Computer Trainer
 

Hello
I am just getting into RC flying after thinking about it for a long time. I plan on building my first plane in the next year or so between work and studying to be an Aerospace Engineer at Utah State University. My question is this, while I am building my plane do the computer RC simulators offer decent training? I would like to get a feel for RC flying before I finish my plane, and with school I don't have a lot of time so a hour here and there would be great. Of course I will get a real trainer next summer who can show me how to truly fly. If the RC simulators are good what brands should I look for.
Thanks in advance
Travis

RE: Computer Trainer
 

[link=http://www.realflight.com/]real flight[/link]

RE: Computer Trainer
 

It will help you a lot. Now I can't fly yet but I listen to what other people say and I can tell you the sim is giving me confidence. Real Flight G2 or AeroFly Pro will both help you. I would get the flight commander version of AFP is you go that route.

RE: Computer Trainer
 

Real Flight or Aerofly Pro are both good choices, primarily because you can adjust wind speed and direction, as well as adjust things like the engines the plane uses.

FMS is free but will require that you buy a transmitter and an "interface" to connect it to your PC, and it doesn't give you the variables that the other two do.

Welcome to RCU, Good Luck, and most of all, have fun! :D
Dennis-

RE: Computer Trainer
 

in my opinion, sims are great. it will really help u get the right stick inputs for the direction the plane is in. i have trained a few guys who had lots of time on the sim and they pick it up quicker than someone who hasn't. i fly on my sim at least 4 to 5 days out of the week in the winter. i wont say which one of the sims is the best because i haven't tried all of them. u won't regret buying one, it is something that u can use for begining and for practising 3d in the future.[8D]

RE: Computer Trainer
 

ANY sim can help.

You can hook up an old style analog single stick joysticke (think Pong of the late 1970's to early 80's) and use the keyboard for throttle and rudder. Then use ANY flying program that lets you watch your airplane from a fixed ground location. It will help with some parts of R/C flying.

MS Flight sim is pretty good from Tower view. The older 1998 version is still sold as "Classic" and is cheap.

FMS is pretty good. Graphics are not as good as the Real Flight, but its a very good simulator. There is a doc file that comes with it (free download) that tells how to MAKE the transmitter interface cable. Or you can go to e-bay and pay about $15 to get FMS on a CD with the cable made by someone who knows how to solder.

RipMax's flight sim is not as good as FMS in some areas... better in others. It has an interesting set of beginners training challenges that are difficult to complete for even an experienced RC pilot. (you know you are doing well when yu can complete all of them in one try, in one sitting.) It also shows hw much yo damaged the model when you crash. (you'll play with seeing how large a debris field you can make for a while... I spread parts all over the runway once.)

Real Flight Lite is pretty much the same as G2 with limited aircraft selections and no aircraft modification menues. You can't load aircraft into it, design your own or even change the color scheme of the models the sim has. Its still a very useful training sim... just limited selections compared to G2.

G2 is about the best, but you have to PAY for it. The most expensive sim... the most realistic aircraft physics

Maybe the Microsoft FS would be better than G2 if you had the new version and tweaked the aircraft profiles to represent the models better... Tweaking profiles for FS 98 helps a LOT!

BTW... the FMS interface (or the RipMax interface) WORKS with MS FS 98 (and any other game program you want to use them for...) RealFlight's interface and controller will not work for other programs.

RE: Computer Trainer
 

I own four simulators and have tried many others. (In fact I may be selling one of them soon) I believe G2 is the best when it comes to truly simulating an aircraft's aerodynamics and physics. G2 will also give the you most advanced abilities to adjust settings and aircraft parameters (weight, aircraft dimensions, etc.) If you can go the money, the G2 is it - $200! Some fliers believe AeroFly Professional is best for 3D flying, but I can't comment on that as that's not my style of flying. FMS is OK and it's free. However, FMS will teach you little about landing and nothing about ground handling - things that are sort of important to beginners! The planes in FMS sort of skate along and don't roll on tires when on the ground.

It's the most expensive, but I believe RealFlight G2 gives you the most choices in it's configuration and the most realistic simulation of flying a model airplane from taxi to touchdown.

(PS, there is a big difference between RealFlight G2 and RealFlight G2 Lite. G2 Lite is a rather limited, stripped down version!)

RE: Computer Trainer
 

I have used Realflight G2 and I have AFP. AFP is the better choice by far over Realflight, in my opinion at least. The physics are closer to the real thing than with Realflight, and as said above, if you want to practice 3D flyin' then AFP puts Realflight to shame.