&lt;meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" />&lt;meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" />&lt;meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator" />&lt;meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator" />&lt;link href="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Dave\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_fi lelist.xml" rel="File-List" /><![if gte mso 9]><xml><w:WordDocument><w:View>Normal</w:View><w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom><w:PunctuationKerning /><w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /><w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid><w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent><w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText><w:Compatibility><w:Br eakWrappedTables /><w:SnapToGridInCell /><w:WrapTextWithPunct /><w:UseAsianBreakRules /><wontGrowAutofit /></w:Compatibility><w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetE xplorer4</w:BrowserLevel></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]><![if gte mso 9]><xml><w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"></w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]><style type="text/css"><! Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}></style><![if gte mso 10]><style> Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:#0400;mso-fareast-language:#0400;mso-bidi-language:#0400;}</style><![endif]><p class="MsoNormal">I am pre-new to r/c flying &amp; would like to get started. <span style=""></span>Since I know absolutely nothing about it, I'm going to be relying on you professionals out there to help me out. <span style="">

Iknow helicopters are more difficult than planes, but I'm thinking Istand a better chance of learning if I can keep in in front of me so Ican see what's going on.
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o></o></p><p class="MsoNormal">What is the best way to get started? <span style=""></span>Should I buy a beginners helicopter &amp; learn to fly it first? <span style=""></span>My thought on this is that if I learn on a toy, when I step up a bit, won't I have to start all over with different controls? <span style=""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o></o></p><p class="MsoNormal">If I should start on a simulator, should I buy a controller first, or would the controller that comes with the simulator be ok? <span style=""></span>I don't want to learn on the simulator controller if a real one is going to operate different.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o></o></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,</p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dave</span>

Hi Dave.

Right out of the gate you should get a simulator (Real Flight at Tower Hobbies), it comes with a 'transmitter'.

Do buy a "Mode 2" simulator set, as you are a US resident . Mode 1 is something a little *different* in terms of stick movements to control the heli/plane and not all that popular in the USA.

Find somebody close to you, face-to-face help is worth 1000 forums.

[link]http://pilotlocator.net/home.php[/link]

Rafael

Well,

I ordered RealFight tonight. Hopefully I'll get it shortly after the holiday &amp;we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the help!
Dave

Good move Dave.

An other bit of advice for you once you get the sim out of the box... You'll need to make this 'transmitter' a heli radio as they all come shipped as an 'airplane' radio.

Here's the small modification you'll be glad you've done ... You'll notice the transmitter's throttle/collective stick (left hand stick) has a notchy/detent feel as you move it up and down, this is fine for airplane flying but NOT good for heli flying/ hovering. Open up the back of the TX (transmitter) and you'll see a thin metal 'tab' with a "V" groove resting on the throttle's notchy gimbal, take the tab off and somehow flatten it out by using a vise or a heavy duty pair of pliers and/or bend the tab away from the gimbal, you're objective here is to have a SMOOTH throttle stick travel with no detents.


.... YES, the stick is that sensitive to movement between the 'airplane' style notches.

Doing this mod has no impact on flying airplanes on your sim [8D]

When you step up and buy an actual heli, get a 'Helicopter' version radio with it... no modification is required.

the simulator is awesome! I bought one two months ago and it really helped me out, and saved me a lot of bucks on repairs!


john

Sims are the best thing to a new heli pilot.... period.

Cool!  I'm glad everyone thinks this is the best way to go.  As soon as I get the sim, I'll make the modification on the throttle control &amp; get started.  Thanks everyone for your help!

Dave