Cybert99

I used to fly RC gliders about 20 years ago. Slope soaring, just 2 channels, rudder and elevator. This past Christmas my wife bought me a ParkZone Trojan, which is a 4 channel aircraft and that's how I found out about RC Flight Simulators. (I knew I was going to need some serious help.)

My first sim flights were awful. Couldn't keep the plane in the air and we won't even talk about my landings. But I kept working at it and I got better. After a couple of weeks of practice I took my new plane to a construction site with a lot of empty space and a nice road. The takeoff was a little scary as I scraped a wingtip on the ground, but I managed to land the plane in the field about 50 yards away! Hardly a scratch on it!

The next flight, a few weeks later, was almost perfect. The plane landed on the street and rolled to a stop right at my feet. The following weekend I made another nice flight, but had a scary moment on the landing. Still no scratches. The weekend after that I had a perfect flight going, was really feeling comfortable, but I overshot the runway, tried to takeoff again and hit a light pole. Totalled the engine, though the plane is fine.

Make what you will of that story. But one thing is for certain. If I had tried to fly that plane with NO sim experience I would have needed a bag to gather up all the pieces.

thevirginian

Let me tell you what I went thru several years ago. I paused RC-flying for good nine years, while enjoying nothing but golf. I learned RC back in Europe, flying on Mode 1, as it is typical over there. Here in the States I had two radios, both converted to Mode 1 by me . In our club I was the only one using that Mode. I was told that I was using the TX "backwards". When I decided to get back into RC- flying I purchased a new radio, which, of course, was Mode 2. At the same time I also purchased G2 and that was the best investment at that point. After practicing on the sim I was able to fly a real RC plane relatively quickly without getting into trouble. I bought me a Thundertiger E-Hawk 2000. Without any doubt a good simulator can save you more than only 200 bucks, the price you normally pay for it. Now I have G4 and love it so much, I fly almost every evening. I practice IMAAC and 3D. In real life I fly giant scales, all gassers. The downloaded planes from "knifeedge.com" are awesome. Very realistic when compared to the actual planes. You can even "feel" their size. Now, I have to agree with skirtz, there is no such sim out there, that could simulate real life RC at 100%. There is no fear factor that can be simulated when you stand at the flight line, all by yourself, with a new airplane and butterflies in your stomach. There is no wind in your face when you fly in 15 mph gusts. But overall it is a great tool and I don't want to miss it, especially not in the winter time, when you have the itch and it is snowing with -10° outside. I believe every serious RC-pilot should have a sim, if only for practicing purposes. It pays off, in my belief.