Good suggestion for those who cant afford phoenix etc

[Garthy]

Ive found another free sim out there that not everyone may know of just do a search for HeliSimRC on google and download it, its as good if not a little better than FMS at least give it a go :-) see wat you think

[Smoothound]

To be honest if you can't afford Phoenix you can't afford to fly RC Helis, it's that simple

[Tim Procter]

To be honest if you can't afford Phoenix you can't afford to fly RC Helis, it's that simple

Totally agree.


If your skimping on the sim then RC Helis arnt for you..

[Kwickkwack]

I was going to say

Good suggestion for those who cannot afford Phoenix etc




Keep Saving
Its worth it in the end

[Garthy]

I see the points of view but people used to learn without sims so im sure we can carry on doing it, I find it a bit unfair to discourage people from joining the hobby because they cant afford the extra £100 for a sim, I would have thought this forum would be here to encourage everyone of all walks of like wanting to look into this hobby just my tuppence and i think almost everyone will agree with that in one way or another :-) anyway cheer up and look to the skys for fun

[cambs flyer]

I know it sounds harsh what the guys have written, but in all honesty they've been cruel to be kind.

The kind of practice people buy Phoenix for is to learn serious CCPM helicopter flying, yes the Sim is expensive, but trust me the cost of the sim is just the tip of the iceburg.

Even owning a 400 class heli is just the tip, after purchasing Phoenix, TX and a 400 class heli for example you've parted with at least £500+ before any tools or spares never mind the batts.

OK there are a few good RTF helis for example the Blade 400, £260, but once you've collected a good range of extra Li Po's say 6 =£200 approx, then crash spares, another £100 at least, you can start to see it isn't a cheap hobby.

There not saying you can't fly helis, but possibly Twin Coaxial like the Blade BCX2 £115 ish, more batts, spares by the time your up and flying with confidence your still looking at spending upwards of £250 once your finished.

To learn how to fly serious helicopters, in the unexperienced hands of someone who's learned on a sub standard Simulator is A, going to cost a fortune for the flyer, and B, out right dangerous.

These guys fly some serious machines, but even my Trex 450 would leave you in the A+E ward for a few hours at best.

Think about how much you can spend and we can best advise your best choices, but as for Sim's unfortunately no cost cutting can be made in that department if your taking up RC heli flying as a serious hobby.

[DemonJim]

Indeed - it's a bit like buying a Stylophone to practice playing the piano:

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/stylo...FQpgQgodsEBOaA

You can make tunes but it would teach you nothing about how to play properly.

By all means try all the free sims first, but before making an actual outlay on any proper heli get Phoenix + a TX - it will pay for itself in crash repair costs in no time (it's only about £72 if you shop around).

Phoenix is not only the cheapest of the professional sims it's the best for helis, and an absolute MUST if you want to fly I.C. helis. It WILL pay for itself, believe me.

FMS + other free sims won't actually teach you very much about flying a real one with a real TX, but I agree there's no harm in trying it first to see if you can hover, fly circuits and fly nose-in etc., as it might be enough to give you the bug

[kingchopper]

To be honest if you can't afford Phoenix you can't afford to fly RC Helis, it's that simple

totally agree.

heli flying isnt a cheap hobby. but if you are careful you can fly safely without crashing, as most do at my club. but a good helicopter which in my opinion are easier to fly than budget helis will cost more than a cheap second car.

and a good flight sim WILL save you at least one crash and so therefore will pay for itself many times over. and i speak from experience here.

although the price of buying a helicopter might put a bent in your wallet, it's well worth it, in my opinion, thank heavens im not married any more.

[Sesame]

Sims are a great tool for giving you the feel of the controls.
The better the sim the more accurate the experience will be.

At the moment Phoenix is at the top of the pile with regard to helicopter flight and I have no doubt using a Sim will save you alot of money in the long run.

[V70R]

Just wish it was Mac friendly - im seriously considering buying another windows platform just so i can use it - grrrrr

I think its a bit purist to say "To be honest if you can't afford Phoenix you can't afford to fly RC Helis, it's that simple"

We want to encourage people to use a sim and in doing so recommend (near on insist) they get a suitable sim. Ive been using the eflight one [its not excellent but has tought me some fundamentals and given my some stick time] which has been a good place to start.

My model is start with the sim - take it to the medevac, then try it on the Blade - so far so good

Now as soon as i get my IT in order ill be buying Pheonix; simply because its the best...

BTW: anybody running it on Parallels?? {please say there is lol]

[Eddie]

To be honest if you can't afford Phoenix you can't afford to fly RC Helis, it's that simple

No it’s not that Simple!
Maybe the tread was worded incorrectly but you have only shown elitist arrogance towards this hobby with such a condescending comment. This only projects the wrong attitude to anyone who wishes to fly helicopters and practice on Sims expensive or not. As long as people are flying and enjoying the hobby with helpful and constructive advice! Let them make the decision whether they can afford it or not.

[V70R]

First line of the forum main page says:

"Your Friendly Rc Helicopter Community"

[Flybar]

You could also try at "heli-x.info/index_e.shtml" they also do a Mac version but you need an Intel Mac.

Not tried it myself so ??

Find myself agreeing with Eddie

" No it’s not that Simple!
Maybe the thread was worded incorrectly but you have only shown elitist arrogance towards this hobby with such a condescending comment. This only projects the wrong attitude to anyone who wishes to fly helicopters and practice on Sims expensive or not. As long as people are flying and enjoying the hobby with helpful and constructive advice! Let them make the decision whether they can afford it or not. "

[Smoothound]

No it’s not that Simple!
Maybe the tread was worded incorrectly but you have only shown elitist arrogance towards this hobby with such a condescending comment. This only projects the wrong attitude to anyone who wishes to fly helicopters and practice on Sims expensive or not. As long as people are flying and enjoying the hobby with helpful and constructive advice! Let them make the decision whether they can afford it or not.

Maybe it was poorly worded but it's still the truth.

Without a half decent Sim, be it Phoenix or not, the hobby will cost you far more in the end. It's a simple fact, unless you have a mate who is prepared to spend all his/her flying time buddied up or a good few hours at one of the training schools.

People want to fly helis I can get that but why do they always assume it will be cheap? Then when they see it's not going to be cheap immediately start trying to cut corners?

Seen it happen time and time again and not just with Sims.

BUY ONCE BUY RIGHT

What I was told and it still holds good today

[Flybar]

As a final PS. on this argument.

In the mid 70's I learnt to Hang glide. On the final day4 my instructor looked me in the face on the Hay Bluff and said, Woodbine in gob

"Fly or Die" and let me go. You learnt very quickly and some unfortunatly didn't. There were no sims in those days and I would say somewhat more hairy than a rc heli.

The cost of a crash could be very very costly.

Cheers