I am currently flying with a older version, RealFlight 3.5

Is using a simulator for pattern practice, worth my time?

Not on Realflight 3.5 IMO.
Try AFPD and download a free scenery ("farmland grid") that has lines drawn in the sky.
....and, the planes actually fly like models!
Dan

It depends on your expectations. Simulators have grown tremendously in visual (graphic) capabilities of being able to appear to be a flying field. Being able to create that visual detailed background with shadows and smooth movement requires more and more processing capability for the computers main processor and more importantly, the graphics engine (card). However, in my opinion, the visual goodies are not the important part of a simulator as far as pattern planes are concerned. The physics behind the movement and reaction of the planes are much more important. Having the plane react correctly on the screen is much more important than having trees or clouds in the background appear to be 'real'. The other big problem is simulators have a very hard time of creating a screen that gives both a good view of the plane as well as peripheral view to keep track of where you are in relation to the runway.

So, if your expectations are that the pattern plane reacts and feels like your plane and the peripheral aspect is not important, then simulators can be a very good tool for learning maneuvers. I had a hard time staying 'in the box' and finally gave up, focusing more on the execution of a maneuver disregarding the 'box'.

Another thing to remember with simulators is when adjusting parameters about your plane like CG, incidence, thrust, etc, it is more important to make it feel like your plane than it is to replicate the physical setup of your pattern plane. So, you may have to set a CG on the simulator that is far different than your real plane to get it to feel right.

Long story short, if you want a tool that makes your PC look like your flying field with all the visual and peripheral aspects you may be disappointed, however, if you focus on getting the plane to feel right, and can live without all the peripheral input, then simulators can be very good tools.

I am using Aerofly Pro Deluxe and have been able to get the Osmose and Smaragd to feel pretty good as pattern planes. I have not used the newer versions of RealFlight or Phoenix so cannot comment on those. I preferred Aerofly over the older versions of RF and Phoenix due to the 'feel' of the plane being more realistic to me. Others probably have different experiences with those simulators but that is my experience.

Woodie
Team Acme LG

I believe that a simulator for pattern work has somewhat limited value. Flying a sim keeps your thumbs moving and allows you to keep up on the muscle memory required for the various stick movements. I feel that the challenge lies in the limited view you get while actually drawing the patterns in the sky with a 2 dimensional flat screen... harder to get round loops, that sort of thing. The perspective is all skewed compared to real life. Some maneuvers are not as different, say knife edge stuff, point rolls. Now, ask me the same question about using a sim for heli practice and you'll get a big thumbs up, from me anyway....

I'm sure you're gonna hear all sort of varied opinions on this so YMMV...

ekir:

I have been using Real Flight 3.5 since 2008 to practice pattern. It will allow you to master your rudder inputs for rolling moves and corrections while inverted, up-lines, down-lines, and much more. I learned the whole FAI F3A P11 backwards and forwards with out burning a drop of fuel at the field. The fuel cost at the field learning this would have been more than the program. Once I was confident with the pattern I went to field and flew it great on the first attempt. I went to the Knife Edge Products download site and down loaded a f3a pattern plane to practice. They have a couple different ones you can chose from. It also allows you to play with incidence, degalage, and CG so you can see how changing these values will effect and help the flight. I used a trim chart and had the Real Flight pattern plane flying perfect.

For learning the patterns and keeping fresh on them there is no better in my opinion.

Kevin Clark
SPA 247
AMA 340037