Clearview compared to the real deal.... (Helicopter training)

[Slyster]

THIS IS best answered by those of you who have used BOTH Clearview (or any sim really) AND the Honeybee FP Helicopter.... (or any similar machine)

I feel like Clearview is a great sim... really have enjoyed it.. and now, after months and months of practice, I have gotten very comfortable with the eSky Honeybee fixed pitch helicopter model in all of the environments. I know it can't be really the same.. but it sure has taught me flight reflexes etc..

SO... when I finally get my first helicopter (Honeybee FP) will I really be able to fly it right out of the box? (assuming it's all balanced and ready)

i.e. How good is Clearview?.. or just sims in general for teaching flight?

[shizack]

I also use Clearview. A real-life effect that Clearview does not model very well (without tweaks) is the tendency of the heli to drift left and yaw left as take-off speed is approached. This can onle be compensated for by practice on the real thing.

Once you get the real one, go through RADD's School of Rotary Flight. (http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html) A big part of the training is learning how to cope with this effect.

Once you're in the air, Clearview does a respectable job of emulating realistic flight. However, the two most important skills you can learn on a heli are:
1. Take-off
2. Landing

The rest is fluff, more or less.