Real Flight vs FMS

[aggie903]

I don't know anything about the simulators other than what I have read in the Real Flight brochure....


How much better is Real Flight than FMS? Of course FREE goes a long way, but just wondered if FMS is a dud compared to RF?

Thanks for the input. We will be flying foamies, and ARF models initially.

[Stelio]

Aggie903,

Start with FMS and in the event that you feel you have outgrown it then you can spend money on the Real Flight.

I have both. I started with FMS and found a link that showed me how to build an interface to my radio (JR). You can find those interfaces ready made for about $30 I believe. Just search Ezone for them.

I believed in the hype that sourrounds a commercial product, plus I wanted to practice helicopters and at that time FMS did not do helicopters. But I found the hard way that Real Flight wasn't all that good if you factor the initial cost (about $170 for a used copy of the Deluxe version on Ebay). And it needs a lot of horse power from the computer that it will run on.

If I had to do it again I would just use FMS.

Stilianos Jackson
SEFSD.ORG

[Ninjak2k]

aggie903,

I own RealFlight G2 and have really enjoyed using it. I fly both planes and helicopters and I think it is extremely accurate and realistic feeling. You can also practice acrobatics and 3D manuevers like hovering, waterfalls, etc.

I've tried FMS and, obviously, the graphics are no comparison. I don't really care for the flight characteristics either, but it will teach you things like how to fly toward yourself. The planes don't seem very stable to me; I tried the Zagi model because I own a Zagi and the model wanted to drop a wing if I didn't constantly keep correcting, which is no the way my Zagi flies at all. The models didn't fly inverted well either and forget hovering. It does not model the characteristic of helicopters very well at all either.

Either one will teach you the basics, but I say, if you can afford it, buy RealFlight.

Good flying,
Dan

[aggie903]

Thanks for the replies. We appreciate everybody's input.

[Looooeeee!]

I don't agree with Ninjak2K,

Why? Because FMS has graphics just as superior and the simulated perspective is more realistic. I've spent quite a few hours flying with a friend's RF G2 sim and the planes do not simulate the speed they would at the distances they represent, I'm always landing way the heck out before the runway. You get more different places to fly your plane from, you can go virtually anywhere on the field, at what ever altitude you want. There are also ways to alter the flight behaivior of any plane, plus you can learn to make your own design planes with Metasequoia LE, which is also free. Does RF have any field as interesting and stunning as the FMS Switzerland Landscape? Also the sky is not tied to the edge of the field bitmap, like RF is. FMS doesn't have wind yet, and it is just basic 4 channel control for now, but there is always work being done with it and I'm sure that later versions will have everything that RF has, plus you get all the new planes without charge, I've made 3 that are available on this website.

Looee

[aggie903]

If you have any links to the best downloads (planes/ scenery) and up-to-date versions, let me know. I will do a search.

Also, is there any prob. with just downloading the beta versions or should I stay with the tested release?

Aggie903

[Looooeeee!]

aggie903,


The website, http://www.rc-sim.de/ has all the latest models and landscapes, the only catch is it's all in German, even the Flash opening greeting. But navigating it is easy, just click Download, from the list to the left and you'll get to the add-ons page, with planes helis and landscapes. It will take an hour or so to just search through all the planes listed, I think there are over 300 now.

here's a plane I made. Enjoy

[newbee E-flier]

I have downloaded FMS twice, and it does absolutely nothing. If anyone has had this problem, please respond. I have had no problems downloading anything besides this so-called "free" sim. I have used the other types of sims {bought at a store, with a disc} and also have had no problems.

[Looooeeee!]

Newbee,

Does the program self extract and load itself into a folder? Do you get the field and plane, but it does nothing? We need more details... My sister's old circa '98 AMD K6-2 300 mhz computer with a dumb ol' 8 meg onboard video, runs this program fine, a little slow but no problemo. You will need at least OS Win95 and a 3d gaming compatible CPU and video card with direct-X 7 drivers.

Looee

[newbee E-flier]

My computer is an AMD Athlon 1.2 gig, with a geforce3 64MB graphics card and 256 MB of RAM, so I don't think it is a hardware issue. However, it's OS is Windows XP (home ed.), so maybe the glitch is in there. It downloads, but will not access any kind of screen that says any thing. It puts it in some kind of file or folder type thing, and that is the last I see of it. I have tried to open files,etc., but nothing happens.
Thanks, Steve

[higgy]

aggie903,


The website, http://www.rc-sim.de/ has all the latest models and landscapes, the only catch is it's all in German,

here's a plane I made. Enjoy

hi,
now we had all in english also :)

http://www.rc-sim.com

regards, Jens

[lakedude]

Clearly for the money FMS can not be beat. If you rig up a radio interface it should do nicely. If you lack the skill or are too lazy, buying Real Flight us the way to go. Some have learned on just FMS and a keyboard but personally I think you need something more similar to the radio you will actually be using. ]

Remember neither program is spot on and you will need to adjust to the real world in a hurry when you actually start flying for real. The wind is one of the biggest bugaboos in the real world. Also you seem to have less time to react in the "real" world. Even with their limits the sims are a great way to get you feet wet.

[tvwebguy]

...FMS doesn't have wind yet...

Looee

I agree with Looooeeee!. Also, the new version 2.81 does have wind.

[msmith]

here's a plane I made. Enjoy


Looooeee! - Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

You just saved me $200 (Was going to go buy GPRF2 Deluxe)

I've been fighting with an old version of RC Pilot that someone gave me (been trying to learn to hover).

Checked into this forum, found FMS, found your FatBat, and I can't get enough...

Thanks a pantsload though... I'll be up all night with this thing now... :rolleyes:

The beauty part is: My RC Pilot controller works with FMS :D

Thanks again,
uproar90

[msmith]

Ok.. for the next obvious question... Does anyone know where I can get a kit that flies like the fatbat? :) Maybe the pigi 3d?

Forget flying 2 or 3 mistakes high... I can get out of trouble with that plane while flying below eye level.

-uproar90

[sheerLuck]

For an FMS controller, last week I bought a Logitech Dual Action PC game controller at Best Buy for $20 - works great. Has thumb pads instead of sticks, but you could modify these if desired.

I've also purchased RFG2 just because I could, and the pictures are a little prettier... but FMS has much less overhead and is more widely supported with new models, etc. Have to admit that I do like the RealFlight Addon 5 Osprey tilt-rotor model. Haven't seen one of those for FMS...yet.

For realism, I actually think the FMS models I've tried mimic the models I'm flying more closely than the RealFlight ones. A Picolo Heli is slightly more skittish in FMS than my real one, but that's helpful. A P51 I downloaded flies just like my GWS P51, as does the TigerMoth.

The RealFlight sim seems to me to be biased towards large fuel models, so I wouldn't be in any real hurry to purchase it. I'm not into advanced aerobatics yet (waterfalls ?) - maybe I'll appreciate RFG2 more when I get there...

Larry

[Looooeeee!]

Ok.. for the next obvious question... Does anyone know where I can get a kit that flies like the fatbat? :) Maybe the pigi 3d?

Forget flying 2 or 3 mistakes high... I can get out of trouble with that plane while flying below eye level.

-uproar90

My Fat_Bat is loosely based on my Yard_Bat 8 oz. BL A/E/T aerobat, and believe me the Yard_Bat is a bit of a handful. It's set up intentionally with the C/G way reward so it loops and rolls fast. I would think Todd's Tiny X would be close, and maybe Mountain Model's (Link here..) (http://www.mountainmodels.com/) Dandy GT or the Miniflash would be good candidates, Although I don't recomend a screaming hyper responsive 3D machine as your first taste of R/C flight, even with some sim experience under your belt.

Glad you like the Fat_Bat,

Looee

P.S. Here's a website (http://www.rc-sim.de/index_en.htm) that has some updates to the FMS pantheon of models. I requires registering, well worth it IMHO.