Besides the cost, which sim is the best for learning (my 7 year old son) and easiest to set up in a late model XP machine? The cost difference of the different titles isn't as important to me as the ease of set-up and stability of the program.

We hope to learn a lot this winter and then possibly start in the spring with an electric like the Slow Stick.

I haven't tried all simulators on the market, but Realflight G2 would be very good. Works very well on my XP-machine with PIII 850 Mhz and good graphic card. Not the cheapest one but one of the best.

I flew a lot when I was 13-18 years old but didn't start again until 35. I could promise you that I'm a much better pilot now after a lot of G2-hours and some flying with a trainer. My second plane is a Sig Somethin' Extra.

Like every one else I have only flown the one 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 has to say about there sim.

Here’s a post I made a while back after buying Aerofly Pro.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...tm.htm#1085143

I also have a 7-year-old boy and he is learning more than you would believe.



And here's all the r/c sims. I think?

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.reflex-sim.com.

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

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

I have used the Great Planes Sim ever since it came out and I think it is the the best one. Add-on's allow you to add new airplanes and flying sites to keep things interesting.

Any Free ones?

From my own experience I would recommend Aerofly Pro. While it offers me the realism of being at the airfield, my son (8) spends hours in follow mode exploring the scenary, diving under bridges and trying to find the most bizarre place to land the plane (on top of rooftops, cargo ships etc).

A great package - well worth the price.

Busta

Hey Ned. FMS is free. It's avalible here: [link=http://www.simulator.home.pages.de/index_e.html]FMS Homepage[/link]

I ended up buying it though. $146 or so out the door for a JR XF631 6 channel radio, buddy/trainer cable, and a USB computer cable to let me use FMS with my radio. The FMS came with like 700 planes with that deal. I got that setup here: http://www.tti-us.com/sim/shop.html

Now if I just knew how to fly... - Joe

Thanks, but the link doesnt work

If you have $ for G2 (Great Planes Real Flight G2 ) get it and the interface cable to go with the radio you are going to buy. Get more radio than you think you will need. If JR wants to fly heli's you will need it. Using your own transmitter with the sim makes for more fun and way more realism. Flying models with my kid has been way cool, but don't bum out if he gets better than you! Kids pick up this stuff fast if they are interested.

thanks everyone. I bought G2 lite and really like it. I have a year old cheap gateway laptop and G2 runs great on it.
I am having trouble landing anything on the runway. I can get the trainer to touch down but I am usually in the dirt.

thanks again

Can anyone help a youngster, i cant afford any simulator atall, can anyone help me perhaps sell me a coppy of one?? i am only 15 and want to fly r/c but i dont want to trasha new model becasue i cant fly.
thanks

Tegwin,

Falling for the obvious troll .....

My advice is that if you can not afford to drop the money for a simulator you probably should not get involved with this hobby. It's fun, but it is also rather expensive. A basic trainer will cost you $300+ to get in the air, plus another $50-100 in flight line stuff. After that it's typically $400-500 for a small plane, engine and radio gear ... and twice that for a large scale plane. Trust me, the planes and the cost will keep coming. You'll be in a couple thousand dollars before you know it.

If $200 makes you want to copy software ... you are in the wrong hobby.

.... off the soapbox and back to RC fun

Carl

Carl Said:
"My advice is that if you can not afford to drop the money for a simulator you probably should not get involved with this hobby. It's fun, but it is also rather expensive. "

I disagree with you totally. The funds I saved by downloading FMS sim I put towards buying a model with new radio engine etc. which I am now flying thanks to FMS practice. One of the best sims , reagrdless of cost.

GFK:

I'm not sure we disagree here ... I think FMS is great too ... especially for a free sim. Nothing wrong with putting your money towards a model and getting the free sim.

Carl

I'm using the FMS (free) simulator and think it's great. Has a lot of support out there.

electronic flight is much cheaper then fuel, but i reckon fuel sounds cooler, i like the roar of that engine, but yeh, im useing FMS which is free, its a 6 meg download and comes with a handful of planes of different types. , also ia trustyed hobby shop, is [link=http://www.modelflight.com.au]Modelflight[/link] , very good. get urself a not too expensive 3 channel from them to train on.