Do you have/use a flight sim?

I've had different sims for years. None of them have gotten everything right, and when I use them I fly very differently than I do with a real model.

If a person is going to spend the money on one, they need to be disciplined in how they use it if they are going to see benefits.

I have RealFlight G4. It has helped enormously.

I think Flight Sims have a place in the training world, but their limitations must be recognized by the student (no matter how advanced), and should NOT be relied on as the sole means of training new pilots.

Brad

I agree with bkdavy, flight sims do have limitations. Flight simulators are excellent at attempting new maneuvers and learning basic flight maneuvers without risking a real plane. Though they aren't 100% accurate to the real thing, they do help w/ familiarization before going to the field to fly. It helped me shorten my learning curve greatly when learning to fly.

Yep, pretty much what the swinger said. I used G-1 years ago to get over the problem of over controling and I use G-3 just to get my brain and fingers working on any new stunt I need to learn. It just helps shorten the time involved.
If used correctly they can be A big help to both the instructor and student.

Another point that I didn't make in my previous post. An instructor WILL be able to tell a student that has put plenty of time on a sim from a student who has never even touched a sim. An instructor would rather work with a student that has sim experience because they are that much more ahead of the game on orientation and basic control. They can move on to approaches, takeoffs, and landings sooner with a student that has sim time. At least that's what my instructors are like.

i learned to fly well befor simulators were available, but i have been using one lately to help me learn rolling circles

after taking time off from flying,just havent had time,but still getting reps on the sim,I went to the field last weekend and had a great time smooth landings and it felt as though I havent taken a break at all.
without the sim practice I am sure I would have had alot more trouble,just getting the,havent flown in a while cobwebs out.

I used FMS, it taught me orientation and to not overcompensate on the sticks. Very happy and satisifed with the price of the product.

I have FSOne and I think it has helped me in all areas. I could play with planes that I can't fly yet and do flat spins and hovers. Can't do that in real life. Knees get to limber. I had the G 3.5 and I do like the FSOne better.

Yeah, I was working at RealFlight G3.5 for 9+ months at 1-2 hours a day. Now I'm training and I see that the sim has helped me a great deal. Although the sim and the real world are quite different in some aspects. I borrowed it from this guy in the club, to bad I'll have to give it back soon [&o]


TakingFlight96

Flight simulators are a great tool for RCing. I have FS One and started flying on that before I ever touched a real plane. I flew on it for a month before going to the airfield for my first attempt at flying. My Instructor thought I had flown before. I had to convince him I hadn't, that I had only used a flight simulator. I highly recommend simulators.

I didn't have one when I started RC planes 20 years ago. Got one a couple of years ago when I experimented with RC Choppers. It was very helpful with learing how to fly choppers.

I tried self teaching back in '86 (no other options) ..three flights, three crashes and two planes later I finally gave up. Took up hobby again 2yrs ago and with a flight sim and lots of reading on the internet took my kit built modded Kadet Senior to the skies. Haven't looked back and am loving this addiction!!! I have since found a flying site that is 60mi away that I have been visiting lately.

flynte

Sims are totally invaluable in my opion, when you 1st start for orientation and as you get more advanced you just learn harder things to do on them.
Granted it's easier on the Sim than real life but it doesn't half give you an idea of where to start and getting the sticking right !
I had a knee operation going back a while and during the recovery learnt slow rolling circles !!!!
Since then have used it for everything from hovering to harriers, harrier rolling circles, knife edge, snap rolls, turning in harriers getting used to flying using coordinated rudder / aileron and currently how to come out of inverted flat spins inverted and every time you get it horribly wrong you press the start buton again !!!
Highly recommend them to anybody at any level !!!!
Just a by the way one of the older members of our club just couldn't get to grips with flying at all and was incredibly nervous which I think was 80% of the problem and clouding his mind, I just kept on and on and on at him just to get FMS, the improvement in his actual flying and confidence in 6 weeks was 10 fold and probably saved him 10 x's at least waht damage to planes he'd have done in the meantime !!!!