How do simulators compare to real life ?

[DennisVR]

I bought Reflex XTR to get some practise before i fly in real life. But some people told me that a simulator doesn't come near flying in real life. For example ground effect is not taken into account in simulators.

How much different is flying with a simulator compared to real life ?

[slipstick]

Some thngs are easier in the sim, some in the real world. E.g. it's much easier to know location and height etc in the real world than on a relatively small screen which tends to make landings easier in life than the sim. If you're just learning to fly, a simulator will help a lot. It will teach the critical basic connections between the controls and what the plane does.

Sims are not perfect however. E.g. planes in simulators are always built straight and trimmed properly, there are no guarantees that your plane will be equally good ;). Most sims are not accurate enough to give a perfect rendition of your particular version of a model, e.g. they don't know if you have the CG wrong or have built it too heavy etc.

Steve

[DennisVR]

Most sims are not accurate enough to give a perfect rendition of your particular version of a model, e.g. they don't know if you have the CG wrong or have built it too heavy etc.

Steve

That's what i found out already the hard way ;) My plane was underpowered and after a hand launch it nose landed 3 meters further :rolleyes:

[Wright Flyer]

I've used about 10 different sims over time and XTR is about as close to reality as a sim is going to get. I use it these days to practice 3D moves before actually trying them on my shockie of Blade. The sim is almost totally identical to the plane

Cliff

[HankF]

Except fot the limited situational awarness, all the major sims are capable of very realistic flight. That being said, it depends on the programmer of the particular airplane. Some of the planes and helis in the sims are very accurate but many are just horrible.

As an example, from my experience in Reflex (not XTR), the Corona model was pretty bad but the Raptor was quite good. In RfG2, I had to spend a lot of hours getting my rendition of the Corona and the Raptor to fly like the real thing.

A lot depends on the parameters available for modification. I find the G2 parameters to be more intuitive than those that Reflex provides.

Hank

[Spruce Goose]

All my FS planes survive amazing crashes. I don't even need to rebuild!!!

I think a good feature would be that you cannot use a specific plane in a FS for two weeks after it crashed!!

Now THAT is realistic.

[ggunners]

All my FS planes survive amazing crashes. I don't even need to rebuild!!!

I think a good feature would be that you cannot use a specific plane in a FS for two weeks after it crashed!!

Now THAT is realistic.

Of course to be realistic it would have to know what the model was made of and have the appropriate rebuild time based on severity of plane disability. Blue Fan Fold Foam model crashes injuring the fuselage, 5 minute epoxy plus packing tape has it back in the air in 10 minutes. :D

-- ggunners