Ok, what's everyone's opinion on simulator's. Are the high expensive one's such as G3.5 that much better than a lower priced one such as ESKY FMS. These two are just a couple of examples.

Depends if you are looking for a game or something that's going to really improve your skills.

Improve the skills is the objective here.

Why don't you just ask for what we have with out the debate or do we have to debate it?

I think the main thing G3.5 has to offer is the online feature. You just click on multiplayer and you're flying with other guys. It gives the sim a much more real world feel. Just like a real flying field. The best part for me in this is that the social aspect of the sim has allowed me to keep flying without getting bored. So rather than flying for 15 minutes, I can stay on for an hour or so. Since getting G3.5 and flying online my skills have improved a bunch.

If you've even tried one of the "real" sims you'll realize that there is essentially no comparison whatsoever with FMS.

FMS will teach or orientation skill, but that's it. A real sim will actually advance you in your flying skill.

The $200 I spent on a sim was some of the best invested money for me. It's improved my flying skill exponentially .

Just spend some cash on Phoenix, it has the on-line stuff, some of the best graphics and I'm pretty sure the best physics of them all, and defiantly without question the best customer support. and its only £70 (or $140) give or take.


FMS is OK ish but it will not really help you improve your skills.

Col.

i made another post about this in another forum ... i was the leading mr cheap-o "i think i can do it without a sim cuz i am better than evryone else" guy [sm=punching.gif] .. well to give the short version i FINALLY gave in and bought G3.5 after a few (expensive) crashes (which OF COURSE were not my fault - it was everyone else's, the wind, the manufacturer, the nat on the butt of the ox etc) .... folks i think i can say G3.5 IS THE SIM to get (at least for me) .... oh i did try a couple other of the cheap-o sims with cables and the gadgets to accompany etc ... for me - waste of about 80 bucks (should have put it toward the G3 in the first place) []

just the ramblings of a new-B (a now happy more competent one)

Since i have a mac i have never used a high dollar sim.

I can tell you what a real life "sim" would be though

Trainer 40 duraplane for airplanes
Lite Machines Heli's for Helicopters

Both indistructable.

Most hobby shops that carry Great Planes stuff have g3.5 store demos, go try it, you will quickly see you get what you pay for.

Has anyone tried clearview? I love this sim. I tried them all and I probably will invest in fsone or phoenix in the future. But, for the money, this one is pretty cool. It helped me really get my Blade CP Pro down and this weekend I will have my first experience flying nitro.

^--- My vote goes to Clearview. The little bugger is only $30, but it's got a lot of content packed-in. As I understand it, there's a multiplayer mode as well (never tried). I've had it for about 4 months now and it seems they put out an update every week or so at no charge. Plus, the graphics are fairly pleasing, the sounds are good, and the heli's feel pretty believeable. Hey, it's taken me from crashing just trying to hold tail-in to inverted hovering/flips/and rolls in only 7 months of flying. I'd say it's really helping.

Just my .02
- Chaz

P.S. I should note: I've tried both RealFlight and FSOne. They're both great simulators, and if you've got the extra cash to spare, they're probably worth it, but I think Clearview is a better bang-for-the-buck.

i tried Clearview and was not so lucky [] ... maybe it is because i am computer challenged but i had a world of problems gettign it to run and calibrate it etc ... it got quite irritating for me to say the least [sm=48_48.gif] .. i will say though the support is EXCELLENT!! .. for the price i did not feel cheated though - so if you dont hav ethe luck i had then i am sure it may be worthwhile.

i now have G3 and am happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Don't get FMS!