using a sim..

[bladecpdude]

Ok im new to heli's and i wanna start using a sim..but i want to ask a few more ?'s..how do i connect my blade cp's receiver to my pc?

[tdswan]

I don't know if the CP has a trainer plug to hook to a sim. Your best bet is to get a sim that comes with a controller like RealFlight G3.

[bladecpdude]

ya but its $200 bucks..is it really worth it? Will i actually learn from this thing?

[the_avocet]

Yup. Worth it.

Figure one crash kit costs ~ $80.

It won't take too many Real Life crashes to add up to the cost of the sim. VR crashes are so much cheaper than reality.

And yes, the 'big three' (Reflex, AFPD, G3) are all very realistic for learning orientation, sport flying, and trying out 3d stuff before you hit the field. I chose G3 because it has its own controller and you can import any models you want to make or that you can find on the 'net. It's also stable and seems to have good support. Make sure to press the 'update program' button to get the heli-physics update before you fly.

AFPD has available controllers and Reflex lets you use your own (bleah). Reflex has also allegedly sued a large number of people for using back-up radio adapter cords instead of purchasing a full-price replacement. Do the research and figure out which is best for you.

[AaronS]

using a sim is a very well proven method of gaining skills in this hobby. A simulator will allow you to not only practice, but try new things that seem daunting at first. With practice, even complicated aerobatics can be figured out. I always try to fly half of my sim time going all out and pushing my limits, and the other half practicing precision flying. When you go out and fly a real model, you should be able to stay within your known capabilities. I always try to fly well below what I know I am capable of to stay within a comfort zone. I practice a new maneuver many times on the sim before I will tackle it in real life.

[bladecpdude]

Ok ive decided to use the fms free sim but idk what cable to buy for my controller? Its for an E-flite Blade Cp..anyone have any idea? This is where ill buy the cable.
http://www.helihobby.com/html/fms_interfaces.html

[Motions]

If I remember correctly, the BCP Tx has a round DIN connector. If so, just get that cable.
The BCP Tx is also Futaba.

[bladecpdude]

Ok kool..i ordered that..i also ordered a few other parts including a new battery :D i got to stop spending so much money on this heli..

[bladecpdude]

ok well it got here today..and the connector is way to big for the cp radio..does anyone know exactly which one i need????

[the_avocet]

Why will people spend so much on helicopters and not even $200 on a sim that will save them well beyond the purchase price?

[Jorgecajiao]

Hey Avocet,

Because they don`t listen :confused: ..., people don`t learn fom other people`s mistakes but from there own :mad: , It`s just human nature :cool: , I would say if your serios about getting into RC HELIS, a sim is the difference between success and faileor in this wonderfull hobby.
Enjoy....................

[heli-cuzz]

Why will people spend so much on helicopters and not even $200 on a sim that will save them well beyond the purchase price?


I agree, the sim is a sure way to save money when you're out flying instead of crashing.

[jschief]

I agree. I have crashed a couple times in real life, but with out my practicing on the sim I think my crashes where less severe and I would of crashed more without the sim. G3 was worth every dollar.

[mb323]

I agree. I have crashed a couple times in real life, but with out my practicing on the sim I think my crashes where less severe and I would of crashed more without the sim. G3 was worth every dollar.

Agreed, don't forget the time involved in doing the repairs after a crash. In five years of flying I have only crashed 3 times thanks to regular practice on the sim. My most recent crash has had me down for three weeks because I don't have enough time to finish the rebuild... it's killing me.... wish I had practiced that last maneuver more on the sim...:o

[stelliott]

I got the Real Flight G3 on Monday of this week put about 10hrs of flying on it. i then took my raptor .50 up for a flight yesterday and WOW what a difference in my flying already. I have gone from simple little bunny hopps to forward flight at 75 yds or so at a time.

I have crashed 2 times at a cost of $150.00 to fix it total.

I fully agree that someone should get a flight sim to help out.=, iut has already paid off for me.


Steven E Elliott
Springfield ,Ohio

[Cncguy]

I got the G3 Sim about two months before I got my raptor 50. It felt like I had already been an experienced the very first time I flew it.
I have changed the tank size on my sim so it will only fly for about 2 min. I use this as a timer. I will hover nose in until the tank runs out, or left or right. Lately I have been practicing nose in landings.
The fuel will usually run out at an awkward moment which makes you have to respond quickly to set it down in one piece.
After breaking in the engine hovering I went flying around, it felt just like the Sim. I believe without a Sim it would have taken me 6 months and a lot of broken parts to be at this point, and if you ever plan on doing inverted flight I dont see how it could be learned without a Sim.

I have only had one crash and it was due to me not charging the reciever battery long enough.

[the_avocet]

I got the Real Flight G3 on Monday of this week put about 10hrs of flying on it. i then took my raptor .50 up for a flight yesterday and WOW what a difference in my flying already. I have gone from simple little bunny hopps to forward flight at 75 yds or so at a time.


Kudos!

I love flying on G3, especially when I have 20 minutes before I have to go to work and already have breakfast down and lunch in the box. It's what I call 'productive time' heh. =)

[rawtry]

I bought the Real Flght G3 and installed it on mu Toshiba laptop. Ran great till I downloaded the newest version on the download button. Will not work any more. Called the tech people from the company, still no good. Deleted the program and re-installed it , what it does now is as soon as I crash it freezes and sez there was an error and closes.
I even updated my drivers to my video card. Still no good. At $200 I'm ticked.

[Aeronot]

i am in the process of aqurring a realflight G3 sim and i went to the lhs today and put 30 min, and Dang, what a difference. i went from no hovering to hover! totally a great purchase

*sorry to hear about your sim problems :(

[Crazy Ant]

I bought the Real Flght G3 and installed it on mu Toshiba laptop. Ran great till I downloaded the newest version on the download button. Will not work any more. Called the tech people from the company, still no good. Deleted the program and re-installed it , what it does now is as soon as I crash it freezes and sez there was an error and closes.
I even updated my drivers to my video card. Still no good. At $200 I'm ticked.
I too, updated to the latest version, to make it run properly you now need to upgrade your graphics card to make it run smoothly (it worked for me)

[qwed1@sbcglobal.net]

Go to www.milehighwings.com to find a cable for the Blade xmtr. It works with FMS software. Also, Hangar 9 has a package that includes the Blade CX & CP with great graphics. FMS can be a little quircky to say the least, but it is free (you get what you pay for). The cable runs $40 from the above website.

[RC_Ranger]

Why will people spend so much on helicopters and not even $200 on a sim that will save them well beyond the purchase price?


Money, my friend. Dinero. Moo-lah.

As RC choppers become more affordable, people are going to want to start flying for less than the price of some of those expensive simulators. For example, I might be able to drop about $200 on a nice trainer heli or a nice simulator by next payday, but not both. Do I buy the simulator, or the heli? Some of us newbies are rather impatient to get started, and I'm betting a lot of us would go for the actual heli.

And that's not all. Because I don't have a lot of money to break into this fascinating hobby with, I'm taking the careful approach. I've been watching the going prices of different choppers and simulators, and I've noticed I don't need to drop $200 on either one . I can get the Pre-Flight sim for around $40, according to www.preflightsim.com. I am told it has features that the more expensive Reflex sim doesn't have... like multiplayer options and the ability to use a PC controller instead of a radio (I don't yet have a radio, because I don't have a bird yet). So... why should I drop $200 on a sim when I can get one for $40 that might be better suited to my needs?

Or better yet, when I can get one for free? I'm using FMS right now (http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html), just getting a feel for things.I plan to buy a copy of Pre-Flight soon. I also have a used copy of Ray's Authoritative Heli Manual on the way, which I hope will also help save me money by helping me avoid mistakes and repairs.

( Ok, confession time. I am a little bit of an impatient newbie too. I did drop a bit of cash on a cheap 3-channel fixed-pitched training bird that I hope wasn't a mistake. It was affordable, I just hope it isn't too junky to help me get started good while I decide on a real chopper. I'll see when it gets here. )

At any rate, it appears entirely possible to get simulator experience without shucking out the price of a Blade CX... I suppose it all depends on what we're willing to afford. There are options.

:D Just my four cents. I guess we'll know what it's worth in a month or two when I have more experience for my efforts :D

[Walkera Down]

I am 57 and just getting into this. I do not usually jump into something without checking it out really good first but ... I picked up a few mags and read on the internet. I bought a Walkera 35 which came with the E-Sky sim (which I have used a good deal for what it is worth). The Walkera probably has not been but 2 feet off the ground for more than a few seconds. Thanks to Tim at www.rcandme.com (cheapest parts I have found) I have not destroyed it. I then bought a Blade CX. I WANTED TO FLY, NOT SET AT A COMPUTER!
I finally ordered a G3 yesterday. I really don't have this kind of money to be "blowing" all at once.

That is my reason - I wanted to fly outside in the real air and not on a computer screen and I have mastered a lot of things in my life and if figured I could this. Yeah right, now I understand what it is going to take to realize my goal. Maybe if I had started in the winter, I would have gone with the G3 first.

Live, learn, and sometimes waste some money doing it, but have fun while you are at it.

One thing - I sure have learned a lot from all of you.

Thanks,
Harold.

[Sgt_BF_Gunner]

Make sure you guys check out Clearview RC flight simulator. It has all the CP Blades and a whole lot more. It even has the photo fields all for $30 lifetime upgrades, etc.

I own Refles XTR. Have owned Aerofly Pro Deluxe and G3... I bought Clearview because it is excellent, I want to support this guy's work and because it's excellent! http://rcflightsim.com/

My buddy learned how to get just short of 3D with his T-Rex with this sim and a lot of actual practice. He's been flying since August. I haven't had as much time and he's blown me away.

In my opinion Clearview is almost up there with the "big boys".

Good luck,
Gary

[the_avocet]

Live, learn, and sometimes waste some money doing it, but have fun while you are at it.


THIS is a sentiment I can completely agree with. :)

[Jollyroger]

Ok, Everyone has put their 2 cents worth in and now it it's my time. About 10 months ago, I wanted to get into the hobby, looked on the internet and went to a hobby store. I ended up buying a Blade Cp thinking it would be easy to fly helis. They guy at the store told me that I would crash alot. :rolleyes: Of course i didn't belive him. (this was before G3 was in every hobby store, I didn't even know there was a rc flight sim.) Anyways, I bought the training gear and used it, I did infact crash ALOT. I have now replaced everything except the transmitter and 4 in 1. On the up side, I can completly tear down the heli and build it back up in less than an hr. (thats how well in know it) I have since been playing G3 in the hobby stores and my flying abilty has greatly increased. I can hover with no problem and am now getting into forward flight. My new computer will be hear on friday and i can start using G3 at home. I am currently waiting on parts so i can fix my blade, AGAIN! I have been olny able to fly about 15 times in the last 10 months because of waiting on parts and money for parts. If I had G3 before, I would be flying, not waiting on parts or money. :mad:

my 2 cents; Flight sims are WELL WORTH IT. :D It would have saved me many hours and MANY $$$$$$. :eek: Infact, the money I spet on parts for my heli, I could have paid for the sim with it! It is true that many people want to fly, not sit behind a computer, I was one of them. Oh well, live and learn.

[Jollyroger]

Also, any that has G3 or intrested in G3 or the new update to 3.5 avail at the end of the month, goto the forum. http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/index.php?

[blax1]

Hey Jollyroger :)
Thanks for info-and the link, I will be downloading those updates as soon as they becomes available.It sounds wonderful :cool: Love my G3, for me it has made the difference between shelving this hobby or getting on with it and learning how to fly choppers. :D

[smokinflame]

I also have to agree that the sim is worth its weight in gold. I tried to learn these helis 3 times on my own without help and I gave up 3 times. I finally got a reat instructor and a great sim in the G3. Each time I met up with the instructor he was amazed at my prgression from the practice on the sim. I quickly surpassed his expectations and moved quickly into FFF and then 3D. I love it. Just treat it like your own heli and try not to rely on the fact that yo can crash. If you rely on that then you defeat the purpose.