How close to realistic is it?

[Varelco]

I'm new to all this too and have been using the sim for a few weeks (neXt in my case). The different models available in the sim fly quite differently, so I've just been using lots of them to get a feel for differences e.g. different sizes, power etc. But they all use the same muscle memory at the end of the day. Just different rates of response etc. I'm sure real helis are no different in this respect. Perhaps an analogy would be driving different cars. Although the feel can be quite different, once you can drive one car you can drive pretty much any car.

Exactly that, characteristics, especially in terms of heli size, vary greatly.

Simulators are invaluable tools when you are starting out, I don't know where I would be without having Phoenix. It keeps the crash costs down and the frustration that comes with it, it also helps speed up the learning (like in winter when weather prevents you from flying)

[fish6634]

are bigger heli's easier to fly or the bigger the model? it seems that way on the sim, the smaller heli's seem alot more responsive and quicker, like trying to control a bee

[tomatwalden]

In real life ... Bigger helis are more docile in their response for sure. Simple physics really (ie. Inertia) - bigger things take more time/effort to get moving. Also, they're easier to see! Conversely, being bigger means more energy in the system = more danger, more damage in a crash, more cost of a crash = sometimes more fear of flying them.

Micro helis largely remove the fear factor, but are naturally more responsive due to lower inertia. This can be tamed down a bit though with adjustments to the TX (ie. DR, expo, etc.) Personally, I find micros great for garden flying and local fields behind my house!

On the sim ... Forget micros, they're modelled really badly and are almost impossible to fly. I would say they (sim micros) are NOTHING like flying real micros IMHO. Stick to 550 helis and above. Personally I tend to fly a Goblin 630 on RealFlight as I find the characteristics near perfect for me.

[myxiplx]

+1 to the above.

While I was learning to fly with a mCPX BL I used to fly a Raptor 90 on the sim and the sim time really helped my flying on that crazy little heli. The small models on the sim are horribly unrealistic, just pick a big one and have something that at least reacts as it should :-)

But then in real life, going from a crazy little mCPX BL to a Trex 600N was eye opening. It was like flying in slow motion, admittedly I'd had a year of 3D flight on the BL by this point, but I still came away grinning from ear to ear it was just so easy and so fun to fly :-)

[Varelco]

In addition to Toms comments you'll find that larger helis tend to 'hang' longer in the air, which makes them easier to fly, this affects all aspects in flight not just moves like tic tocs for example.

[stephenk]

its like the other sims ok to practice on

[Peteski]

On the sim ... Forget micros, they're modelled really badly and are almost impossible to fly.

I must be getting better now, because I can actually fly the little 130X on the neXt sim without crashing I hope it's not that tricky in real life though! It really is a handful on the sim.

[bcphill]

None of them are going to be perfect or lifelike due to lack of depth perception. The physics should be pretty close but you'll find real world models will be setup to different tastes compared to the generic feel on the sim. It will mroe than suffice for training your thumbs and brain. If you can hover in all orientations comfortably and consistently, you'll find it easier in real life once you get past the fear factor and nerves.

I was going to post a similar post until i saw fish6634s post so thanks for that.
I have pheonix 5 and using this with a dx6i

I have set it up as carefully and accurately as i can following the advice on here,
I have been using the training mode to practice hovering but it seems very difficult. The copter drifts off on its own and when trying to correct any drift its nigh on impossible to compensate without overcomensating. I have tried setting different throttle and pitch curves into the settings in the sim. i think i now have to change something in the TX now

But generally speaking it seems really difficult to even hover for me using a CP large heli

I find myself thinking "it cant be as difficult as this in real life

I have reduced the similation speed to 30-40% and this is the only way i can manage to hover at all and this is using aeleron only

Still I am sticking with it as I really want to become a half decent flyer before i die (60 in april)

Phill

[Peteski]

But generally speaking it seems really difficult to even hover for me using a CP large heli

If you've been practising for more than a couple of days it should be pretty easy to hover a large CP heli on the sim - at least tail-in anyway. FWIW it took me about a month on the sim to master all upright hovering orientations and perform consistent slow piros. So I guess it is pretty tricky. The stick inputs required are extremely small, but it eventually becomes subconscious.

[hedge]

Hey Phill, its hard, really hard, its not known as the hardest thing in RC for nothing

Hands off hovering is a myth distributed around the internet by people who don't need to be able to hover hands off. As soon as the disk is hit by wind it will move slightly and that's it, until an opposing movement is added the heli is off in the given direction.

If you want hands off hovering then there are GPS positioning systems available that will let you put the TX down and go get a cuppa. These come on both helis and multirotors.

Keep at it, one thing I will add is the good sims tend to be a bit tougher to hover on than real life so once your not crashing tail in then why not give it a go with your heli? There is no standard - it took me 10 days answer - you will learn at your own pace, I am convinced with the right motivation anyone can progress to nice slow 3D so keep at it.

[tomatwalden]

I..
I have set it up as carefully and accurately as i can following the advice on here,
I have been using the training mode to practice hovering but it seems very difficult. The copter drifts off on its own and when trying to correct any drift its nigh on impossible to compensate without overcomensating. I have tried setting different throttle and pitch curves into the settings in the sim. i think i now have to change something in the TX now

But generally speaking it seems really difficult to even hover for me using a CP large heli

I find myself thinking "it cant be as difficult as this in real life

I have reduced the similation speed to 30-40% and this is the only way i can manage to hover at all and this is using aeleron only

Still I am sticking with it as I really want to become a half decent flyer before i die (60 in april)

Phill

It isn't easy, that's for sure. The heli will absolutely drift off on it's own if you don't constantly apply corrections - that's how real helis fly I'm afraid!

Throttle and pitch curves won't make much difference - dual rates (DR) and Exponential (expo) are the things you want to look at to make the controls less sensitive.

Good read : Are RC Helicopters Hard To Fly?