Simulators can be an invaluable tool for improving your flying skills or learning if you are just beginning. Here's why . . .

To simulate or not to simulate—is that the question? Well, for more and more modelers, the answer is yes! R/C flight simulators have become a mainstay of the industry and for some very good reasons.

First, and foremost, simulators can go a long way in teaching you how to fly. We have consistently found that beginners who have spent some time on an R/C simulator will solo faster and have fewer problems when at the field controlling the real thing than their counterparts that have had no simulator training.

Even if you already know how to fly, simulators can help in advancing your skills. There are many manoeuvres of aerobatics, for instance, that one may be very hesitant about trying with your actual model (or perhaps you have not yet built the model capable of doing a specific manoeuvre). With a simulator you have the opportunity to attempt the manoeuvre with no consequence to the outcome—other than a bruised pride—and the chance to repeat the manoeuvre over and over until it becomes second nature. You can even program your virtual aircraft with certain characteristics to closely model what you would be flying when at the field.

And if these reasons weren't enough, just the entertainment value alone is worth the price of admission—especially during those long months in the winter when many choose not to fly. You can keep your fingers and reflexes sharp by executing a flight whenever you choose, regardless of weather. And speaking of weather, you can program that into the simulator too—just about any conditions you want!

The bottom line — simulators could save you alot of money in broken models or replacement parts!

Features

Simulators, just like computers themselves, have come a long way in the past few years. The additional power of the hardware has allowed simulator developers to come out with some pretty sophisticated modeling.

In every case, the model is represented by a graphic on the screen moving against a graphical background, the complexity of graphic depending on the sophistication of the modeling being used. The more detailed and realistic the model and background, the more computer power that is required to produce it.

Some simulators provide a transmitter for you to control the virtual model while others allow you to use your own transmitter. The benefit of using your own system is that you can retain the same feel you are used to in flying and also utilize the same features of your transmitter that you are accustomed to using. Of course, those that come with transmitters are ideal for people that do not yet have a radio control system.

Every simulator gives you a wide range of variables to control your model, its shape and flying characteristics, the background or flying field you fly from, as well as environmental variables such as wind. You can basically specify just about everything about your model and the conditions in which you are flying.

Most simulators let you fly the model from different perspectives. Usually, when using the simulator for training, you will want to fly the model from the ground, just as you would an actual model. But you are not limited to that. Try flying from the cockpit, from a chase plane, or even from above the model—the choice is yours.

Another feature you will find is a wide selection of preprogrammed models all ready for you to fly. You are not limited to flying just one type of aircraft. Perhaps you would like to try a trainer, a biplane, a ducted fan, or a glider. Perhaps you are primarily an aircraft pilot but would like to try a helicopter, just to see what it is like. No problem, most simulators give you lots of different models to choose from as well as locations from which to fly them!

Which Simulator is for me?

The simulator you choose is going to depend primarily on three things:

1. What you are looking for
2. How much computer power you have, and
3. How much you want to spend.

Great Planes RealFlight and RealFlight Deluxe

If it's graphics you want with lots of realistic looking backgrounds and aircraft, the Great Planes RealFlight and RealFlight Deluxe is for you. The RealFlight has aircraft and gliders only while the Deluxe version includes helicopters. Be forewarned however, this simulator is a real resource hog and you will need a computer with lots of processing power. It is also the most expensive of the lot. It can come either with its own transmitter or in a version with interface so that you can use your own through the trainer port.

Recommended system requirements for full operation of RealFlight are a Pentium II at 300 MHz, high-performance 3D accelerated video card with 8MB of video RAM or more, 24MB of RAM, a 16x CD-ROM drive, 30MB of available hard drive space, Windows 95/98, SVGA monitor, and a graphics and sound card compatible with Microsoft DirectX 6.0 or later. The version of RealFlight with its own transmitter requires an IBM compatible game port. Connection for the version using your own transmitter to your computer is through the parallel port and it comes with an adapter so you can still connect your printer.

CSM R/C Flight Simulator Version 10

For accuracy of flight modeling, particularly when it comes to helicopters, we recommend the CSM Version 10. It is not quite as fancy in the graphics department, but nor does it require quite as much computing power and it is very precise in its flight characteristics and widely programmable. It simulates aircraft, gliders and helicopters and it uses your own transmitter.

System recommendations for the CSM unit are a Pentium 75MHz processor or greater, SVGA graphics card with full VESA support, Windows 3.x/95/98 or DOS IV or greater. Connection to your computer is through the parallel port and it comes with an adapter so you can still connect your printer.

Dave Brown R/C Flight Simulator V5.0

The Dave Brown unit is the simulator of choice if you have limited computing power or if you are on a budget. The R/C Flight Simulator V5.0 is a quality sim at an economical price and capable of aircraft, gliders and helicopters. It comes with its own controlling transmitter which connects to your computer via a dual axis game port. Laptop owners can connect through Genovation and Colorado Spectrum Game Port Adaptors or PCMCIA cards.

A 486 or greater computer is recommended with 256 color VGA video, mouse, dual axis gameport, and a SoundBlaster compatible sound card.

The Dave Brown R/C Flight Simulator also comes with the Hangar Aircraf Library with over 500 different aircraft you can fly with the sim. The Hangar requires a 4x CD-ROM drive, and Windows 95 or greater in addition to the other requirements mentioned for the simulator itself.

Note that in our specifications we went with the recommended amount of hardware rather than the bare minimum. For these simulators the bare minimum may be somewhat less, however, we do not advise running the bare minimum for a frustration free experience—go with at least the recommendation level of power if not more for best performance.