What to buy???

[rugbee13]

Hey folks!

Newbie here and doing things in reverse order...own a BCX2 and TREX SE V2...now looking for a simulator. I am just fine hovering and basic forward flight but want to purchase a simulator to hone my limited skills before trying to advance any further. I intend on buying myself a simulator for Christmas (though I probably should have done that months ago) and am looking for some feedback and which one to get. My local hobby shop always has the RealFlight G3 (I think) up and running so I am leaning towards that one.

Can anyone offer some advice on what to get. I am particulary intested in a sim that come with software for align models and even some airplanes (I'm think I might want to delve into planes one day) and I only want to have to make one purchase.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
-Brett

[hawkman]

I have used Realflight and its good...very good with a wide range of models..all the Trex series will be represented somewhere along the line.

I have used Reflex XTR as well....this is also very good.

I currently use 'Phoenix' which is a cheaper sim but does really well in terms of realism and options.

What I like about Phoenix is the 'balloon busting' game...balloons come up from the ground and you have to pop them by flying into them...pop as many as you can to get a good score. Apart from the fun this really hones your flying skills...then when you get good...try it inverted!!!! thats really hard!!! I am just starting to try that one out.

You will find most sims come with a good choice of models to fly including planes...even jets!

I own a Predator gasser and a Trex XL HDE...the rex sure is a bundle of fun.

Rob

[rugbee13]

Rob,

Thanks for the reply. This forum has certainly been a great help to me as I delve into this new hobby/addiction!

Checked out the Phoenix...looks like it has everything I am looking for. The screen shots looked like the graphics are great as well.

That being said, I noticed the price for the sim was $160 (though I didn't research for cheaper offers). This is the same price my hobby shop is asking for the Realflight G3 sim (they recently dropped the price from above $200 because a newer version is being released or has been already). If you had to choose between the G3 and the Phoenix, is there anything that sets one above the other? Perhaps just the balloon game which I am not sure comes with G3?

Thanks again for the info!

-Brett

[hawkman]

G3 is one very popular sim and it comes with its own controller I think..some packages do anyway.

Head to head I wouldnt like to say, I have had lots of experince with Phoenix purely becuase I own a copy. G3 I have used on a Friends Computer and its just as good...each sim has its pros and cons really...G3 has a huge selection of add ons...which has got to be a plus...its been around longer as a sim...whereas Pheonix is pretty new.

Its a great hobby, and getting a decent sim is a must for the long term...you get to practice scenarios that would be very expensive in real life.


Rob

[rugbee13]

Folks,

Just got the Real Flight G4 sim. Should have got this way before I purchased, assembled, and tried to fly my TREX 450...probably could have saved a coupled hundred $ on repair parts! :-) Now, does anyone know where I can download a TREX heli for the sim? Seems to have only come with one electric heli but I would really like to practice with the Rex.

Thanks again!

-Brett

[hawkman]

Not sure where you will find that, but I would think that the G3 version add ons should work ok...I have used G3 before...its a good sim.

I have an Trex450 XL...great heli for its price...and good quality. Flys well in a stiff breeze.

Was flying mine this morning...I try to fly as often as possible


Rob

[rugbee13]

Rob,

Thanks for the reply. Went to the Real Flight G4 site and downloaded a couple *.G3X files to try with the G4 version. Sure enough, the G4 does support these files so I was able to get a couple renditions of the Rex 450. However, there are some problems with the action on the downloads. Not sure if the programming for the G3 is a little different. Examples; the idle-up switch functions are reversed and you have to put the Tx on throttle hold to get the rotors spinning. Kind of strange but I am going to dowload some more models and see how it goes.

Thanks again for your timely replies!

-Brett

[rugbee13]

A great point about the G4...I don't know if this is the case with the Real Flight G3 version or not, but.... You can use your actual Tx with the sim! This is great. You have to plug the USB transmitter (created by Futaba) and you then attach your Tx to the USB Tx using the buddy box feeder (cables are supplied with the sim package). Pretty cool! Anyway, just thought I'd share that.

-Brett