Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I've never flown an RC plane, other than a few attempts with a cheap electric. I was interested in finding out whether I wanted to really get serious about RC and go to a club and start learning to fly.

After having some thoughts of buying an RC flight simulator, I decided first to download the free FMS simulator, hook up an unused joystick I had lying around, and see how I liked it. Best move I could have made. After a couple hours of playing with FMS I realized that I would be bored to tears flying RC planes. Seems to me that after you get proficient at flying them, there's not much more to it. For me at least.

I'm curious what others find interesting and fun about the hobby. Anyone?

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

Oh boy...here we go....

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I find sims pretty boring, too. There's a world of difference between sitting in front of a monitor twiddling the sticks on a sim and actually being outside flying a real model. The sights, smells, and feelings are all different. There's also a bit of risk involved. The other thing the sim can't replicate is the fun of hanging out with the guys.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

There is nothing like the adrenaline and hanging out with the guys! Try it, you will not be disappointed.


Hanging out with the guys...

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

And the adrenaline rush!...

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

You obviously have not been to a combat meet:)

http://www.spssalesinc.com/spaddawgs_videopage.htm

If the video in in that link doesn't get your heart pumping, I don't know what will!

Couldn't let this one go by...
 

I don't own any R/C simulators, but I have tried a couple. They're pretty cool, and they do wonders to help new students. My big problem with them is the lack of peripheral vision. It's like flying with blinders on.

I completely agree with the previous posts. It's great to be outside on a beautiful day, hangin out with the guys, BSing about that new plane we gotta get, etc.

But to me the greatest thing is that there are an almost unlimited number of aircraft to fly, and just as many kinds of flying!

Just look at the number of different forums here and you can see what I mean.

The latest craze at my field is these Pizza Box Flyers. A sheet of plastic with an engine on it, hovering ten feet off the ground! One of these days somebody's going to bolt an engine on one of the picnic tables and get it flying. Outrageous!

Check out my club at www.rcrcky.com
:D

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I enjoy building all types,takes the stress of the day away,enjoy going to imaa fun flies and meeting all the great people,plus the 2 to 4 days in the 5th wheel is nice change of pace,combat and aerobatics can get the adrenaline humping,this year we have accese to a 55 acre lake so for a change of pace going to start float flying,also trade shows for r/c is better than garage sells,I use my sim very little,its boring.Also the clubs I fly at have a nice social time.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I'm still new to this mania and I can't imagine wasting my time on a simulator.
Why simulate when you can have the real thing? And the real thing is so much more engaging than the simulator. It would be like trading the wife for something plastic and inflatable. -If I can say that here...

Fever

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I actually like the simulator. Kinda fun to try stuff on there you would not dare try with your own plane.

It is a world of diffrence though. The simulator taught me basic controls, it did not teach me wind changes, thermals, and sun glare. It ain't as easy to fly a real RC plane as it is the simulator. When you get bored with the plane your flying, it's time to step up to a faster, more arobatic one!

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

Nothing beats getting outside and flying your own plane. something you either built from ground up or an arf, it doesn't matter, you get outdoors and get to have a blast. SIMULATOR sure isn't RC flying and if you are using FMS and a joystick then you have no clue as to what all this hobby is about. Just my thoughts...Go to a RC club and check out the planes and if you have a chance to go watch the spads those are fun to watch ....i still am amazed at how fast those suckers go....sure is a blast to watch and looks like tons of fun to participate in.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

had to get in on this one. Where to start, a simulator is a neat way to get orientation and a decent idea of whats going on when one flies R/C planes but it is only the tip of the iceburg of the emotions and satisfactions that go into the experience of R/C modeling. Most R/C fliers love aviation and are fascinated by the ideal of flight, so this in itself maybe a requirement to enjoy the hobby, for me at least, the satisfaction comes from that fact that when I am flying a plane I can completely void out all of the problems of the world and become one with the machine that I have crafted and tuned. I guess when one starts out they simple find themselves holding the controller and watching the plane move, but once you have mastered the skill the controller becomes one with you, and you become one with the plane. When I am flying I can "feel" every move I make and while flying I feel a freedom that can not be accurately described in words. But without going off on the deep end, I would like to say that there is no way that you could possible master the hobby in 2 hours this hobby has as many paths one can take, just look at how many different types of forums that are listed under just the "airplane" heading. I will admit that a "cheap" electric plane like you mentioned could probably be mastered in about 2 hours but those planes are very flat and limited compared to what is available. If you are an aviation enthusiast and get tingles behind your neck whenever you see a fighter jet or a classic airplane flying overhead please don't over look this hobby it can offer you a life time of excitement, if you think you may just be somewhat interested in flying r/c do your self a favor and visit a local flying field and try to talk to some of the local guys and get a sense of true R/C flying before you become totally uninterested in the hobby.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I have been flying less than two years. My suggestion to you, before you decide that RC flying may not be for you is to actually go out to a local RC club and watch what is going on and talk to people.

I will share my experience with you. I saw a write-up on the local Benton County RC club in Corvallis, OR in the paper. I went out to the flying site and was warmly welcomed by folks there. I watched for about 45 minutes. I came back two more times before I decided that i wanted to fly. Here is what I discovered.

1. When someone let me put my thumbs on a transmitter that was controlling a plane they were flying, I realized what a rush it was to actually control a moving object in 3 dimensional space.

2. You will spend far more time socializing than flying, depending on how busy your flight line is. It is VITAL to chose a club that has folks that are friendly and that you would enjoy getting to know better. As time has passed, I find I love to fly, but the socal side of the hobby is really great too.

3. There is absolutely no way that a simulator can duplicate actually controlling a plane in three dimensional space in winds and when the plane is way out there and you are trying to decide what it's orientation is.

4. After working with someone to train you to fly, there is no way to describe the rush you will get when you first solo. It only gets better from there.

5. Be ready to dive in a do repairs on your plane. You will have minor crashes as you learn. It is great to have club members who are experienced who can help you learn how to fix things. I am building an ARF and tonight visited the man who taught me to fly to ask an assembly question that was not clear.

Good luck with your decision. My advice....don't decide until you go to a flying club and experience the hobby live.

The Rush of Flight........
 

Well said " n7tb". That's the way to go. Sims are good, like others have said. "mccabejc" You have to try the real thing, before you say it's boring or that the real thing would be. Get some stick time, you'll change your mind!!! You can't beat seeing the plane you built from some balsa sticks rotate and take flight!! I started young at "10yrs Old", and I'm 26 now, I never stop getting that feeling. As I say, " Hello my name is Mark, and I have a problem, I'm addicted to RC Airplanes!" :D

Re: Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I don't think anybody knows the answer to that question. I know some people who have been flying since the 60's and still wouldn't say they are proficient enough to be bored.

This hobby is as open- ended as anything can be. It's truly one of the experiences in life that, the more you know, the more you realise there is an awful lot more to learn and enjoy.

I would suggest you've overlooked something. Give it another try for your own good.

David C.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

Flight simulator will not make your knees knock together so hard that it hurts. They will not make the sweat pour off your hands on a cool day.
There is no restart button. :eek:
Sims do not smell like Castor oil, nor will they make you cry.
You can play motocross games on your PC and get bored with them. Think you would get bored with the real thing?
It takes practice, practice, practice to get good and there is always something to learn.
Hope this helps. TRY IT!! :D

If you're afraid you're gonna be bored
 

mccabejc,

I've been flying for about a year now and really love it.

However, I think that if you're afraid of being bored you should be careful before making any investments. RC isn't right for everyone.

I think if you go to a club (contact them first) you can probably bum a flight or two. That should give you a feeling for the difference between real life and a sim. It is just a sim on a 17 or so inch monitor, it can't capture much of what its really like.

GB

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

You have to love airplanes and flight. Do you?

I would bet most of us are still amazed every time we see a 747 Jumbo Jet fly accross the sky.

Boring? Never!

Dreams? Constantly!

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

These guys have pretty much covered it, however I will put in my .02 worth.

I have been flying about a month now. I was going to solo yesterday but had to go to a meeting. It is truly exilerating. I have simulator and it is boring compared to the real thing. Can't get the real feal of R/C from a single joystick either. I wasn't impressed with the sim until I got the interface cable for my transmitter. I would suggest you spend some time at the field. Haven't been around hobby, sport, or other where people are as freindly or supportive as R/C.

Alot of good material on the web, especially at this forum.

I was going to go with electric planes but the glow seemed much more exciting IMO. I'm sure there are people that feel differently. That is the other cool thing about it though, everyone is different. We have everyone from doctors to plumbers, men, women, and children in this hobby. Keeps things interesting.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

These guys have pretty much covered it, however I will put in my .02 worth.

I have been flying about a month now. I was going to solo yesterday but had to go to a meeting. It is truly exilerating. I have simulator and it is boring compared to the real thing. Can't get the real feal of R/C from a single joystick either. I wasn't impressed with the sim until I got the interface cable for my transmitter. I would suggest you spend some time at the field. Haven't been around hobby, sport, or other where people are as freindly or supportive as R/C.

Alot of good material on the web, especially at this forum.

I was going to go with electric planes but the glow seemed much more exciting IMO. I'm sure there are people that feel differently. That is the other cool thing about it though, everyone is different. We have everyone from doctors to plumbers, men, women, and children in this hobby. Keeps things interesting.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I flew all kinds of simulators for years before getting into RC. There is just no comparison in the feeling I get watching a real live airplance take off and fly and me being in control of it just adds to the mystique. I can't really put my finger on it but it may have something to do with the actual risk of loosing the plane as opposed to a simulator where you just start over instantly.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I enjoy spending the day in the sun away from the stress of school and work. Here in Colorado, we have about 360 sunny days a year which allows me to get out about 3 or 4 times a week.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

I used Real Flight G2 to learn how to fly, it's awesome, but yes it gets boring. The real thing I don't ever see it getting boring at all, you just take more risks when you get bored, as long as nobody gets hurt life is a good thing.

Go out to a club and watch the planes, I could sit and watch the planes fly all day! I prefer to be in the air but yesterday I had 12 successful landings of which only one had a minor mishap, broke a prop, afterwards I was drained, it can be scary out there, I have only been flying since the 1st of Jan and had a near Midair collision yesterday. I've got the basics down but there are so many factors, It's going to take years to master it completely if that's possible.

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

..I watched them Guys fly combat and I know it must take time to do al the aerobatics they do.Some sure buzz close together and thats what i'm working myself up to :D

Recommendation for Beginners and a Question
 

You can't smell the methanol on a sim..
You can't hear the engine pick up revs as the plane turns with the wind and picks up speed on its way back passed your position.....
You cant smell the fresh grass or the trees or other local flora that might be in your area on a sim...
You cant hear the chinkle of the ice or the psshhh of a cold one being opened as you sit down to chat with your mates about the days flying......
After my first flight with our newly formed club the best part of the day was to sit and chat with a cold beer at the end of the day at how succesful the days flying was.....Try doing that on a sim.

Regards,

Troy.