What is the best flight simulator for Windows XP via an USB port? I should add affordable too. A friend of mine is getting into helicopters but cannot run FMS or my Ripmax simulator because he has XP. Thanks
Bill

I was trying to find the best simulator around but I didnt want to spend a lot of money so I went out and bought the Dave Brown simulator. I realize I made a mistake and should have bought RF G2. The guy at the shop told me it would be the best bang for my buck and he was right. I finnally broke down saved up and bought it. Now I cant stay off of it. In my opinion it will pay for itself in the long run.

Well, all contemporary simulators work in XP, even FMS.

The questions are:

1) Which of "affordable" simulators is worth getting (helies in FMS are a joke).

2) Which TX-to-PC interfaces work under XP. An example of interfaces supported under XP is: www.milehighwings.com .
There are plenty of other vendors selling XP-compatible interfaces--just make sure that their interfaces indeed work in XP and that they are compatible with with many R/C sims, not just FMS.

Hope this helps,
Boris

I have Aerofly Pro and it works great with XP. Go to the bottom of the page and do a search for the sim you like, you can read what every one here has to say about it. Here’s a post I made a while back after buying Aerofly Pro.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...tm.htm#1085143

And here's all the other sims.

Aerofly http://www.aerofly.de/

FMS http://www.netpackx.com/html/fms_interfaces.html

Great Planes http://www.realflight.com/

RC Plane Master http://www.realitycraft.com/index.htm

Reflex http://www.hobbico.com/reflex/

Ripmax http://www.ripmax.com/FS_Simulators.html

Dave Brown RCFS http://www.dbproducts.com/

I need a USB interface. Does Aerofly have one or strictly via serial port? Where do you purchase Aerofly? Thanks
Bill

You can buy it here at: http://www.ikarus.net/ and you call Ikarus USA at: 239-690-0003. They said that they well be releasing a USB interface soon when I called.

It looks like Aerofly Pro is the only one that work for XP. This costs $149 w/o interface. This seems steep to me - wouldn't the Great Planes simulator with interface and XP compatability be a better choice?
Bill

Aerofly Pro costs $149.00 With the Interface

From there web site:

AeroFly Professional Interface Version Contents:
AeroFly Professional simulator and interface cable with adapter for Radio brands:
- Lexors
- Futaba
- JR
- Hitec
- Multiplex
AEROFLY PROFESSIONAL INTERFACE
Order No. 31059 US $ 149.90


You wont regret buying Aerofly Pro. Check out this post I made after purchasing Aerofly Pro.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/I_ma..._108543/tm.htm

I'm sorry - I meant to say USB interface. I don't believe Aerofly has one. Thanks
Bill

I am looking for the BEST flight simulator to LEARN 3D Flight. What do you propose considering that :

1 - I think that (except if you want to "play" arcade game) REAL BEHAVIOUR is more important that flashy background if you want to use the simulator to LEARN TO FLY.

2 - Having to use my own real transmiter is a problem : I much prefer not have to Wear and tear on my expensive transmitter and I prefer to use instead a gameport controler. Is there a possibility to use the REFLEX with the Realflight USB Transmiter ?



bertrand MICHELS

Go to downonthedeck.com and check out the video at the bottom of the home page of AFP. If this doesn't convince you...

Kevin

You can get AFP Interface version for $129.99 at another site.

Joe

Ok, Here is the 411, AeroFly Pro is probably the best flight Sim for 3D and here is why: we have AeroFly Pro, GreatPlanes Realflight G2, and Ripmax R/C Simulator, FMS and I mistakenly got Reflex for Christmas. Like other people out there, we were in search for the cheapest flight simulator that would do 3d well. It has been an expensive road we were taking because I have all the simulators except the Dave Brown Collection.
Well I have been using AeroFly Pro for about 4 months now and WOW! The simulator is incredible. 3D characteristics and flight physics are incredibly realistic. If you don't believe me go to and view the video of the cap torquing at http://www.suburbanrcbarnstormers.com/cap_0001.wmv. Joe Hunt of www.downonthedeck.com has a video of Roland Matt’s Extra 330S doing nothing but 3d. AeroFly Pro is available for sale at http://www.fxaeromodels.com for $139.
Ok back to the 411. I was up all night tinkering with Hobbico’s Reflex Simulator, and it seems to me that it is an expensive $189 take-off of FMS and Ripmax R/C Simulator with better graphics. I was flying with the Kyosho Flip 3D (among other models that Hobbico’s Reflex offers) and there is no feel of realism. The rolls are slow and if anyone has ever flew FMS they know what it is like to try to hover and the plane just keep snapping out and crashing to the ground.
I have to admit that the USB interface makes setting up Hobbico’s Reflex a snap. The graphics are very good, and the plane quality is excellent, but not as good as AeroFly Pro’s graphics which are superb. There are a million and one settings that I will never use, no smoke and no gassers and the sound quality is not the greatest. Hobbico’s Reflex has no competitions unlike G2 and AeroFly Pro, which have competitions and or online abilities.
Now with AeroFly Pro we had to work out a few bugs to get the serial interface to work properly. But once we did we were off giving the Giles 202 more hp and a bigger prop. None of which you can do with, Hobbico’s Reflex. Hobbico’s Reflex lets you change the power to weight ratio 2-1….3-1 ECT. But no customizing props. AeroFly Pro is more of a user friendly flight simulator with all the bells and whistles.
I know AeroFly Pro has made me a better pilot. I used G2 until I received my AeroFly Pro and I will sell the G2 soon the only reason I keep the G2 around is for the online play as far as the simulation goes, G2 does not do well at 3D, so it has to go.

Now I am not into helis but AeroFly Pro and Hobbico’s Reflex both seem to do well for helis so if you into helis, then take your pick. Both can handle many transmitters as long as you have the connector and set it up properly. Look for an upcoming review in early February on http://www.rcuniverse.com/ {The Buck Stops Here; Which One Holds There Own In Today’s Complex World of Flight Simulation.}


Thanks, Mike Bargman and Ray Sidwell
Email question and comments to
Mike Bargman – [email protected]
Ray Sidwell – [email protected]
http://www.downonthedeck.com
http://www.suburbanrcbarnstormers.com
http://fxaeromodels.com/