Are simulators useful?

[Terry Gauvin]

I have never tried a flight simulator but am wondering if simulators like Real Flight are useful in practising IMAC sequences and 3D flying. Are some of the available aircraft already configured for this type of Flying and which upgrades should be bought to support the above? If not, are some readily available on the net?

[Fodder]

I know there are a couple of free sims on the internet. I have Real Flight G2 which I found extremely useful when first starting this hobby. They seem to be realistic, but who knows. I do try some manouevers, but if I crash, it doesn't matter. I find hovering on the sim to be difficult.

Check out www.realflight.com

[JimMcIntyre]

You don't need an expensive simulator. I practised rolling circles on an old dos-based simulator known as RC Aerochopper.

Yes, it helps get the control inputs correct, and it does help train your brain to get the orientation correct.


and... Fodder finds hovering real models "difficult" as well, so G2 must be realistic. :lol: :P :wink:

[Fodder]

and... Fodder finds hovering real models "difficult" as well, so G2 must be realistic. :lol: :P :wink:
That is unless you have a plane that is "made" to hover - then all the mystery is gone. :P

[PurgatorY]

Terry

I have played with G2 for sequence flying, but found it to be of little use. You have little to no perspective of where you are in relation to a defined line, so heading corrections etc become meaningless. I found practising a sequence to be useless as there was no reference to let me know if I was doing a manuver straight to the line.

Where it does become semi-usefull is learning manuvers that have complex inputs, rolling loops, circles etc. Even then I find that you can only get 60-70% of the way to perfect because again perspective does not truly allow you to see if you are doing a perfectly round circle or loop, but at least you will be comfortable attempting it in real life and are much less likely to make mistakes.

So anyways, I would use it to learn inputs and reactions on manuvers that you are uncomfortable trying out for real, but ultimately for competitive purposes you are much better off out at the field buring real instead of virtual fuel :)

Also I was never able to get a model on G2 to fly as good as my real life pattern plane, the aerodynamic modelling has some pitfalls. ie: a nice stable model like a pattern plane wont snap well on G2 but in real life that is just not the case.

[sarawnty]

Hi Folks,
I use the Ikarus Aerofly Pro simulator. It's a great simulator to learn 3D where you have the benefit of seeing the ground. The aerobatic models feel like my 40% planes do.
With respect to the usefulness of simulators, I use mine primarily during the flying season and not too much in winter. The benefit for me has been to get reasonably comfortable with a maneuver on the simulator and then go flying that day and try it with my model. This is how I taught myself to torque roll. It also helped me with keeping the model in close and low.

[ronm]

Where is the Ikarus program available in Canada?

Ronm

[4*60]

deleted

[voyager_663rd]

Where is the Ikarus program available in Canada?

Ronm

Try inputting the entire name in google. I came up with this as one (but not in Canada):

http://runryder.com/helicopter/t72145p1/

[sarawnty]

I bought mine at Toledo last year. I don't know if there is a Canadian distributor.
Here's a link to a web site that has a video of the simulator.
http://www.downonthedeck.com/
Look in the 'featured videos' section

[rcpilot]

Here is the official site of the Aerofly Pro
http://www.aerofly.de/

Steve, check it out. There is a Free download Expansion Pack vol1 for Professional Aerofly owners.

[AJCoholic]

Having the RC Aerochopper for many years and now Real flight G2 - I also say that there is a lot to be said for simulators. Sure, they are not exactly like flying, but what is? Other than actually flying...

I find them usefull and I know for beginners to sport pilots like myself, I can practice certain things and I know I am getting better.

I imagine as your real world piloting skills improve the sims get not as valuable but for 90% of us regular joes (not super advanced comp pilots like Chad) they have some use.

Chad, you probably do more flying in a year than I will do in 20... :) I still hope to nail that landing stuff some day ;)

[PurgatorY]

Chad, you probably do more flying in a year than I will do in 20... :) I still hope to nail that landing stuff some day ;)

Ya landings are a bitch :) Good thing we get either 0 (crashed) or 10 (didnt crash) scores in FAI pattern :) hehe Its the only manuver I dont have to practise hehe. I have seen better landings by students than what you see at the Worlds :)

You are right, I mainly used it to practise rolling circles when they were first brought into our sequences as that was way outside my comfort zone of flying. Probably spent a week or two getting semi-proficient at doing them then just went to the field, the same skills are used in rolling loops so that was less of a leap. There is not much I dont feel comfortable doing anymore so I guess its more a toy at this point than anything, but it is a tool for learning new things without risking an expensive airplane.

[JimMoss]

Simulators are great for practicing 3D you can always see the ground!

The only thing you can't do is touch the plane! :?

Ooops! ... Sorry wrong forum! :lol: :wink:

[JimMoss]

I'll probably get yelled at now!?! :roll:

:wink:

[Terry Gauvin]

You may get yelled at Jim but I like your sense of humor. :lol: :lol:

[AJCoholic]

OK Jim, no one else is biting...


AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[jamesbissonjr]

I've used both sims and find the Ikarus sim to be more to my liking. As soon as we loaded it and I started flying the TOC Giles I was hooked. It didn't take long for me to do Torque Rolls, blenders, harriers and waterfalls. Now all I need to do is get back on it again and work on rolling circles. They're what I need to practice to sharpen my skillz.

Ordered our copy of Aerofly at the WRAM show and it was delivered a couple weeks later. Now I don't even realize that G2 is still loaded on our work computer :!: :lol:

[Terry Gauvin]

Thanks everyone. I have been on the Ikarus website and I think that is the one I will go with.