Flight Simulators

[s lair]

I would like some feedback on the usefulness of flight simulators in teaching soaring skills for a new pilot. I would like to use a simulator as a supplement to instruction. I realize most are geared to powered flight but I am interested in soaring. Does anyone have any experience with simulator sailplanes? Which simulators are most flight realistic and which would you recommend?

[rdwoebke]

I'm not a big fan of simulators, but recently have been wondering if simulators could be useful for practicing "contest landings". Has anyone been doing this?

Ryan

[Richard S]

I've got Reflex XTR. I bought it simply as a toy for those rainy days, but have also played around with some models on there to try and get their physics to replicate a real model.

In terms of learning flight charachteristic and more importantly co-ordination it is fantastic. However its thermal realism is not brilliant. In real life there are many different subtle changes that you take into account when flying and sensing lift.. these just cannot be replicated on a simulator.

On a simulator the lift is a column of rising air slowly drifting downwind. There is no sense of lift slowly building, changes of wind direction etc.

As for learning "contest landings" its not realistic. The sense of perspective disappears on a monitor, as does peripheral vision. In addition setting flaps for large deflections on the simulator does not behave as you would expect.

[mlachow]

Get the FS-One simulator. Everything you could want. WInch Launch, High Start launch, Aerotow, Slope Soaring, and Dyamic Soaring. You can select from quite a few different thermal conditions.

One of the people behind the code is Michael Selig.


I was thermal soaring the 44% Swift on one of the stronger thermal models the other day.

And if you want to have fun, you can see how it models the crash damage from your dork landings ;-)

[ploof]

A RC fight simulator will help very much if you are in the very beginings of RC flight, your learning curve will be a great deal shorter, and the costs of kit, and bench time will drasticly decrease, the main thing you will pick up is the hand eye coordination.

RC simulators are helpful, but nothing beats real stick time once you have a nack for it.

Take care, Ploof

[solo6796]

I bought the Realflight G2, and it saved me a TON of money by teaching me the basics without crashing a real plane.

Now, I have edited the Spirit 100, the BoT, and the Easy Glider to reflect the weights and measurements and control of my present fleet of soaring models. They handle just about the same way, and I can get stick time when it's raining outside. Even have the color schemes the same.

You can adjust the thermal activity, and wind speed and direction as well. Helped me learn to fly in the wind better.

The thermal simulation is pretty good, and the planes signal well when entering a thermal.

Not near as good as the real thing, but a good learning tool, in my opinion.

Yes, You can practice landings, just have to edit the radio to reflect the controls you have on your real model.

AJ

[rdwoebke]

I'm wondering if the flight sims are useful for getting good at contest landing. Obviously I can already land a plane. But I'm far from being an expert on nailing the hundred on the time perfect. Do these simulators have a spot landing setup and can you have a running clock to practice against? Say you could "reset" the program starting at 200 foot up and 60 seconds to go (or whatever) and then practice the pattern. Throwing in things like cross or tail winds...

Ryan

[ploof]

I've seen an image on the forums some where of a landing target on a Real flight G3. I don't known if it's an initial element of the program, or was later added, I myself have a Realflight G3, I don't know if there is a timer setting, I supose you could just use a regular talking timer.

One thing is the perspective is so limited you realy don't have a peripheral element. Some of the photo real settings might aid in giving a sense of increased, or decreased gradiation, I think it might help somewhat for practacing with a timer, but spot landing might be tuff.


Take care, Ploof

[solo6796]

I understand the G3 also provides slope soaring. As for landing practice, you could make it work, but the real thing is obviously better.

AJ