Clearview simulator?

[rpstar]

I'm interested in learning to fly. Before I buy my first plane though I wanted to get some practice and learn about various planes. I really like the Great Planes sim but at $200 right now I can't justify it. I found the Clearview sim and it seems pretty good but since I'm new it's hard to judge it's accuracy. Anyone have any idea about this sim? I'm hoping that if it's good enough it will serve me well for a while until I progress to the point where something like Great Planes would make sense to invest in.

[rpstar]

I'm interested in learning to fly. Before I buy my first plane though I wanted to get some practice and learn about various planes. I really like the Great Planes sim but at $200 right now I can't justify it. I found the Clearview sim and it seems pretty good but since I'm new it's hard to judge it's accuracy. Anyone have any idea about this sim? I'm hoping that if it's good enough it will serve me well for a while until I progress to the point where something like Great Planes would make sense to invest in.

Hey, well bought it anyways. Seems pretty excellent. I'd rather have great planes G4 but for now the extra $160 in my pocket seemed better. I think it will be some time before I outgrow this sim based on what I've read elsewhere about it.

[williamfriggle]

Sorry no one answered you. This forum is pretty new. It will take a while to catch on. I don't know anything about the Clearview. Maybe that is why no one responded. I bought the Realflight G3.5 when they lowered the price right before the G4 came out. And they broke it down to 3 payments. I like the G3.5 and it seems realistic to me. Either way fly as much as you can. What kind of plane do you like and hope to purchase?

Bill

[rpstar]

Sorry no one answered you. This forum is pretty new. It will take a while to catch on. I don't know anything about the Clearview. Maybe that is why no one responded. I bought the Realflight G3.5 when they lowered the price right before the G4 came out. And they broke it down to 3 payments. I like the G3.5 and it seems realistic to me. Either way fly as much as you can. What kind of plane do you like and hope to purchase?

Bill

Well, I have gotten pretty good with most of the planes (not jets or any of the triangular wing planes) in the sim so far. My favorite thing is actually to practice landing as I love the look of the plane coming down and frankly it's probably the most important part of the flying. :) My plan is to get a real transmitter (just being using a joystick) hooked up to the sim next and continue practicing. I've always been very good with hand-eye coordination (been an avid gamer for over 30 years) so I'm feeling fairly confident, even when I add wind effects in the sim.

My desire is to start out on an electric 4-channel plane. I don't really want to start with a 3-channel since I've gotten used to having both ailerons and rudder in the sim, and frankly those planes are a little too sedate. I'm extremely confident I could take a basic 3-channel like the slo-stick or something and fly the heck out it right now so I'd rather start with a 4-channel. I'm still trying to figure out what.

I like a lot of the RTF kits for the plane (Parkflyers, Parkzone, etc..) but I think I'd rather start out with a good 6-channel FM radio kit with servos, etc.. and I'm not sure these radios are compatible with many or any of those RTF kits, hence I might end up building one of my own. My experience from my RC cars is that I would soon want a good radio anyways so better to invest up front. I don't think I'll go spread spectrum though since it's still a premium on the receivers and the initial kit.

Any suggestions on RTF kits would be appreciated, especially any where the receivers are possibly reusable with standard transmitters like a Futaba, JR, Airtronics, etc...

[williamfriggle]

I don't know of any kits. I am looking at ARF's. Which are actually RTF. http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/hobbico/hcaa24.html

I agree about the not wanting a 3 channel. I want to go with a 4 channel for the same reason. The Piper Cub is the one I am thinking about. I read one review. Can't get any input from the forums. Maybe it is to new yet.

Bill

[tsimmons]

I bought the G4 and I gotta tell you, it has been worth it's weight in gold. I taught myself to fly using it. I have been learning with a friend of mine, and we both agree, this is definitely the way to go. You need to learn using the standard RC tranmitter setup with the sim, a joystick is very different and does not cross over well to controlling an RC plane. For the RTF plane, my buddy bought the Park Zone T-28 Trojan. We have both learned to fly using it and the G4 sim. He crashed a few times at first, since we really did not perfect the sim before he started flying, but once we got the hang of it, it is a great first plane. Stable and easy to fly, just practice on the sim with a transmitter and a low wing scale or sport plane. We fly it next to Tokyo Bay typically in 12-15 knots of wind. So crank the wind up and learn how it handles. Good luck!!!

[HPI_freak]

I don't know of any kits. I am looking at ARF's. Which are actually RTF. http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/hobbico/hcaa24.html

I agree about the not wanting a 3 channel. I want to go with a 4 channel for the same reason. The Piper Cub is the one I am thinking about. I read one review. Can't get any input from the forums. Maybe it is to new yet.

Bill

that piper cub is a nice plane, but BE CARFUL! i bought the parkzone Cessna 182 (basically the EXACT SAME PLANE, just different colors) as my very first airplane, thinking the same thing as you guys wanting a 4 channel airplane and alieron control. i had a successful first flight, but it was WAY TOO FAST! this thing is about as fast as those ducted fan rc jets. i thought i was going to be pretty confident as well (having been an avid gamer, and a RC car racer for about 4 years, and flown many hours on rc airplane sims). but i quickly learned that it is KEY to learn to not be afraid of crashing. it sounds stupid, but you wont know what i mean untill your first flight.

[High Flyer]

Hey. I own Clearview RC simulator and I must say, it compares to the Realflight Display they have up at my LHS. Clearview planes often require some trimming after you "calibrate" but thats fine. I have learned alot from Clearview and amazed the veteran fliers at my LHS when they learn I'm still flying a hobbyzone supercub, all stock and that I have never flown a real plane stunt like that. So, I highly reccomend Clearview, and at $40, what have you REALLY got to lose?

[samsquatch]

Hey. I own Clearview RC simulator and I must say, it compares to the Realflight Display they have up at my LHS. Clearview planes often require some trimming after you "calibrate" but thats fine. I have learned alot from Clearview and amazed the veteran fliers at my LHS when they learn I'm still flying a hobbyzone supercub, all stock and that I have never flown a real plane stunt like that. So, I highly reccomend Clearview, and at $40, what have you REALLY got to lose?

I bought a Multiplex Easystar because people on other forums & the Internet say that Easystar wanna of the best trainer/beginner planes.Here`s a link to a great forum about the Easystar

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350408