Aero Challanger Radio/Flight Simulator?

[DuceNova]

I have a Hobbyzone Aerobird Challenger says it operates on channel 3. I have never flown an RC aircraft (only control line aircraft).

I have seen RC flight simulator software that interfaces through the USB port between the transmitter and the computer. The Hobbyzone transmitter has no output port to allow for any interface.

My question is, can I buy another transmitter, say a Fatuba, that will control the Aerobird Challanger and have the USB interface capabilty?

Also, what software is available that doesn't cost an arm and a leg but still has good quality?

Any informaiton and/or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[aeropal]

can I buy another transmitter, say a Fatuba, that will control the Aerobird Challanger and have the USB interface capabilty?
A 27MHz MTC732027 (http://www.megatech.com/product_detail_access.php?ID=7320) (on your frequency) would be a candidate, but is not cost effective (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=MTC732027). To complicate things further, the 27 MHz PF4000 transmitter included with the Megatech Freedom Flyer is a different version which does not (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331991) have a trainer/sim port.

Flying Model Simulator (http://beginnerparkflyers.nexuswebs.net/index1.html) freeware with a 2-stick USB gamepad controller (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=726895) would probably be the least expensive option.

[DuceNova]

Thanks for the information but I'm a little confused about your radio choice. From what you are saying is this the only radio of choice and does or doesn't it interface with a PC?

[aeropal]

Your confusion is justified. If you were to purchase a new MTC732027 radio set, it would have a trainer/sim port as indicated on the webpage. If you were to purchase a used 27 MHz PF4000 transmitter, say off eBay for example, it may or may not. If that transmitter came from a Freedom Flyer ready-to-fly, those transmitters do not have this port. The Megatech culture is to "cut corners" where ever possible, and their products generally have a very poor reputation among consumers.

Although it would not be compatible with the Aerobird stock radio configuration, investing in 72 MHz radio equipment for future projects would be a much better choice.

[bigedmustafa]

The Aerobird Challenger operates on a 27Mhz AM radio system instead of a 72Mhz FM or PCM radio system like most advanced aircraft. The radio system included with your Challenger won't interface with any PC training software. The electronics board inside of your Aerobird won't accept signals from any standard air frequency transmitters.

You can buy a transmitter to use FMS, which has several "parkflyer" models available similar to the Aerobird Challenger. You can fly FMS from a keyboard or joystick/gamepad, also.

You could buy a commercial flight sim package that comes with a controller of it's own, like Great Planes Real Flight G3. Real Flight also has models that fly similarly to the Aerobird Challenger.

I hope this answers a few questions for you.

[aeropal]

The Aerobird Challenger operates on a 27Mhz AM radio system instead of a 72Mhz FM or PCM radio system like most advanced aircraft. . . The electronics board inside of your Aerobird won't accept signals from any standard air frequency transmitters.
A technical clarification:

The Aerobird Challenger specifications (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HBZ3500) state "Radio: FM with 3 proportional channels".

The MTC732027 description (http://www.megatech.com/product_detail_access.php?ID=7320) states "4 Channel Micro FM Receiver".

Unless there is a typographical error somewhere, or a proprietary frequency pulse specification, the 27 MHz PF400 transmitter should be Aerobird compatible.

[DuceNova]

I stopped into a hobby store in Horseheads, NY today. Sales person there was VERY informative and answered all my quesitons. Something about talking to someone face to face that gets the point over to me!

He explained about transmitter and reciever made by different manufacturers may not be compatable (which I suspected before I started this thread). My hope was that all these componits would interface like the DCC controls for model trains (the NMRA set up a standard which IF followed, allows the consumer intermix different componits between manufacturers)

He also pointed out that the software companies make propritary interconnect cables that they will not sell separately (to protect their software).

As a footnote to all this, he gave me the grand tour of all the different aircraft there and explained all the pros and cons of them all. AFTER I learn to fly the Challanger, my next purchace will most likely be a electric trainer ARF which will include brand name (Fatuba, JRC, etc) equipment.

[bigedmustafa]

Oops, aeropal is correct. I keep my Aerobird Challenger in my car, so the radio wasn't handy for me to peek at. It is, in fact, frequency modulated instead of amplitude modulated.