I have flown Airplanes proficiently and now want to try my hand with a smallish Lipo Heli. I have been looking to build the Trex250 clone and want to start slow. I have flown a cheap co-axial heli for a little while. It does not have a HLG, so it was fun to keep stable. I don't want to have to relearn if I want to go directly to a CP. I have seen that Sims make a big difference, but can I get by on HeliSimRC, or FMS, without investing in RF?
Thanks,
Curtis

I heard a lot of people using fms and were happy with it.RealFlight also has a basic out now for $99.

Thanks,
I had seen the Basic and was contemplating it, but if I am just going to use it to get my feet wet, I would like to try freeware first.
C

I think it depends on the user. As said, lots of folks have been very happy with FMS. But then a whole bunch have paid big time for RealFlight, too.

I didn't care for FMS at all. Didn't "feel" right to me. I tried RealFlight at my LHS and and it felt a lot better, but I couldn't get past the cost. I went for Clearview. $40 bucks, and now it comes with rc cars (although the cars are very basic at this point).

[link]http://rcflightsim.com/index.html[/link]

In the end it will come down to what you need and expect from a sim.

personally i wouldnt recommend fms. its nothing like a good quality sim. i started with fms, but never made any head way till i got a more quality sim. phoenix sim is one of the best out there if not the best for helis. very good graphics and realistic physics. it has helped a ton for me. its only 130 bux, so its almost half price from real flight, and in my opinion, and several others ive read agree that its better as well.

the only thing is, ya gotta use ur own radio, which really is a good thing because it helps you get aquainted with and used to how it feels in your hands when flying the helis.

ive also heard good things about clearveiw from some good pilots, and its much cheaper. although its a pretty descent sim for learning on, ive read of pilots out growing the sim. the better they get, the more they realize the physics arnt accurate enough and start looking for a better sim.

just my 2 cents.

I started with FMS and found it lacking in reality. It was kinda fun flying the CX, but the CP models felt wrong.

I decided to spend the future family inheritance/fortune on RF 4.5 and I'm reasonably happy with it. The Raptor 60 model seems to replicate my Sceadu EVO .50 sufficiently to help prepare me for future maneuvers. Others at our club use this sim regularly to map out their next move, and seems to prepare them adequately. Most practice daily for 20-60 minutes per day. One of the gurus never had a simulator and flies very well, so there you go. He does recommend a sim, but he himself is beyond that. Of course he learned to fly before we had gyros so go figure.

Wish RF lite or whatever it's called for $99 was out before I jumped in. Sounds like all I needed. One little disappointment was that there wasn't a model for my heli available for 4.5. There's one for 3.5, but nobody has migrated it to the new version and I don't know how to modify it and really don't have the time nor the inclination to develop it. Still, like I said the Raptor .60 seems to be the closest and that suits me fine. Reality is still different than simulation. Crash costs are much higher.

Anyway, I think a sim really does help in understanding basic moves so get something.

Mack

Thanks guys,
I had not heard of Clearview, but do like the site. I plan on getting a USB cable for my 9C so that I can try out a few freebies.
Best Regards,
Curtis

Here's a review of various simulators from the Electric Helicopter Begineer's Guide:
[link=http://www.swashplate.co.uk/ehbg-v18/ch06.html]Simulators[/link]

-Dave

p.s. I'm sure you know that a CP will not fly any what like a coax. And the smaller the heli, the more twitchy it will be. A lot of people opt for the 450 size.

I went to the lhs to get the Hanger 9 sim. That is all I figured I needed.Made the mistake of bringing my wife with me.She saw the RealFlight 4.5 and said (no kidding) "this one is prettier. Why don't you get this one?" And she is 69 years old. So guess what one I got?

Dave,
Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the HK250GT from Hobbycity as my first and do realize that it won't respond the same as a coax heli, but if it is at all possible, I would like to not go through a FP heli to get into my target of flying a CP heli. Does this sound reasonable, or should I make the intermediate step. I wouldn't mind getting a 450 sized heli, if the cost was as reasonable as the 250GT and had the alloy head.
Curtis
P.S. It looks like Clearview might be a good option to paying $100 for a decent Sim.

The Clearview is fine. I use it. 40 bucks and the sim does not need abig server to run it like some others. Just go to the Clearveiw site and down load. If you have problems, Steve will help you with it. The FMA reminds me of the first generation sims. While not stick figures it is OK to learn with.

Jim

There have been many who have jumped into a CP heli without a problem, so it's reasonable. A FP tends to have 1/3 as many parts, so it's cheaper to fix. If you go CP, make sure you get one that can grow with you (so you can keep it for a while). So it all depends on your confidence level, and willingness to put the time in. A CP will take more time, and it may get frustrating.

I can't comment on your choice, but I would check out parts availability and find a thread here on the forum and ask about your choice.

My take on the types of helis:
coax: good for learning orientation (tail-in, side-in, nose-in)
FP: good to start to learn to hover and orientation
CP: great for doing everything (with all it's complexity).

p.s. I recommend [link=http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html]Radd's School of Rotary Flight[/link] to learn how to hover.

-Dave

Thanks you guys.
I really appreciate the feedback. I feel that I am pretty patient and don't want to leapfrog too much, but also don't want to invest in a FP or another Coax if i don't have to. I have been rethinking things and am really thinking hard on getting a Trex450 clone (probably the HK450), so i can setup the heli with the batteries I already use and with common off the shelve components and lots of spares. I like the feedback about Clearview too. I have been watching the CCPM setup videos from Finless Bob at helifreak, which has been very informative. I enjoy the mechanical challenge too, it hasn't been too difficult so far to understand the linkages and surfaces.
Thanks again,
Curtis

I don't know what radio you have, but if you don't have anything, to throw another into the mix, the E-Flight Blade 400 is a true RTF heli that comes with a 3S lipo battery, lipo balancing charger, the heli (w/ the servos, HH gyro, etc.) and the Spectrum D6i transmitter (a great transmitter).

It does have plastic parts, which will break easier, but will be cheaper, and you can always upgrade to metal.

Whatever you choose, best of luck and enjoy!

-Dave

Thanks Dave,
I actually have a 9CAP, but it is Heli compatible and I have been thuimbing through the manual to check out the CCPM programming and trimming. I also have the Turnigy Accucell-6 and a couple of Zippy 3S 2200 mah 20C batts for a simple stick, so I am halfway there in terms of equipment. If I didn't have the radio and electrical components I would have considered the RTF setups more seriously.
Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it,
Curtis