Looking for a decently priced simulator that i can hook up to my new 6 ch. Spectum i just purchased. I want to learn how to fly the 4 channel planes by using this sim and my own radio. Any and all opinions would be appreciated.. thanks

If you're tight on cash, you can get Clearview for $40

It's not the best out there by any means but for $40 it's still a very good simulator. I've been using it for almost 2 years now and I fly on it almost every day.

Here's the link.... CLICK!

If you can spend a lot on a sim, I would recommend RealFlight for $200 or Phoenix for $130.

Here's a free one , you'll just need to get a cable to connect your TX to your computer . http://modelsimulator.com/

The Sims? That's some kind of game isn't it. Isn't that off topic?

But just like The Sims, be careful that there are large differences between a simulator and real life, especially when you hook up a downloaded model of your chosen plane and expect to learn how to fly that specific plane. Simulators lie. They lie a lot. And if you haven't flown the plane you don't know what is true about what you learn and what is not true.

For a lot of reasons, home PC simulators are not ready to claim that kind of precision. You have a model that has been tweaked by an amateur to "that's about right" status with no connection to the real RC plane at all beyond by guess and by golly. And nobody can replicate anything that way beyond a couple of hundred 2 dimensional artists worldwide. This is 3D behavior and it is beyond human ability to replicate.

Only one thing can improve the state of computer RC simulators, and that is a minimum of hundreds of thousands of dollars. We wouldn't buy that.

As they stand now, simulators are a lot of fun. They give us the general impression of flying and are good for learning instinctive movement of the correct stick, especially when a plane is flying toward you. And they're something to do during bad weather.

My general theory is that a sim isn't a bad thing, but spending $200 on one is probably not the best idea if you're only interested in it for training. You can get a lot of real-world gear for two hunnerd bucks, and the top-of-the-line sims don't do a whole lot better than the free or very cheap ones in terms of teaching you to fly a plane. You're still restricted to a small, two-dimensional screen. Everything tends to seem a little slower and mushier in a can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it way.

There's a lot more you can do with a sim than just learn the basics, though. In fact, many of the world's most advanced pilots use them to hone their skills in a risk-free environment. With the higher-end ones, you can also do things like play games and participate in online multiplayer flying sessions. They DO help you transfer basic flying skills to muscle memory so that you don't have to think on your feet as much once you actually get to the field, so they're not totally useless. They just won't make you a top-notch pilot by themselves.

also ask in http://www.rcgroups.com/simulators-172/

I used to use Flying Model Simulator, or FMS for short. It's free and it works with your own radio, provided you get a USB adapter for it. But do try to buy a better one if you can.

I don't have the link for FMS...you'll have to search for it.

Clearview is pretty good for small outlay (leaving more cash for models ). Just about everything adjustable, but watch out for the wind speed ! I reckon it's about 4:1 so if you set 5mph it seems more like 20mph. That said, it's still very good since you can download 3rd party models and flying sites, the graphics are pretty good (much better than FMS) and if your TX has it, D/R & Expo work too

Originally Posted by RWData

Clearview is pretty good for small outlay (leaving more cash for models ). Just about everything adjustable, but watch out for the wind speed ! I reckon it's about 4:1 so if you set 5mph it seems more like 20mph. That said, it's still very good since you can download 3rd party models and flying sites, the graphics are pretty good (much better than FMS) and if your TX has it, D/R & Expo work too

As well as landing gear and flaps on many models. Plus they have float planes and a couple of landscapes with realistic water to fly/land.

Not too shabby for $39.95
(Especially in comparison to FMS and the "top dogs" as well.)

I finally broke down and bought Real Flight. It's expensive, but it really is an excellent flight simulator. And Tower Hobbies has a deal where you can take a few months to pay.