I have been flying fixed wing for 11 months now and decided I would like to check out helis.

I have the CockpitMaster flight simulator which unfortunately does not have any helis.

So I downloaded the new FMS Version 2.0 Beta 7 (Windows 9x/ME/2000) and I am extremely impressed with it.

See:

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

I am using a Futaba 4VF controller hooked up through the buddy port to a Lew Engineering RCJOY interface into the USB port on my laptop. After a little calibration inside the FMS software, things are working great.

I have also found some other RC heli downloads to use with FMS here:

http://vet_rider.homestead.com/FMS.html

They have a Raptor 30 and Raptor 60 V2 which I thought was interesting.

I have been playing around with the fixed wing planes and they seem to fly quite well.

My question is how well do the helis in FMS simulate real RC heli flying?

Sorry I can't answer your question. I was needing a interface do you think yours is the best? Who is Lew Enginering? I also use Futaba. Thanks for any help.

See:

http://www.leweng.com

Have a look at the RCJoy product.

Maverick Thanks for the reply. It looks like a really good product but about 100.00 seems kind of steep. Isn't there a cord that would hook up directly or are they no good??
Thanks for now Steve

Depends what operating system you are running. I have to use the RCJoy product as I am running Windows 2000 and therefore cannot use the serial or parallel port adapters.

If you are not using Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows NT you should be able to get away with a very inexpensive parallel port adapter.

For that matter does anyone know how realistic the fixed wings are in FMS? I've been trying to leard ailerons and landing.
I'm using FMS with a Logitech twim joystick Gamepad. Works fine. I find FMS very impressive for a freebie. The biggest problem is the lack of peripheral vision- specificaly - loosing track of where the ground (and particularly the runway) is when the plane is high. While this can be a bit of a problem in real R/C flying too, you do always have your feet on the ground. Wish it had a "runway is in that direction" indicator.

Where can I find more planes - I'ld like a 2M RES glider.

Peripheral vision is a problem in any simulator, not just FMS. It does make it a little hard to find the runway to practice landings.

For more FMS planes go here:

http://www.rc-sim.de/downloads_all.htm

and here if you want helis:

http://vet_rider.homestead.com/FMS.html

Wow! Loads of planes! Thanks . - And a thank you to the authors of FMS - You've made the long rainy nights more fun.

I got a serial lead for my FF6, took a while to work, but its great, i find the planes are unacurate, alot if it depends on who programed it, but i have 3D planes that are just stupid, i've played with the files, but giving them real figures kills the hint of 3D.
As to height, it took me a while, but im finding it has more to do with how much of the bottom of the plane you can see when its flying level, a skill you can only get from real flying, and something you have to re-learn for sim flying when you cant move your head.
I cant fly heli in real life, but im finding the helis are alot more realistic to fly. I.E not like the Su-36 i have which is better than a 3D Seduction!!

I had an earlier version of FMS. The planes sucked as far as flying. The helis however were as good as G2 except the graphics weren't as good. I didn't get the latest version of FMS since I got G2. For the $$ it's still a great sim!
Later,,, basmntdweller