A Simulator Is Cheap Crash Practice
I wish simulators could make the real airplane completely easy. They cannot. The wind feels different, depth is harder to judge, and there is no reset button at the field. What a simulator can do is let you make the same mistake fifty times without needing fifty propellers.
The biggest benefit is building the connection between what your eyes see and what your thumbs need to do—especially when the airplane turns toward you.
What to Practice
- Take off, climb steadily, and level off without overcorrecting
- Fly a simple rectangular pattern in both directions
- Turn toward yourself and keep the wings under control
- Line up an approach early instead of diving at the runway
- Go around when the approach is bad
- Land, reset, and do it again
I would rather see ten calm patterns than ten attempts at loops. The exciting maneuvers will still be there after you learn how to put the airplane where you want it.
Which Simulator?
RealFlight is widely used and includes many training tools and aircraft, but it is sold in different packages. Some include a controller and some do not. Check the current package instead of assuming the box contains everything.
There are less expensive and free options too. The graphics matter less than having controls that feel reasonably like an RC transmitter and practicing the right habits.
What a Simulator Cannot Check
It cannot tell you that the real airplane is tail-heavy, the right aileron is reversed, the propeller is damaged, or the battery is loose. It also cannot check your airspace or keep a person from walking onto the runway.
That is why simulator practice belongs beside—not instead of—a real preflight inspection and help from an experienced pilot.
Next Up
Lesson 6 is about LiPo batteries. They are excellent power sources, but they need the right charger settings and a little respect.