Using FMS similuator to prepare for first flight?

[ronrc]

I installed FMS simulator to practice before taking my first RC flight with a Slow Stick.

What should I get comfortable with and what kind of manuevers would be the most helpful for me to master on the simulator before my first real flight?

Thanks,

Ron

[sheerLuck]

I practiced on FMS before flying my first RC plane, and thought it was a great aid. I practiced again to get ready for ailerons, and thought it was just as helpful. When you can land consistantly when flying towards you - you should be able to maneuver the real plane.

Setting up your slow stick is another issue - it's really helpful to have someone with a little experience check out the setup, and fly it for the first time. Things to remember are that altitude is your friend, flying slower is usually easier, and be ready to close the throttle when your landing is not perfect. You will likely cause additional damage if the throttle is left open when the prop is jammed against something. You will crash - that's part of learning. When that happens - look for any missing small parts before leaving the crash site.

Happy flying !

Larry

[ronrc]

Hi larry,

Fortunately I got my SS built by an experienced builder who test flew it so that shouldn't be an issue.

I need more work with the sim to be able to land towards me consistantly.

Thanks,

Ron

[Wright Flyer]

Ron,

As I think you've spotted, the main hurdle for anyone learning to fly a model is the fact that the contorls are effectively "reversed" as the model comes back towards you. This is why sims are GREAT for learning cos you can just keep practicing that until it becomes second nature.

By the way you said "I need more work with the sim to be able to land towards me consistently". You shouldn't get into the habit of landing either away from or toward you - practice landing across from left to right or right to left as this is the way it's done in the real world. If it's coming toward you it's much more difficult to judge distance to touch down point which just adds to the mental workload when you are starting out. Also, use the menus in FMS to set up a bit of wind along the runway and always get into the habit of taking off and landing into wind.

Cliff

[ronrc]

Thanks Cliff,

It seems that in the sim it's so much easier to land left to right or right to left so it's good to know that is what I'll be doing in the real world.

I'll also practice with with the wind in the sim.

Ron

[RC-Addict]

Flying the model when coming towards you is the biggest hurdle. There is no way of getting around it, cuz the model has to come back at sometime. Your landings will always be towards you at some point, whether its the approach, or the actual landing. Even when the model is comming from right or left, in effect, the model is still comming towards you. Basically if the distance between you and the model is getting smaller, its comming towards you. Just remember in order to keep the wings level when flying towards you, move the stick towards the low wing. That helped me a lot when first learning.

SheerLuck had a good point on looking for small parts around the crash site. I have learned from experience, that once you pick up the plane/heli, and start to head back to the pits, if you discover something is missing, it is hard to find the exact spot it went down.

What I try to do now is resist the temptation to grab the plane/heli right after impact. I leave the model where it lies, and start looking around the area for small bits, working my way in to ground zero. This will help recover most all of your pieces.

[Hobiestoke]

Dont be afraid!
FMS is good, but Its just a $35 Slowstick - Shut down the PC, jump in and go! If you're a newbie, you're gonna crash no matter what, so get the bad ones over with now and by thanksgiving you'll be fine. good luck! :)

[psycho_klown66]

I agree. FMS is good (especially if you're stuck at work with nothing to do. :) )

Go out there and fly it. I have A LOT of damage done to my Slowstick (broke the fuselage, the wings bent in a little, broken grearboxes, bent motor shaft).

The best thing about it is that it's easy to fix and doesn't cost much to do it. Sometimes, all you need is tape. :)

[ronrc]

Good advice on not making a big deal about crashing.

It's not the money it's just...after 30 years of flying full scale so "unnatural" to think that crashing is O.K! :)

Ron

[Hobiestoke]

I think that if you're a full scale pilot already you'll probably be up and flying in a few minutes just fine. it should be easy to visualize yourself in the cockpit. Take some packing tape, a few extra props and an extra 350 in a gear box just in case you bend a shaft. Have Fun! :D

[aeropal]

...

[ronrc]

One good sim exercise is to look away while someone else gets the plane "way out there", then hands the controller back to you.

Good advice thanks I'll have to practice that.

Ron

[Wufnu]

When I fly into the sun, I will close one eye as well, so I have at least one viewing device that doesn't have a bright circle right where I want to look.

And, having taught myself to fly AFTER using a flight sim as a training aid, the thing that stuck out most to me is that everything happens quicker in real life. Perhaps not REALLY, but it feels that way. My first few flights, I remember things happened before I was even aware it was happening. Just something to be prepared for :)

[Graydon]

I got my PIC interface yesterday so I spent a couple hours on FMS last night with my Futaba. The thing that gets me is that my field of view is so small. In real life, I can see easily a 90 degree field of view laterally as well as vertically with pretty good peripheral vision right out to 180 degrees. In FMS, I have maybe a 20 degree field of view and in no time at all, those mountains can sneak up on me and smack the nose of my plane. :(

I have pretty good ability to reverse my control directions when flying towards me (I still need to practise that to make it second nature though) and I can take off (easy) and even land pretty consistently as long as I can get the plane turned around. I just gently fly the plane into the ground, making the angle of contact fairly shallow. A pilot years ago told me that every landing is just a controlled crash. As long as the approach angle is small enough the wheels should hit first rather than the prop, allowing it to taxi to a stop without too much damage.

Anyway, it is a bunch of fun and I think it is good practise.

Thanks guys for your exercise ideas. I'll have to try those.

Later,
Graydon