Realflight G2 for Slopers

[Brian Koester]

Does anyone know the deal with Realflight and it's add-ons? I just finished building a PC so that I could buy and use the simulator to improve my sloping skills and I was wondering if the add-ons are just more planes and flying places or if they also improve the overall game play. The website is ultra vague on this point.

(I know this topic is very tenuously linked to sloping, Mr Moderator,but I do intend to use it to improve my SLOPING skills.)

[stavros]

Well if you are really looking to improve the sloping/DS skills you only need to get a TX that you can connect to your PC then download SSS (http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/)!

The graphics are not amazing but it is really fun and reasonable accurate.

http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/sunset_thumb.jpg (http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/sunset.jpg)

[surfimp]

The add-ons only increase the number of planes and sites, they do not improve any of the underlying functionality as far as I know. They are not upgrades, but expansions. IMHO for sailplane-specific skills RFG2 is of limited usefulness besides improving your hand-eye coordination. SSS is far better; it did more to help prepare me to fly heavier, faster planes on the slope than RFG2 could ever have hoped to.

That said, RFG2 has that nice controller (which can be purchased separately BTW), and I do enjoy using it for power and helicopters. The thermal sailplane flying is also pretty cool, though the number of sailplanes is pathetic (I think the basic model comes with the Bird of Time and the Spirit II or something--can you say "YAWN"? ;) )

Anyways, since SSS is a completely free download, what I recommend is either getting RFG2 or just the Interlink controller and then using both, or using the Interlink with SSS. That way you can sim all day (or night) long without running down your Tx pack's battery.

No matter what, I am convinced that a sim, while not perfectly replicating R/C flying, does so much to help improve one's skills that anyone getting started today should really try to use one as much as possible. I've seen so many people go from "Zero to Hero" in such a short time through a combination of foamies & sim that it's crazy. Just madness! :D

Steve

[windsox]

I have to chime in and say that I agree with surfimp compltetly. I have well over a thousand hours and succesfuly maidened a scratch built foamie DLG. as my first plane. It not slope but i have been flying in some crazy winds doing mild acrobatics 50 feet off the deck.

There are a few places that SSS could be improved. The drag modelling needs work as just about any planes exhibits almost endless energy retention. The loss of rudder authority when turning downwind at a near stall is not well modelled either. My advice is to turn gravity way up. wind speed up a litlle to get more relaistic "wing loading" on the models.



The add-ons only increase the number of planes and sites, they do not improve any of the underlying functionality as far as I know. They are not upgrades, but expansions. IMHO for sailplane-specific skills RFG2 is of limited usefulness besides improving your hand-eye coordination. SSS is far better; it did more to help prepare me to fly heavier, faster planes on the slope than RFG2 could ever have hoped to.

That said, RFG2 has that nice controller (which can be purchased separately BTW), and I do enjoy using it for power and helicopters. The thermal sailplane flying is also pretty cool, though the number of sailplanes is pathetic (I think the basic model comes with the Bird of Time and the Spirit II or something--can you say "YAWN"? ;) )

Anyways, since SSS is a completely free download, what I recommend is either getting RFG2 or just the Interlink controller and then using both, or using the Interlink with SSS. That way you can sim all day (or night) long without running down your Tx pack's battery.

No matter what, I am convinced that a sim, while not perfectly replicating R/C flying, does so much to help improve one's skills that anyone getting started today should really try to use one as much as possible. I've seen so many people go from "Zero to Hero" in such a short time through a combination of foamies & sim that it's crazy. Just madness! :D

Steve

[Mark Wood]

(I know this topic is very tenuously linked to sloping, Mr Moderator,but I do intend to use it to improve my SLOPING skills.) I understand. It still belongs in the Simulators forum though. Even more of a knowlege base to draw on there. I'll also leave a redirect to this thread.

mw

[InTheLift]

Slope Soaring Sim is better for slopin' IMHO. I have the first generation Real Flight. I think the Real Flight does a better job of simulating actual flight, but SSS is in a slope enviro and is FREE! :D In all fairness to the quality of the flight characteristics, I have not played with the "tuning" on SSS all that much yet. The thing that I think helps you the most with a sim is general orientation and reaction.

[A Monell]

I asked about slope flying in various sims a while back, Real flight wind goes right thru the terain, FMS now has wind in the latest version but acts the same as RFG2, Cockpit Master- Backyard will slope but theres no support and no hope of new planes ect. However Aero Fly Pro does a great job IMHO. and there are lots of downloadable planes and scenery, some set up speciffically for slope!