I use Phoenix Flight Sim. Anyone else feel simulators are WAY off compared to real flight? In any simulator, I can fly 100% better than real life. Controlled inverted flights, inverted hovering, hurricanse, rolls, circuits (currently working on backwards rollings circuits). Anyone else experience this?

Same here. I can do everything in SIM, but almost nothing in real life.

But I only started few months ago and I fly only 1 day per week

I finally broke down and tried Phoenix after hearing so many positive reviews. I do not like it. Just a personal preference though.
I am a firm believer that you cannot get any closer to real than with RealFlight 6.5 and now 7.0. My real life birds behave exactly like the ones in the sim. The pucker and shake factor in real life alters my flying ability. It is not because it is different, but because there is no reset button and my hard earned cash is at risk.
I have done extensive tweaking to match my helicopters. All have been modded with identical equipment, speeds, and power settings. I also practice with the wind cranked up.

Wayne

bold text is an edit.....

I love the smell of nitro in the morning.
RIP Roman

I think the general consensus is that real flight 6.5 or 7 is the way forward. you can do way more tuning to get a realistic feel

You need to tweak a sim model so it flies as closely to your real one as possible, then make it a bit harder/more unstable to fly. This will keep you on your toes and make flying the real thing feel easier. This is a long time technique used in full scale simulators where the sim is always a bit more touchy than the real aircraft.

I have both Phoenix and Realfligth 7. They each have their pros and cons, but it is hard to say that one is obviously superior. I personally prefer Phoenix, but feel that it is nothing more than a personal preference.

Despite their imperfections, the sims remain an incredible help in my learning curve. This is where I master things first before I try to make them happen in real life. I certainly agree that there is still work to be done to bring a trick from simulator to real life. It is however much easier (and cheaper) than if you did not use a simulator first.

Team Mikado, Team Revolectrix, KBDD Team Pilot

HeimD
You need to tweak a sim model so it flies as closely to your real one as possible,

+1

Insha Allah made in america

Good, I'm glad I'm not alone. Don't get e wrong, Sims truly are the best way to practice muscle memory for tricks... don't applying that in the real world is entirely different.

Blade Nano, 130X, MCPX BL, 300X, Trex 250, 450L, Phantom 2, 2V+, F550, S800 EVO

That is like learning a new lenguage. We old timers try to find the reasoning, and children just do it. Sim realy help to master nose in, inverted fly, fly backward and much more. Just don't think about it

Ae

Besides what others think of THIS simulator or THAT simulator and what is better etc etc bla bla bla the fact is you have a RESET Button on ANY simulator and this is the difference from real life flying and loosing some money when you crash!!

Setup is everything, All my heli's can fly far better than I can pilot them

I think the OP was comparing the Phoenix Sim to 'real flight' as in real life, not the GreatPlanes Sim. I have to agree on that as I have flown a few different sims, and while they certainly help develope certain motor skills and train your brain, there is still just not that level of danger present. But hey, isn't that how it is with all types of sims? They are not meant to be an actual substitute for real physical hands on flight time, but rather a tool to help enhance your techniques and skill set. I would venture to guess the same is true for many fields where high dollar machines and personal safety are at risk. Nasa, AirForce, commercial airline pilots, and even in my industry (commercial trucking) many companies pay for there drivers to attend an annual class with a simulator to experience scenarios of emergencys and driving in inclement weather that you could never safely replicate in real life without risking lives and equiptment. Just my opinion.

A sim can be a great tool, but it is nothing like the the real thing!

I have both also, and I go back and forth as to which one I like best.
Overall, while sims aren't exactly like real life flying, they are invaluable to me in learning.

Own Both

I own both simulators. There is a definite change in Phoenix 5. It is more towards Real Flight in my opinion. The Phoenix helis always seemed slower to react than RF. I think the faster reaction allowed the real world to slow down.

I prefer RealFlight mostly because I know that program well and can make many physics adjustments myself. I do not think that it is easy for a beginner to make aircraft adjustments. If they would make the adjustments more radio and FLB like, it would be an improvement. Instead it is pretty computer geek like(and I am a senior computer geek). I think planes are much better in RealFlight.

The biggest thing about sims is that they allow you to fly cheaply and work on your flying without risk.

I cannot see anyone starting this hobby without using either one. It should be the first purchase.

The sim helped me a lot when I first started and I still use it today.

I also agree that anyone who's interested in this hobby should get a sim first.

Jackp332 is correct. I should have said, actual flight, or real life. i was comparing the difference between ANY simulator and real life flying, outside.

The funny thing is, there are some things I think are FAR easier to do in real life, than in sim's, and vice versa. I think the biggest difference is the smaller heli's. The 500+ heli's are so stable and have so much more mass, its far easier to simulate movement. I fly my trex 250 often, and all simulators, are way off. As far as the physics go, I believe the simulators lack air flow algorithms created from the heli's themselves. That is why, in a sim, if you fly really low at slow speeds or in wind, there is no difference to how the heli responds as it would if it was 20ft in the air. This one thing, changes EVERYTHING.

Anyway, I was just curious. What started this topic for me was, a friend was over while I was practicing on my sim and he commented saying, "Man, you fly pretty good! Do you ever compete?" I laughed and said, "I can't do any of this stuff in real life, not sure why it's so easy for me on the sim."

A sim can be a great tool, but it is nothing like the the real thing!

Exactly. Anyone looking for realism with a sim should burn $150.00 each time they crash.

Mike

"When Inverted down is up and up is expensive"

turn the sim speed up to 110, 120% if you need more micro heli realism. Just go out and do the real stuff, preferably over a grassy field for those times it comes down, not tall grass where you can loose the 250, good luck.

Don't forget to add some wind.

Perfectly calm days exist only in sims.

Anyone looking for realism with a sim should burn $150.00 each time they crash.

HA!...
I NEVER could buy any helis if I did that