Be gentle...
 

... please.:D I know how it is when the same old question is asked.

I've plowed through most of this forum, and cannot find a solid answer to the question: what sim for me?

It will be used to train #2 grandson. I want a good one, of course. I've had them in the past but the new generation stuff's capabilities/characteristics are unknown to me.

I like the looks of FS One, but it apparently has problems running under Vista.

Ever since its inception, I have heard horror stories about problems with RealFright; to include two buddies who finally gave up in frustration with that particular product.

I'm NOT paying almost 500 bucks for one (IVox, or something like that?).

So... what's a fellow to do? I have plenty of computer horsepower and a top-level video card; with Vista as the OS.

I really need some advice here... TIA.

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Real Flight G4 is the answer for you in my opinion.
They have Forums where you can visit before youbuy and it tell you what to pay attention to when running Vista

ARB

RE: Be gentle...
 

hi - good to see someone researching before posting
i would suggest looking at a few other forums
[dont know if im allowed to reccomend them, but here goes!]
runryder
rcgroups
heliaddict
just google them and theyll be top of the list

you dont have to take my word for it - keep researching

RE: Be gentle...
 

Using a relatively new product (FS One) with a new OS system (Vista) sounds like trouble to me. I tend to stick with the tried and true so go with the Real Flight for my money you can't beat it. I been flying mine for years plus you can down load other planes and fields form the Knife Edge Swap Page for FREE! See Link below
http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/downloads.php?

RE: Be gentle...
 

Steve -- FS One runs fine with Vista. We have many happy customers that run FS One with Vista. As with any RC flight sim, having a PC that meets the minimum system specs is important. The graphics card is especially important for good performance on any sim. What are the specs on the PC you'll be using and is it a laptop or desktop?

Even though I deal with FS One, each of the competing simulations have various strengths and weaknesses, so you are doing the right thing by doing research before making your purchase. I will not make a sales pitch for FS One but instead will simply encourage you to compare features, and if possible, give each one a "test flight" at your local hobby store (LHS). You'll then be able to see for yourself how well each one simulates flight and choose the one that's best for you.

If your LHS does not have demo units, refer to the product websites and study their screenshots and videos. This will also give you insights into the performance of the simulation as well as the features of that particular product.

Good luck with your selection and best wishes to your grandson as he learns how to fly!

RE: Be gentle...
 

Its a desktop, with an LCD flat screen. Sorry dunno the specifics as I am almost totally computer ILLiterate.

My brother, who is a programmer for Albermarle Chemical and a felony computer geek, told me what to buy to put together for the absolute kick-butt gaming 'puter. I spent two grand on just the hardware, sans printer. Big-dog video card, tons of processing speed and capacity, etc. It is DirectX 10 capable, if that tells you anything. So I think I have enough machine. I can get the specifics if you need to know for sure.

No can do on the "test drives". We have a decent hobby shop, but the owner is even worse than me when it comes to not knowing anything about computers; he's still suspicious of ailerons.:D

So, can I just buy FSOne and get to work? Or do I need "patches", etc.? I can follow screen prompts, but if any "trouble-shooting" is involved, I'm hosed.

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Guess I've not heard or read the horror stories. I actually don't know a soul who got either G2/G3/G4 or FSOne who didn't get it to run either right away, or with one call to support.

For what you're wanting the sim for, either G4 or FSOne really would be excellent. Since you may have to keep the grandson's attention, I'd say that G3 or G4 would have an edge. There are a bunch of airplanes and fields available right now, and with their track record, many more to come. FSOne seems to have the competition whipped for support, but it's not a given you'll need it.

RE: Be gentle...
 

I have been happy with phoenix and am running it on my wifes vista on her laptop.

Jon

RE: Be gentle...
 

you're didn't given enough information of your PC for any one to give you a good answer.
What you do me mean you have planety of PC power ??? what micro processor. How big ? and how fast ?
How powerful is your vedio card ? what brand ? same as your micro processor.
What vista edition do you have ?

I have Vista..what dose that mean ? it's a memory hog and you're going to run a sim on top of it ?
Look that the g.3 requirement closely..That would be the bare minumum.
Real flight has a demo..you have to use the key board but I'll give you a good idea if it's campatiable
with your PC. yes, yes you'll be amaze..but play with it and keep an I out for screen sticking for a mili sec.
It will bother you over time, if you're vedio is card is not powerful enough.

Reflex also has a Demo..not sure if it works in Vista thou.

there's other sim out there that's around $40
You can unload and test it on your PC to see if it works.

Flight master
Airplane master
Preflight
Clearview

FMS is FREE.. mine looks and runs just fine on my set up. I have flying scernies up the wazoo for my FMS.
maybe it can be a project you and your grand kids to work on also.

RE: Be gentle...
 

G4 has some nice eye candy and would work fine....

I'm a Die hard AFPD user....
Nice physics (with a bit of time and tweaking)
and LOADS of FREE downloads

RE: Be gentle...
 

FS One runs fine on Windows XP for me. I heard a lot of Vista people are switching back to XP anyway ... maybe that's the solution to most of your computing problems. : ) Now if only FS One would run on Mac... : ) I think FS One is the only reason I still turn on my Windows Machine.

- K

RE: Be gentle...
 

This is what I've got:

1. Intel Quad Core processor Q6600 2.40 gHz
2. Invidia 8800 Ultra video card
3. 4 GB Ram

I'm NOT interested in tweaking, downloads, add-ons, etc. All I want is a solid device that is realistic as possible for the kid; and for me to maybe try some flip-flop stuff on boring winter days.

By G4, I assume you mean RealFright G4. Where are these forums you spoke of?

RE: Be gentle...
 

RealFlight is the name. And you can get discounted prices on G3.5 right now because G4, their recently released improved version, has just hit the stores.

The developer has a popular forum that's got support as well as downloadable airfields and airplane paintjobs, and some standalone airplanes. http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/

But since you seem to wish to stay away from downloading stuff, the forums there would be useful to you primarily for chat and such. And they are quite useful for that.

AND since you wish to take the easy road, the RealFlight sim is going to be the only one that offers you a ton of airplanes and airfields that are available on CD. No problem adding new stuff. Just insert the CD and click on Install.

RealFlight comes out with a new CD every couple of months or so. They've got 5 CDs called AddOns that work with G3/G3.5 and 4 Expansion Packs that work with G3-G4. They average about 14 airplanes/helis a CD and 3 or 4 airfields too.

Keeping a grandchild interested sometimes takes new stuff every once in awhile. And those CDs are going to be about the only way you'll do that and avoid downloads. If you can insert the program CD and click on it's install, the ones that give the grandchild some new things to fly will be a piece of cake.

And RealFlight pumps them out regularly and seems to have a schedule for them. And no reason to be Frightened by a company that is healthy, produces in volume and on time.

As for which sim is the most accurate..... All of them. Every one of them has it's bigots and detractors. Some louder than others. But you won't go wrong with either of the most popular or any of the others.

RE: Be gentle...
 

You have more than enough power to run any of the sims out now. I have almost the same specs on my computer and run Vista 64bit . I tried Realflight G3.5 and it worked fine. I however didn't like the selection of planes to fly as they are really geared towards "GreatPlanes" models and the landings physics are really not that good I feel. I fly giant scale only and wanted something more from a sim. I then tried Aerofly ProDelux and it did the trick for me. Many more giant scale planes from some very good engineers so I bought it and am happy now.
But back to your basic question..............your computer is a powerhouse and with 4 gigs of ram and that video card you will be fine

RE: Be gentle...
 

Thanks, Rock & Sal.

I now recall that I was looking at AeroFly Pro some time back. The landing parameters are most important to me (for the kid).

Nothing is ever easy, eh?:eek:

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Now, it may just be me, but once you get past basic flight and orientation, the only thing left in a flight sim is the game and graphics. Every simulator out there is based on assumption ... perfectly tuned engine, predictable weather, perfect ballance etc. In a sim, there's no difference between taking off / landing on pavement or grass. I haven't seen a sim yet that flies exactly like the real life. It's been my experience that all a sim teaches you is basic flight and orientation. The rest is all $$$. FMS is free and teaches you the exact same thing as the $300 sims.

RE: Be gentle...
 

I hoping to get RealFlight G4 for x-mas. It's $200 bucks but, if thats too expensive for you RealFlight G3.5 is another good one. I have been sim training getting ready for buddy box training in the spring. RealFlight G3.5 as helped me a lot.

RE: Be gentle...
 

Ordered G4 today, along with a pile of other goodies for the kid's new plane, and mine.

So, we'll see...

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Nope.

I'm learning to inverted flat spin with G4. Basic flight? Not even close.

And it was priced at $185 and I've got a $75 rebate coming.

RE: Be gentle...
 

Finally got around to installing G4; absolutely no drama, started right up.

Graphics are very good; until the plane gets far way, then it starts to break up a bit. Nothing really bad, just a bit annoying I'm told I have plenty of video card, RAM, etc. So, what can I do to sharpen the model up when its 'way out there? That's where I'm going to have the kid for a while; the old "three mistakes high" thing, you know...

Looked at the settings menu, turned off the water effects; but everything else seems at max. I have DirectX 10. Any ideas?

BTW, the crash effects are pretty good; the plane comes right apart when you center-punch the wind sock pole. Heck, I had to make four passes before I actually hit it...:D

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RE: Be gentle...
 

BTW... do any of the four expansion packs feature the H9 P-51 PTS? That's what the kid will actually be flying...

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Unfortunately it appears that most of the sims are somewhat biased in the list of models they offer. The producers of the most popular ones have affiliations and the models they offer for the most part follow those affiliations. For example, the H9 PTS model is one you'll probably not see in any other sim than one with a Hangar9 affiliation. That would be in FSOne. I don't believe it's in the initial release of that one however. It does offer a H9 150 P51, however.

OK, I took a moment and did a Google search and found a site that is selling the FSOne addon for $40 and actually listed the 10 models that come in the addon (I couldn't find any mention of the addon on the HorizonHobby site. Must not have used the right search words.). The FSOne addon has that PTS in it.

As for Great Planes Real Flight offering it, nope.

RE: Be gentle...
 

The H9 PTS P51 has been 'built' as one of the custom (read: FREE) planes downloadable from the KnifeEdge Software swap pages mentioed upthread and is importable into RealFlight. No need for an add-on/expansion pack for that plane. There are three versions of the H9 PTS P51: Trainer, Intermediate, and Sport on page 6 of the new swap pages forum "Aircraft" thread.

RE: Be gentle...
 

My RFG3.5 has user-configurable settings for random failures (engine, radio, etc.) as well as for variable wind speed, direction, turbulence, etc. In most 'airports', there is a noticable difference between runway and grass handling and surface friction, and those can be customized too, without special software. (Just sayin'...)

I used FMS for 6 months before plunking down any money for RFG3.5, and feel the difference was worth the cost--for me. On that point, reasonable people can disagree.

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RE: Be gentle...
 

Outstanding.

Thank you very much.

Any trick to downloading these models? I assume I import the file to my hard drive, then transfer it to G4. How do I accomplish that?

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