How much does a flight simulator help in the traning of a new RC pilot ?

A ton! I wouldn't have believed it but they work very well.

Great thanks mate ! I better keep working on it !
it seem really hard, specialy when flying towards me, and also when flying upside down..

I learned to fly before simulators were available, and soloed after 15 or 20 flights.

I've used RealFlight quite a bit since, and am impressed with MOST of it's characteristics. Landings are probably the furthest thing from real, which is one of the hardest things for most people just learning.

I believe that if I'd had this sim before learning, I could have cut my time to solo in half, maybe less.
Dennis-

Thanks DBCherry
ohh landing ? hehe, I just crash it in the sim..
If I cant even make it using my simulator, I might end up with a body-bag :-) I mean a plane in a bag..

I just got a simple and cheap EL-plane today, see it on my homepage, when the wind slows down next week, I will try it..
but until then.. simulator time..
I got an instructor to help me with my fast glow engine plane, dont worry I am not crasy.

Thomas,
In some ways, landing the real thing is easier than with the simulator. You have better depth percetion as well as a better "feel" for what the plane is doing. Of course, crash damage is also worse with the real thing!
Dennis-

Thomas, there are several good methods to get used to flying toward yourself. The one I prefer, is to turn your back to the plane and look over your shoulder. Another that many people like, is to point the stick to the low wing. Give these a try!

Thomas,

I am new to RC and bought Great Planes G2. I soloed my second night out on my fifth flight. I could have soloed the first night, but it was windy and I and my instructor decided against it.

I thought the simulator really helped with the reversals (the airplane going away and coming back toward you) and also to get used to the sensitivity of an RC airplane.

I agree with DBCherry in that the limited field of view makes landing (or at least finding the runway) harder than the real thing.

Personally, I think simulators probably will save most new pilots money and frustration.

Good luck!

I fly a basic trainer, could do some basic manoeuvers, landings were troublesome, (always ended up with some part broken - 1-2 hours repair) until I started to use a Sim a few weeks ago. Last weekend, I took my trainer out, flew it around, I was like I had been flying for years !! Took it everywere I wanted, loops, spins, corkscrews, inverted flight, something that looks like a hammerhead (it's hard to do with a trainer you know...), and all landing smooth a gentle. I had over 6 flights that sunday, and drove home with an intact plane, no more repairs needed !!

So in my opinion... the sim really payed off!!


I'm building an Easy Sport now, so that I can get a bit more into aerobatics!

A guy I was training last night did something that surprised me.

It was his first day at the field, and, I think his 3rd flight of the day. He is a licensed pilot, and has had some sim time, so he knows his way around an airplane, it's just the finer details he's working on.

I showed him a few basic acrobatic bits because he was really handling the plane very well. The next thing I know, he points the nose straight up, drops the throttle, and does the prettiest tail slide I've EVER seen a trainer do. That thing droped easily 4-5 plane lenghts, maybe more, backwards before flopping over. He recovered easily.

I actually did ask did you mean to do that tail slide? If so, that was impressive, if not, lets go a little easier on the elevator It was intentional.

Now THAT's impressive! Haven't heard a better argument for flight sims.
Dennis-

A tail slide? Now that is impressive. I was happy to do some sloppy loops, rolls, and hammerheads (not to mention landings).

I'm a licensed pilot as well, but I think the sim really made the difference for me.

I'd tell anyone that with all the $$$ and time you spend to get going in this hobby the sim is really worth it.

I'm flying a Kadet LT-40 now. Today I bought a Sig 4 Star. Should be a fun second plane.

I tried the simulator for a while and hated it, it did not help me one bit. I joined a club and had help from a great instructor. The simulator was a waste of my time, it seems totally differen't from the real thing. That's my opinion.

The simulator certainly isn't a substitute for good instruction on a real airplane. Still, most people I have spoken to have received a benefit.

The simulator is AWESOME! I totally ACED my first real flight because of it. Instructor at the field never had to do anything. I have been flying solo from the first flight.