had one very good one and then a couple of other stand-ins when the primary one wasn't at the field.

I did learn slightly different things from each different instructor too, which I thought helped.

It never hurts to get a different perspective on something.

Well I learned to fly before buddy boxes and computers to run them on, but use one now to practice certain manuevers. I find that it helps when I get to the field and try the manuever the first time.

It can be a lot cheaper trying them on the sim first....

BTW... I have to ask, is that picture of the Shuttle flyable? IF so where did you get the plans or kit? I gotta get one..

The Shuttle was designed by Parker Leung and you can get the plans from RCM. It's powered by a ST .40 and has a Futaba Super 8 for the controls. It's a fun to build that's for sure.

Didn't use a sim. Bought a used plane the guy we bought it from took us up a few times and I soloed 2 weeks later. My oldest son soloed in Oct

My family bought me the GP original Real Flight sim for Christmas a few years back. I was already into my third plane (no, none have crashed) and though it would be good to practise aerobatics as I was a little vervous to try them on the real thing. I found the sim was pretty good in that you never had to be concerned if it got smucked up, but I found the landing was not really that realistic. Yes, it did help me when the winter was over and flying season began but the risk factor returned when flying for real! I think for a raw beginner it would a very useful tool, especially with orientation. Maybe the new generation of sims are more realistic when landing in which case it would be very useful. All in all, my personal feeling is that it would be great for a beginner but that the usefullness of the sim would deterioate as your skills get better and better.....just my .02$ worth. Feel free to disagree.

Cheers
Mike

dsjbean...

That's the best way, with the help of a good instructor..


Goose,

Actually I wouldn't disagree with ya. At some point flying will become second nature and be of little value (I have a ways to go before I get to that point). I think confidence would play a big factor at that point.

Now combat flying by sim could get fun!

I learned to fly "hot potato", in '88, then left the hobby in 95. Got back into it with a vengeance in '99, all big stuff, or very hairy scary small stuff. Have taught quite a few, strong believer in the buddy box.

Got the G2 to try choppers, getting a pretty good grasp of it, would definitely recommend it.

My 10 year old daughter is now on the G2, and we have her trainer ready for spring! She has come a long way on the sim.

It also is a great way to get out of the habit of "thumbs only", if you learned "dumb thumbs", and want to try a little finesse, with finger/thumb, and don't want to risk a plane...we can't all be Chip Hyde!!

Here's Heather after her first landing on the LiteStik - her second flight ever! Spring she gets on the Loadstar .40!

HEy rcav8or,

I plan on using my G2 to teach my nephew to fly. He's about 10, but his attention span is not very long. So the G2 would be a better tool since he loves computer games, to teach him the basics of flight.

Good for Heather! Whatever works - right!

When I learned to fly there was no such thing..
At that time there was no such thing as Monocote...Man that was a long time ago.. Brian Smith

I didn't have a computer when I started out but I use one to practice and to do some flying when the weather sucks.
To make it even better,I taught myself how to fly.

I learned on a buddy box with the help of some very patient friends. I have a simulator now. Wish I had it when I was starting out.

Eric