Is it to late to swap to learning to fly planes.

[blackbrabus]

Well after getting myself a copy of Phoenix to help me learn to fly my Blade 400 I really have to say I am a hell of alot better at flying all the planes than the Helis.
i manage to fly the Helis around but never really feel in control of it< where as i can make the plane do and go where I want, I can even land the bloody things which is alot more than can be said for the Helis.

some I guess my question is "if I dont feel in control via a sim should I even bother attempting the real thing", and how long did it take people to start like they were really in control.

I would post a vid of my Heli time on the sim but I'm not sure I could take the ribbing lol

[Gaza07]

It takes time you will get it in the end planes are much easier, I started out flying planes and found it quite usefull when starting out with heli's,
Flying planes is a much cheaper hobby if you have a local club go visit them they might let you have a air experiance with the club trainer if they have one I know my club does and people are allowed 3 sessions free without joining the club to see if they like it

[Swashbuckler]

Flying planes is easy on the sim, it's much harder in the real world. Flying them is ok it's landing them on a strip with a cross wind or a dead stick. It is a cheaper hobby without a doubt. When you crash a plane it isn't as simple as buying new bits and rebuilding it. It will usually mean a new kit or hours and hours of uncovering, repairing or making new formers and then recovering, unless you get an epp one in which case it's loadsa glueing, and then it might not fly as good as it did when it was new. I fly both helis and planes but learnt to fly a heli first. I had a fairly good level of heli flying when I decided "oh planes are easy on the sim I'll go and buy one". Smashed it to smithereens on the first flight.

[Voodoo]

There are different types of planes and helis.
I have started with a sailplane. Year after year I improved my skills. For the last ten years I flew aerobatic contests. Three years ago I started with helis and with a sim. A sim will help you to get a feeling for the heli. If you have experience with planes this helps for the helis. If you can fly a heli, then it's not a problem to fly a plane. The only dangerous difference is the speed, the airplane always needs speed.
But ..... at the end, the sim will help,
but can't avoid some crashes.

[ddracer]

I'm the oppersite to the Gaza, I started with 450 heli's then started to fly planks but now I'm pretty much souly heli's again. I'm one of our club instructor so have to take the stick now and again. If you can fly helis it will make you a better and more precise plank flyer.

One thing I would say is don't try to learn both at the same time. It is possible but not to be advised all the time you have to think about what stick input you need rather than just letting your fingers do the work you can easily get confused.

When I learnt to fly planks I took a year out of heli's to do it. I learnt to fly them, got into combat then went to the USA for the world champs and came 2nd. Since then I have only flown two flights with the planes. I just want to prove to myself that I could do it.

[davew]

When I learnt to fly planks I took a year out of heli's to do it. I learnt to fly them, got into combat then went to the USA for the world champs and came 2nd.

Blimey!

well done that man

[coptermanic]

I fly both, and must say that a 15 min whizz around the sky with a plank is far less stressy than the "full-on" 8 or so mins with my Trex 600. I do enjoy both: the challenge of flying the copter, and the relaxation of the plank. Consequently, I will not give up either.
TBH, going from helis to planes I found was a really easy transition, even the forward facing stuff. And I don't have a problem switching from one to the other. Planks are cheaper, and simpler.

[moyesboy]

If you are posting about wanting to swap to planes - on a heli forum, then yes it probably is too late for you!

[Twisted]

I fly both, and must say that a 15 min whizz around the sky with a plank is far less stressy than the "full-on" 8 or so mins with my Trex 600. I do enjoy both: the challenge of flying the copter, and the relaxation of the plank. Consequently, I will not give up either.
TBH, going from helis to planes I found was a really easy transition, even the forward facing stuff. And I don't have a problem switching from one to the other. Planks are cheaper, and simpler.

/agree

[EtheAv8r]

I fly both, and flying fixed wing is generally more relaxing than flying helicopters, which do demand greater focus and concentration. You can look away briefly when flying fixed wing (unless doing 3D or the new 4D of course), but do this with a helicopter and you are then usually in trouble. I have focussed mainly on learning helicopters this past couple of years.

Is flying fixed wing easier than flying a helicopter.... yes... but. The but is that it still requires skill, orientation, planning, good reactions and co-ordination, and many people find it very challenging. It is all fun!

[coptermanic]

"Navy"]"Is flying fixed wing easier than flying a helicopter.... yes... but. The but is that it still requires skill, orientation, planning, good reactions and co-ordination, and many people find it very challenging. It is all fun!"


Agreed, and the last sentence is EXACTLY what it should be.

[blackbrabus]

Please don't get me wrong, I have no intention of stopping learning to fly my Heli, I was just so very amazed as to how easy it was to pick up how to fly a plane (on a sim) compared to how hard get the heli to hover was.
I love the idea so much more of seeing my heli in the air and doing some great moves I just hope I get there.

Thanks for all your input it really helps and after almost 4 hours on the sim last night I am now able to get a relatively stable hover and some great FFF its just the landing after FFF thats proving a little tough.

might save a vid for you all to see , should be worth a chuckle.

[Swashbuckler]

I remember my first flight where I hovered a whole battery, it feels like your world has changed, its awesome. Within weeks that will be the norm and you will barely have to think about it. Just keep at it, as long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters.