Great Planes Real Flight R/C Simulator Review

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Product Review...
Great Planes "Real Flight" R/C Simulator

By: Andrew S. Rosz

At one time or another, each of us in the hobby probably kick around the idea of either purchasing an R/C flight simulator, or perhaps just hoping to have the opportunity to try one out. My interest in R/C simulators goes back to when I just started to learn to fly, but I never bought one, nor had I ever flown on one until now. So, if I say that I purchased this thing exclusively for my son to learn to fly on… well, we all know better.

Not long ago, Great Planes released their "Real Flight" R/C simulator and I bought one. All I can tell you is that you people are in for the most incredible and realistic R/C experience of your life. The simulator delivers EXACTLY what happens out at the field. The pilot's view of the plane is also EXACTLY as it is as if you were flying your own plane and the name "Real Flight" is indeed the most appropriate name that could have been chosen for the product. Words cannot describe the experience. You simply have to try one out for yourself… and if you do… my guess is that at least 90% of all who try it will buy it, assuming of course that you have a computer powerful enough to handle this program on the cutting edge of technology.

The program incorporates the latest technology in 3D graphics and requires an exceptionally fast computer to fully realize it's true graphics potential. The program comes on CD ROM (only) with a real Futaba 7 channel Radio which plugs into the 15-pin game port of your computer. My machine is a 200 MHz Dell but I do not have an accelerated 3D graphics card (which the program highly recommends). No fear, however since the program will support virtually all computers and video cards as the user must first configure the program to accommodate whatever hardware setup he has. On older machines, 90 MHz or less, the user must choose "Internal 3D Graphics" which will provide a graphics view similar to the Dave Brown and Ambrosia simulators. On faster computers however, the user will select "Direct-X 3D" which is a 1998 Microsoft technology. Here is where you see just how far R/C simulators have come. Everything on your screen looks real. The airplane, the runway, the clouds, trees, adjacent buildings; everything! And having flown models for over six years now, They fly EXACTLY as they do at the field. Additionally, all flying parameters are fully adjustable. You can choose among five different airports, many different environmental conditions (wind speed, direction, gusty or smooth, etc.) and nine different planes; most of which an experienced flyer has previously owned at one time or another. There's a PT-40 Trainer, Fun Fly, P-51 Mustang, Easy Glider, Ultra Sport, among others. You can even Design; yes, I said DESIGN your own plane and add it to the fly-list. The program also comes with several soothing background songs which will relax you during your flight experience, and when you crash, the ambulance sounds and you hear this awful crashing sound; something like breaking glass into a garbage can. That alone is enough to make you try harder on your next flight. It truly is a "real flight" experience. But, like any powerful software program on the cutting edge of technology, it requires a computer also on the cutting edge of technology to realize it's fullest potential. Regardless of your computer, if you at least have a Pentium processor, the simulator experience is unparalleled as compared to the other R/C simulators currently available.

My congratulations to Great Planes. Their "Real Flight" R/C simulator is going to usher in a whole now breed of beginning R/C pilots. Truth is, if you can fly the simulator, you can fly a real R/C plane out at the field. They are the same; the simulator is THAT REAL. So to all of you who keep crashing planes out at the field, spend the $200 and buy the program. And to all of you who are too afraid to try new maneuvers on your own plane for fear of crashing, buy the program. And to all of you who have been flying for twenty years and still can't fly worth a damn, buy the program. It's the most intelligent $200 you will ever spend on R/C. Fly it for a month each day on your computer and you will add five years (or more) to your piloting skill level; guaranteed, it's that real.

My son now flies with three channels (not well yet); ailerons, elevator, and throttle. He crashes routinely but also has landed twice. He's now got a reason to learn his left from his right. My predictions are that by the time he is a teenager, he will fly the pants off most fliers out at the field, but not before crashing about $200,000 worth of Ultra Sports (on the simulator, of course). Actually, he's now getting the hang of the "ever so slight" stick movements necessary to fly the plane and does quite well with the PT-40 trainer.

As good as this program is, a word of caution is in order. Many newcomers will indeed buy the program and learn to fly on it. But when making the transition to the real flying field however, I still STRONGLY RECOMMEND that all new pilots seek the help of a qualified instructor until they obtain their solo certificate. Real models can kill and/or cause extensive property damage if mishandled. Even though the simulator is as good as it is, from a visual perspective view, there are still differences in watching a harmless computer screen vs. flying real models. Avoid the temptation to go it alone at the real flying field. Just as I have personally crashed on the simulator countless times (until I got used to it), so will the beginner more than likely crash his own real R/C plane on his first flight if a qualified instructor is not there to help trim out his plane and help bridge the gap between the computer and reality.

Overall, I give the program five stars. It does it all; even more than I have mentioned here. With the computer technology now available to us, another prediction that I have is that in time, there will be two classes of R/C pilots. Those who have been simulator-trained, and those who have not. Given the same amount of flight hours, the simulator-trained pilots will be able to handle most any airplane and will be able to quickly adapt to the flight characteristics of different planes; they will be able to land most any airplane (safely and without damage); they will be more inclined to routinely use their rudder; and they will be better prepared to handle windy and gusty conditions. The simulator-trained pilot will also have crashed at least 100 times more (on the simulator, of course) in perfecting these skills. The non-simulator trained pilot will be lagging significantly behind in all these skill levels given the same amount of flight hours in the air. So, if you really want to learn how to fly (well), but this product. It's the best $200 you will ever spend on R/C.