Hi Guys

I'm on my second model, a low wing trainer, which I can just about manage to keep in the air! Don't ask what happened to my first one
The problem is I can't get to the field anywhere near as much as I would like. So I was thinking of getting a sim.
Will this really improve my skills. I have quite a good PC so there will be no problem in running it. I'm not interested in dual player and stuff like that, but I do want something which is realistic and help me transfer the skills to the real world.
Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Falcon,

yes a sim will help. It will help with coordination and orientation and will help with stick movements becoming second nature. The 2 better sims are Great Planes G3 or Aerofly Pro Deluxe

G3 comes with it's own "transmitter" and Aerofly needs to use your own so you also must by a cable to match. Both are right around $200US.

What I do is when I want to learn something new I will have flown it many times on the sim, successfully, before I try it on the real thing. No sim can fully duplicate the real thing but those two are pretty close.

If you go the sim route, try to treat it as the real thing. It's easy to not have to worry about crashing as a new plane is a click or button push away.

Bubba has some great advice. I'd like to add to it a little bit if I can. Simulators are great tools if used properly Bubba hit the biggest one in that you need to use the simulator exactly as you fly the plane at the field. The other thing I would like to point out is to use the simulator in conjunction with your training you are receiving at the field. Use the simulator to practice what you learn each lesson, and also to work on anything that you are having problems with. Most instructors will work with you if you tell them you are using a simulator at home. If I know my students have a simulator I will usually end each flying session by giving them "homework" that I want them to work on at home using the simulator. It's amazing how much the can help actually reduce the training time.

Hope this helps

Ken

I used G3 to help when I was beginning, not too long ago. I found it to be very helpful, especially with using the controls smoothly, and it helped a lot with orrientation. I still use it almost everyday. Dont get into the habbit of using the red button, its not your friend, in my opinion. There were a few things I noticed that it did not help with. You dont learn to stay out of the sun. Also, you dont learn to not fly over the pits. I really like it, and recommend it though

trey

BUBBA
I have seen a copy of Great Planes G2 on e-bay,(cheap) is this really "Old Hat" now?
Any preference between the two you mention?

Don

Falcon,
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using Realflight G2. It's still a great simulator to use, you won't have any problems with it.

Ken

Don,

I have had both G2 and G3.

G2 is really good as well. The planes on G3 are much more detailed visually and when you do crash pieces come of. In G2 they stay in one piece. Flight dynamics see a bit more better in G3


As Ken said, G2 will be just fine.

I find Aerofly is better for 3D training as it's flight dynamics are way better but the graphics need some work.

The thing with G2/G3 are thses are planes that are actually for sale from Great Planes and Aerofly uses planes from multiple vendors that are not quite to the "scale" of the model

So for my IMAC stuff I'll use G3. For my 3D stuff it's Aerofly

I have G2 and I fly it all the the time when I need to work on things that I'm weak in.

I have a problem with G3 that has nothing to do with the software itself, but ratheg Great Planes and their sales tactics. When G2 came out it was $199, and that included the controller. You have to use the controller because that is how they get their copyright protection out of the software, if it doesn't see the controller you can use G2. Well when G3 came out it was priced at $199 and it came with a controller for the same purpose. For those that already had G2 they had to fork out the full price for G3. Great Planes didn't offer any discounted prices for owners of G2 to upgrade to G3. IMHO this was Great Planes turning it's back on the loyal users that have had G2 (and have bought all of the add-on disks that have been released). I don't know if they are actually arrogant enough to think that we are all going to just run out and buy G3 no matter what. But I'll say that there is no way I will by RealFlight ever again as long as they continue with this practice. If they come out with an upgrade for me to go from G2 to G3 without paying the full price, ok then I'll probably stay with RealFlight and go to G3. But as it stands I'll look at other packages if I ever buy a new simulator.

But I have no intentions of buying another one right now anyway as G2 does all that I need it to do anyway!!!

Ok. I'll get off my soapbox now.!!!

Ken

Horizon Hobby's FS One simulator is just getting ready to ship:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=HANS2000

You might take a look at it if you want to be the first on your block to give it a try.

I have G3 and I like it a lot, flying G3 has definitely improved my flying skills. Even a flight sim like FMS with less-than-ideal physics and flight modelling can be helpful for practicing control oriention and the like. You can spend a small fortune on G3, the 5 add-on packs, and the two G3 specific expansion packs. At the end of the day, though, G3 has helped me save my planes at the field on more than one occassion, so it's already paid for itself in my mind.

I was able to get a first hand look at FS One when I was at the show in Toledo. It is truly impressive. The one downside I see right off the bat is that it's going to take a pretty hefty system to run it.

Ken

This is just the sort of advice I'm looking for.
I think I'll put in a bid for the G2 on e-bay and see how the auction goes.

Thanks

Don

Pretty solid advice here and I agree with what Ken and Bill are saying.

I happen to be an AFPD guy and personally would not be satisfied with anything less. I like the ease of modification to the models I get with AFPD that alow me to play with the physical characteristics to get the sim planes to handle all but exactly like the real thing. This is CRITICAL to getting the most out of a sim. One thing you will run into is planes that are either way less stable or way more stable than the real thing. Being able to modify CG, thrust, prop size, pitch, engine performance, incidence in the wing and stab, manipulate dihedral, area and weights of various componants is an incredible tool to allow you to achieve realistic performance. Dont get me wrong, the stock AFPD planes are very realistic, most of the ones that are a little "off" are the downloads. The 3D planes tend to be helium filled and the scale planes fly too heavy.

With AFPD I practice pattern and IMAC using the downloadable scenery that contains a grid in the sky and I also LOVE it for 3D. I can honestly say that after I received AFPD on 12/17/04 my skills began to exponentially improve. Within a couple of months I was able to not only perform but very cleanly perform maneuvers that would have taken years to learn otherwise.

Mike,

I'd have to agree that AFPD is better but I do have both and G3 is not too far behind in a lot of ways. AFPD is a bit more unforgiving when you make a mistake flying where G3 can cut you some slack

A ggod example is on AFPD if you drag the rudder on an inverted pass ever so slightly, you are going to crash, on G3 you can actually fly. I have also removed elevator halves on G3 and kept flying but no way on AFPD

figured I would chime in here after reading some of the posts the reason for a sim is to get some stick time and practice, right?
I won't be bashing a company for trying to make money on a product that it has spent $ on R & D they are in buisness to make money , that is one reason why they dont sell add ons to the G-2 and some tech reasons as well.
all the sims mentioned are fine from what I have seen the G-3 is far better than the G-2 in graphics and flight performance and in the long run you want to recreate your flying as realistically as possible the graphics are way better on the G-3.
as far as cost Towerhobbies is selling the G-3 for 200$ then giving a 25 discount on 200$ orders and offering a 25$ gift cert on top well that looks like 150$ to me not too bad the price of the average ARF the AFPD looks like a nice sim also I just happen to have the G-3 and like it.

I have absolutely no problem paying for the software. I do understand that they need to make money. I also understand that software costs money to develop. And I am perfectly willing to pay them what the software is worth. But why should I pay for a controller again when I already have one?? It's entirely possible for them to make an upgrade product that can be purchased for those of us that already have a a controller. They can still make their profits on the software alone, and I don't have to pay extra for something I already have (the controller). Since GP decided to go for broke, and ignore the needs of existing customers, and try to wring every extra buck out of me then they will learn an important lesson in sales, The lost customer.

Ken

Ken most people don't have sims and need a controller for there new toy. the controller is configured especially for the G-3 as you know the idea of a sim for practice is catching on big time .FYI the controller is a cheap Futaba body with some circuits the majority of your $ is for the software and profit "for the man" not the controller, its allot easier to produce a new set of software and matching hardware than to produce new advanced software for a old outdated piece of hardware .with that said I have the G-2 NEXTAR version it uses the transmitter and a USB cable and is a basic sim at best the G-3 is much more advanced and will be around for a long time my tech savvy buds tell me .I would never tell you how to spend your hard earned cash but without a doubt this simulator is far superior to the G-2 .falcon 32 for more information on all the diferent sims go to the sim thread where you can read till your eyes pop out about which one is best and all the bla bla bla , there is alot of useful information in all the threads thats how I made my choice.

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the advice so far.
I understand what Mike is saying about all the modifications you can make in AFPD however since I don't have a clue how a CAP or EDGE would fly I would'nt know what to change anyway!
At the moment I just need something that will help me perfect the basics like maintaining height in turns, approaches and landings, and basic aerobatics, loops and rolls etc.
3D is probably a long way off for me and when the time comes I can invest in a better sim.

Don