nOOb simulator question

[The_RattleSnake]

I'll be getting my tax return soon and was going to get a sim.
It seem that RealFlight 3.5 is the one to go for?

How accurate are they?

Thanks....

[Malc C]

With all due respcet, this sort of question has been discussed time and time again. Try browsing or searching the forum and you'll see peoples points of view on the topics you raised

[The_RattleSnake]

I did type "simulator" into the search thing before I posted but my question
didn't come up. Just people selling them and saying how they used them.

[boosst]

i am new to this also and found no help here. i went ahead and bought the phoenix sim before upgrading to another heli. it has great graphics and is very difficult so i assume it is realistic. i have only flown a coaxial so i don't know. seems like phoenix, reflex and realflight are the main ones. i don't think you can go wrong. i hope i helped you out some.
good luck!

[boosst]

by no help, i mean in the simulator section. i have found the other forums here to be of great help.

[IPFlyer]

WIth all due respect, you did not look very hard methinks. The sticky at the top of this forum - 3rd line down - has all the answers, http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539215

[The_RattleSnake]

My bad, I missed the sticky and thought that typing simulator would be enough.

Thanks for the link and for not getting sh*tty at me. :)

[IPFlyer]

No worries. :) We've all been/are noobies once. WHat I'd do (if I could do it again) is start with free FMS and then if I wanted a sim, get Clearview. I went straight to G2 and it is sitting around collecting dust.

[The_RattleSnake]

I tried FMS but it wouldn't work with my controller (the one that comes with
the Twister BlackHawk). The controller workes fine in the control panel just not in FMS.

Why is your g2 gathering dust? :confused:

I guess I assumed that the higher the cost the better the sim, but I'll have a
look at clearview thanks.... :)

[IPFlyer]

...
Why is your g2 gathering dust? :confused:

I guess I assumed that the higher the cost the better the sim, but I'll have a
look at clearview thanks.... :)

Gathering dust because none of the dozen or so planes I have (including water planes) are on G2 or G3.n

Clearview OTOH has a lot more of them, plus water support.

[Ade]

i cant believe nobody has mentioned phoenix yet...

down load the demo version of the software.

www.phoenix-sim.com

Ade

[Malc C]

WIth all due respect, you did not look very hard methinks. The sticky at the top of this forum - 3rd line down - has all the answers, http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539215

That's my point - with a sticky titled "whats the best sim" right at the top of the 1st page, its that obvious why should we repeat whats been said before ;)

Funny how typing "simulators" into the search this forum turned up over 800 threads !! - OK I give you that not all are applicable to your question, but I'm sure with a hour or so of reading you might find what you were looking for

Anyway, I'll jump down off my soap box now...

[Malc C]

Ok lets put this in to perspective.

Firstly, you will get conflicting views because we are all different and have diferent opinions, likes and dislikes. So you won't actually get a clear consice answer.

As you have some funds coming your way, you're on the right track in spending some. Yes there are free simulators such as FMS but they are no way near as realistic as the ones that youm have to buy.

I 'spose for price range you're looking at Clearview at the lower end and Reflex XTR at the top (if you include the new iVol). In the middle you have Phoenix, G3, and Aeroflight pro delux. All come with dedicated hardware, which range from a simple USB interface to a "dummy" transmitter, but all allow you to use your own TX with the software.

All the top end sims like G3, Phoenix, AFPD, and XTR (and clearview for that matter) have photoreal backgrounds, and excellent physics, however there is a lot of debate here as to what one has the best for planes or helis. Also some are more demanding on the PC, and although most will run OK on modern entry level systems, the more RAM and higher spec graphics card you have, the better the sim will run. Its also worth checking if they run OK on Vista if you are buying a new PC

Personally, having tried Clearview, XTR, G3 and AFPD, I like and use AFPD as it suits me and my equipment. I've not tried Phoenix yet, but now there is a demo I might be worth a look.

One other point, support is vital, and to this I give top marks to Phoenix and Clearview. Ade and Stefan provide excellent support both on this forum and no doubt off board too. This is something that some of the other major manufactures seem to be lacking these days.

At the end of the day it's going to be your choice. I've said it time and time again, if you get chance visit a model show and ask for a demo - or try your luck at a major model store to see if they do the same on a try before you buy

Hope that helps

[The_RattleSnake]

well, looks like I'll be going with clearview!

Thanks everyone for your advice. :-)