I posted this story on another forum and it is also appropriate here:
I flew gas RC planes 23 years ago, but kids came along and the RC hobby faded away.
Then, a couple of months ago, my partner and I were out for lunch and ended up next to RC Buyers Warehouse in Nashua, NH. Since we own a pilot training company, we naturally wandered in to see what the planes looked like. And I was curious how the hobby had advanced since I last flew.
Well, since my partner had just purchased a real amphibian airplane, he figured I needed one as well. So we got a Flyzone Beaver, as he said the Beaver was a great seaplane. I wanted a seaplane because I live on a lake and that would let me fly any time.
I put it together, but I was extremely nervous to fly it.
Then I read about RC simulator software, so I got the RealFlight sim with trx because it had a model of this exact Beaver plane and uses the exact trx that came with my Beaver. I figured I couldn't get any better than that.
I put several hours on the sim over the next few weeks, taking off and landing on water to try and get the feel back. I can say it made a HUGE difference. In the beginning I was crashing, but after a few hours, I was smooth and landing nicely.
This morning, looking out on a glass-calm lake, I decided it was time to give the real plane a try. You all know the feeling of that first flight. Knots twisted in my stomach as I turned on the trx and plugged in the battery.
Taxied around a bit to get the feel. Found it handled a lot better in the water with the control surfaces set for max travel. But when it came time for takeoff, I set them to min travel so it wouldn't be so squirrely.
No wind, so headed straight out, back pressure on elevator, 1/3 flaps, smooth throttle up, and off it went! I was a bit jerky at first, but soon settled down. Made the error of trimming flaps to max instead of min, but quickly fixed that.
Flew a few laps around to get more comfortable. That sim experience helped so much as I was more gentle on the controls than I would have been otherwise. And of course it also helped with orientation when the plane was coming toward me.
Time for landing. Dialed in about 1/2 flaps slowly as I entered the pattern. Gradually brought down the throttle on final, and greased it in.
I was so thrilled! Perfect landing - thanks to that software and this beautifully handling plane. Took it up five more times, quick circle, and land. Of six landings, one came a little close to nosing over, and the rest were smooth. I couldn't believe it.
I am so impressed with this plane and how well the software helped me get back into the feel.
--------------------------
There's typically a lot of complaints in forums, but I thought the devs and other people contemplating buying this software might want to know that it really helps with the real thing.
Jeff
I flew gas RC planes 23 years ago, but kids came along and the RC hobby faded away.
Then, a couple of months ago, my partner and I were out for lunch and ended up next to RC Buyers Warehouse in Nashua, NH. Since we own a pilot training company, we naturally wandered in to see what the planes looked like. And I was curious how the hobby had advanced since I last flew.
Well, since my partner had just purchased a real amphibian airplane, he figured I needed one as well. So we got a Flyzone Beaver, as he said the Beaver was a great seaplane. I wanted a seaplane because I live on a lake and that would let me fly any time.
I put it together, but I was extremely nervous to fly it.
Then I read about RC simulator software, so I got the RealFlight sim with trx because it had a model of this exact Beaver plane and uses the exact trx that came with my Beaver. I figured I couldn't get any better than that.
I put several hours on the sim over the next few weeks, taking off and landing on water to try and get the feel back. I can say it made a HUGE difference. In the beginning I was crashing, but after a few hours, I was smooth and landing nicely.
This morning, looking out on a glass-calm lake, I decided it was time to give the real plane a try. You all know the feeling of that first flight. Knots twisted in my stomach as I turned on the trx and plugged in the battery.
Taxied around a bit to get the feel. Found it handled a lot better in the water with the control surfaces set for max travel. But when it came time for takeoff, I set them to min travel so it wouldn't be so squirrely.
No wind, so headed straight out, back pressure on elevator, 1/3 flaps, smooth throttle up, and off it went! I was a bit jerky at first, but soon settled down. Made the error of trimming flaps to max instead of min, but quickly fixed that.
Flew a few laps around to get more comfortable. That sim experience helped so much as I was more gentle on the controls than I would have been otherwise. And of course it also helped with orientation when the plane was coming toward me.
Time for landing. Dialed in about 1/2 flaps slowly as I entered the pattern. Gradually brought down the throttle on final, and greased it in.
I was so thrilled! Perfect landing - thanks to that software and this beautifully handling plane. Took it up five more times, quick circle, and land. Of six landings, one came a little close to nosing over, and the rest were smooth. I couldn't believe it.
I am so impressed with this plane and how well the software helped me get back into the feel.
--------------------------
There's typically a lot of complaints in forums, but I thought the devs and other people contemplating buying this software might want to know that it really helps with the real thing.
Jeff
