How real are these sims?

[BillW]

Hi. I am wondering just how true to life these programs are? I have ESky 0905A and FMS. Boxed set you know.

I have been practicing for about a month now and think I could get the real thing to hover. Belt-CP enroute.

OK I also know that the sim is only a 4 channel radio and the Belt has a 6 channel.

Question is - I can hover, and go front, back sise to side. I can fly aroud the trees or buildings, but I just cannot go back to a hover! Everytime I try the helo goes Up and the backwards.

So what am I doing wrong? How do you stop a helo doing 30 so you can land where you want?

Thank you //Bill

[hawkman]

As you fly around and want to come into a hover:

pull back gently with the cyclic and lower the collective at the same time....the heli should nose up and slow down while staying at the same height...maybe even dropping slightly. As the heli slows be ready as it will drop...this is where you need to put the collective up...to about half way which is where the hover point is.

I used FMS for a long time...its not the best sim ever but for giving you a feel for the controls and how an RC heli behaves I think it does a great job.

After 10 mins or so of hovering and moving about with my first real model, a 30 size nitro, I was off around the field on my first circuit....thats how good FMS was for me.

Reality can be a bit harder if the heli isnt setup right....this is another learning curve....but really if you pay attention to the helis upkeep...ie clean it and check over it for any wear or damage...or anything about to come loose...a heli will last a long time.

I use Phoenix which is a pretty good sim...Reflex XTR is another good one. Realflight is popular...but seems to use a lot of power to get it to run. If I was to buy another sim I would get Reflex XTR.

Rob

[BillW]

Thanks Rob. I think I'm pulling back too much because it goes up and then backwards. I'll use less stick. It seems that it does not take a lot to make it move in any direction at all! Just a very light touch.

Thank you and I'll keep practicing! //Bill

[hawkman]

Yes, you only need very small movements of the sticks to get a response...especially the cyclic stick.

Helis are harder to get upside down than a fixed wing plane...a plane can get smashed very quickly like this in the hands of a learner...helis are more of a balancing act...you can take off and hover about...if you feel you need a break you can land and switch it off...a plane though, once launched, is committed to doing a circuit to land again.

Rob

[Macsgrafs]

Dont forget Bill as you raise the nose with the right hand stick, also bring back the left hand stick, drop the collective/throttle. then level off & increase the throttle to bring into a hover, practice on a flight sim I also use Phoenix & it seems very realistic to me.

Regards
Ross

[hawkman]

Sims are handy for the more experienced flyer too, I use mine on a regular basis. I go flying sometimes and realise a 'weak spot' of mine where I am not happy flying a certain pattern. I get into a 'comfort' zone, where anticlockwise circuits are second nature...to go clockwise doesnt feel that good...I do them now because the aim is to be proficient in all aspects of flight. You dont have to get into stunt flying...normal flying has enough challenges.

Another weak, for me, is hovering with the heli tail towards me...tail pointing left actually...I am just not used to this. As Sim is handy for this you see, because when we get out of our comfort zone its very easy to 'dumb thumb' and crash.

I like Phoenix for its balloon busting game...that will bring your flying onto a new level...the idea is to bust as many balloons as you can in a time limit...which you can set.

Set the limit and set the fuel for less time....this way you get an 'engine out' scenario...where you have to land...try it out. If you get bored then try it inverted

Rob

[Macsgrafs]

Rob my mrs & I play at balloon bursting with a Blade CX2, it's very deceiving how near those balloons really are
Great laugh & it's not so expensive when you crash!

Ross