Using an RC simulator to learn to fly

I started to learn to fly last year. I started to learn with a simulator, even before I bought the kit. There seems to be mixed opinions about flight simulators. So many people said that they are nothing like the real thing, but I found them very useful. How many times can you crash a virtual helicopter for free compared to the real thing? By far the cheapest is the flight simulator.

For anyone not yet knowing much about simulators, the basic idea is to plug your flight controls to the back of your PC. Once you have set the controls (configured) you can then fly a model on the screen.

I have used several sims while learning, but I always come back to flying FMS (Flying Model Simulator). Its free to download from here. There are many sites out there offering other models, including the ECO 8 and Piccolo. When I get used to flying one, I change to a new model. They fly (and crash!) differently, so it all goes towards getting experience. When you think that you can hover the virtual helicopter, then you will have to learn again to fly your model. However on the way you will have learnt (hopefully) enough from the sim to stand a reasonable chance of flight. Don?t be disappointed, it does take a lot of practice. The best reward is when you reach your first hover. The feeling you get is indescribable.

So lets say you have a transmitter (with 'buddy box' or 'trainer' socket), you have downloaded FMS. All you need is a cable. Start of by calibrating your controls. Don't set your targets too high, too fast. Choose a model like the ECO8. Then its practice, practice and more practice. Start with just a hover, with the bird facing away from you. Don?t move on to anything else until you can hold her.

I can hover my ECO8 nose away, but I am learning to fly nose in on the sim. Not yet confident (or brave) enough to fly the model like that just yet.

Happy Flying

Peter

You can get the ECO8 model for FMS here.