Can anybody familiar with both of these trainers discuss how alike (or differently) they fly.

Last fall, I got to where I could take off and land my LT-40 (solo) but I was still alittle shaky.

Winter, holidays, etc came and I haven't flown for a couple of months now.

In order to try to hang on to my (weak) skills, I've been practicing with the G3 flight sim.

Only thing is, there's no LT-40 in the line up of planes so I've been using the Nexstar. It looks and seems to fly similar to the LT-40.

Nice flying weather is just around the corner and I'm looking forward getting my Kadet up again.

If the Nexstar flies vastly different from the Kadet, is there another model available on the G3 sim I should be practicing with?

Thanks for all your help!

Dave

If you are comparing to a Nexstar with all of the "Gadgets" on the wing they should fly fairly similar. The Nexstar will have a bit "heavier" of a feel but at your stage of flying you probably won't notice it. The most important thing the simulator will help you with IMO is orientation. Getting used to the apparent control reversal when the plane is coming toward you is often the most difficult part aside from landings.
Practicing your general flying and landings while changing the wind speed and direction should be a big help when you get back to actual flying.

Bruce is right. With the brakes & gloves, the Nexstar is slow & stable like the LT 40, although it descends more steeply with power off.

Cleaned-up, the Nexstar is pretty lively -- nearly 70 MPH, with a faster & much more extended glide than it has with the widgets. If you crank up the throws to the max, it is quite aerobatic.

decends more steeply = fall like a rock


Just kidding, not that bad.

As far as flying on the sim and in real life don't worry about it, they are close enough for you to practice. You'll be just fine once you get to the field. Just practice and don't worry about the little stuff.

Hope this helps

Ken

Maybe a styrofoam rock

Thanks for the good advice guys.

I think the sim is useful in solidifying muscle memory with the sticks, orientation problems, etc.

When I started with the sim, it seemed like I picked up where I left off flying for real. I'm much better with the sim now and I'm hopeful that translates into better flying for real.

The G3 sim has two choices with Nexstar - with or without AFS. I tried the AFS version but didn't like the way it responded.

Can't wait to get back in the air with the LT-40 and THEN, maiden my newly built 4*60 kit. Won't even try that until I'm really solid with the LT-40.

Dave

ps: this hobby is REALLY addicting.

If I can make one suggestion... when you go out for your first flight after being "off" for so long, ask an instructor or an experienced flyer to stand beside you. Let them know what stage you were at and that you've been practicing on the sim. You proboably won't need it, but having someone stand beside you to work the trims etc and "talk you through" an approach will cost nothing.

Funny you should start this thread today. I too haven't flown since I soloed by myself a couple months ago. Between weather & all sorts of medical nonsense going on I just haven't been able to get out to the field. I have continued to play with the sim at least once a day, allthough I have to admit I haven't been doing the Nexstar but all the planes that are 10 ft over my head instead. Anyway I decided to go see if I could manage to fly it alone again today. Partly to make sure the first time wasn't just a lucky fluke & partly because I gotta go do more medical nonsense tomorrow so I don't know how long it will be before I can go back out.

It went very well, no crashes, the ugliest victory rolls you have ever seen, & some loops too. Our runway has a white stripe down the middle with a circle dead center of the runway that the guys try to see who can touch down the closest to the circle. Of course with no witnesses my last landing I nailed it right smack in the middle of the circle. Yea, shocked me too!

So I think it's official the Nexstar is Idiot-proof.[&:]

I can't really comment on the LT 40 because I dont have one. But like Ken said you should be fine. Trust me if I can do it after this long from my solo, you can do it!

I'm wondering if it aint time to take the speed brakes off, those rolls were ugly!!

Then again, probably just pilot error.[X(]