How an RC Flight Simulator Can Lead to Success

Imagine the first big RC airplane or helicopter you ever saw flying, whether it was at an airshow you decided to attend or maybe in a social media post you came across. Chances are it left you wondering how that RC jet could fly so fast or how that helicopter could fly upside down, and maybe it made you want to try flying RC aircraft for yourself. Although the RC aircraft you just watched was probably fast, big, or extremely maneuverable, it probably wasn’t an aircraft that would be ideal to learn with. So how do you get started?

Being heavily involved in the hobby and flying RC at airshows across the country, I often encounter people who ask that exact question. That’s when I get to share how RealFlight has taught me, continues to teach me, and keeps me connected with friends in the off-season when events aren’t happening. Here’s my story!

From RealFlight to Real Life

Before I had ever attempted to fly a hobby-grade RC aircraft, I spent years flying on a simulator, particularly RealFlight G3.5. As a young boy, I simply treated it as a video game and a fun way to pretend like I was flying. I had never really viewed it as an RC flight simulator, but little did I know I was training myself and developing the muscle memory for a hobby that would last a lifetime!

After several years of on-and-off time on the simulator, I was around 14 when I decided to try RC in real life. I visited a local hobby shop and purchased an intermediate-level RC airplane that I probably should have crashed as a beginner. Much to my surprise, I felt much more comfortable than expected with that airplane and continued to enjoy flying it! This success, thanks to countless hours on the RealFlight, led me to buying even more airplanes!

Airplanes weren’t the only thing I was flying on RealFlight throughout the years. I loved everything that flew and that, of course, included helicopters. I had many flight hours logged with helicopters on the simulator, and I really couldn’t tell if I liked them more than airplanes or not. This led me to purchase my first hobby-grade RC helicopter, which was a Blade mCPX BL. This was before SAFE technology had been introduced, so the mCPX BL did not have self-leveling and was not considered a beginner helicopter by any means. Thanks again to the time put in on an RC flight simulator, I was successfully completing front flips and back flips on my first flight!

From that moment on, I was absolutely hooked on RC since I was unknowingly prepared to fly RC airplanes and helicopters thanks to RealFlight. This experience alone was enough for me to become an advocate for learning to fly with an RC flight simulator.

Beyond the Basics

There’s a common misconception that RC flight simulators are only useful for teaching the basics of RC flight, and this could not be further from the truth. As someone who has been flying aerobatic RC airplanes and helicopters for over ten years, I am still using the simulator to learn the proper stick inputs for new or complex maneuvers. Failing to complete a tricky maneuver could result in an undesired, unexpected, and uncomfortable orientation which can likely lead to a crash. Unlike the simulator, this scenario does not have a reset button. Over the years, I’ve found that continuous practice of a new maneuver on a simulator can not only increase the likelihood in succeeding in that new trick you’ve wanted to try, but also make you more prepared if the outcome is not quite what you were expecting in that attempt.

I’ve also found RC flight simulators to be extremely helpful when practicing my aerobatic routines for upcoming airshows where I choreograph flights to music. One of my favorite activities is to put different songs and music together and choreograph a flight to it. The simulator then helps me to visualize how the flight will look in real life. Playing the music while flying to it on the simulator allows me to adjust different portions of the routine to match the music, which ultimately results in a more entertaining performance at airshows. One compliment I’ll never forget came from a young girl in the crowd who told me that she loved watching my RC helicopter “dance to the music.” I knew right then and there that the simulator had done its job in helping me choreograph my flight!

Keeping Friends Connected

If you’re like me, then you are not a fan of doing anything outside when it is cold. Every winter I’m reminded that trying to keep up with a high-performance airplane or helicopter with frozen fingers that can barely feel the sticks of a transmitter just doesn’t result in an enjoyable time. Here in the Midwest, it can stay cold for several months, and I tend to get a little stir-crazy while being cooped up inside. Not to mention there are very few RC events during that time, and I often go months without seeing close friends in the hobby. Once again, it’s during this time that I’m especially thankful for RealFlight. Not only does it allow me to keep my skills up in the off-season, but it also allows me to stay connected and flying with my friends on multiplayer! When I want to fly with my friends, I can easily create a multiplayer session and invite them to it or join theirs. I have also been able to meet new people from across the world through RealFlight, fly with them on the simulator, and then maybe catch them at an RC event in real life. RealFlight’s multiplayer helps keep the RC community flying together, even when there are no events happening. It’s truly one of the best parts of the simulator!

Getting Started with RealFlight Trainer Edition

For anyone who has never flown RC before, I always recommend starting with RealFlight Trainer Edition. It’s the best place to begin because it’s essentially a simplified version of RealFlight Evolution. It includes flight instructor lessons, a helicopter, and many of the most popular trainer airplanes, along with some intermediate aircraft that unlock after a certain number of flight hours. It’s designed to teach you how to fly while rewarding your progress along the way. If you’ve purchased select trainer aircraft, like the HobbyZone Apprentice STOL S 700mm RTF (Ready-To-Fly), you may have received a free trial version that works with the RTF transmitter. When you’re ready for the full RC flight simulator experience, you can upgrade at any time to the latest version of RealFlight Evolution at a discounted price!

No Better Time to Get Started

No matter your age or level of experience, it’s the perfect time to start flying RC on a simulator! Whether you’re just learning the basics, practicing that new maneuver, flying with friends, stuck inside, or wanting to try a specific Horizon Hobby aircraft, RealFlight is the #1 tool in RC that I still use and love sharing how it helped me discover the joy of RC! RealFlight is the best tool new RC pilots can use when learning to fly. It also makes it possible for experienced RC pilots to practice new maneuvers and hone their skills to become even better pilots!