From Michael James,
Your Guide to Radio Controlled Vehicles.
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Man has been fascinated with flying throughout history but his many attempts to create flight-enabling contraptions often met with disaster. Yet, even when we have created successful flying machines, human error has kept us grounded. Staying in the air is not easy. It takes practice. Flight — including RC flying — is a gravity-defying feat that requires patience.

Thrill of Flying

When Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax for his young son, Icarus, he warned the boy before taking flight over the sea, "don't fly too close to the ground for your wings will get wet; but, don't fly too high for your wings are made of wax and the sun will melt them and you will surely fall." But Icarus, caught up in the thrill of flying, flew too close to the sun.

Daedalus' warnings are just as applicable to today's radio controlled airplanes. If you fly too close to the ground, you're likely to crash. If you fly too high your RC plane will be out of range and you'll be unable to control it. Your RC plane will fall from the sky and crash to the ground. Like Icarus, though, it's easy to get caught up in the thrill of flying. But that thrill is short-lived when you crash your RC plane after only a few minutes of soaring.

Skill of Flying

Before you take your new RC plane out for a test-flight, or even before you buy your first RC plane or helicopter, it would be worthwhile to invest in some flying lessons. I want to fly but, as luck and skill would have it, "I am no pilot!" I've crashed every plane I've owned, some within just minutes of take off. Learn from my mistakes. Earn your wings with flight simulation software and a virtual plane.

I have found several RC flight simulation titles that are free to download. Some are entirely free. Others are demo versions. Try one of these and learn to fly RC planes from the safety of your computer screen.

• Flying-Model-Simulator (FMS) from Roman and Michael Mõller is an excellent piece of software. FMS has many planes to choose from: Jets, twin prop, single prop, helicopters, and my personal favorite — 3D-flying Helicopters for those of you who like to experience inverted flight. For Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP.

• ClearView RC Simulator by SVK Systems has a free demo. The demo offers easy and expert versions of one airplane and two helicopters. Or, purchase the full version for even more electric and nitro-powered RC aircraft. You can even create and import your own aircraft and flying fields. Works with Windows 2000 and XP.

• RC Flight Master from Reality Craft has a demo version for download. They also make RC PlaneMASTER which also has a free demo and the RC Flight Master eXtreme64. An RC transmitter connected to your computer with an appropriate interface cable is recommended. For Windows 98/Me/2000/XP (the RC PlaneMASTER will also run under Windows 95)

• PRE-Flight RC Simulator by Simtel has special editions for the E-Flite Blade and the Dragonfly helicopters. The standard edition and other versions come with both software and a hardware interface for your RC transmitter. The free demo version supports keyboard, 2-axis joystick, or your own transmitter (with the purchase of a PRE-Flight serial interface). For Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP.

Try to Fly Before You Buy

Buying multiple RC planes and then learning to fly with them is costly and likely to be disappointing. Training yourself with RC flight simulation software is a more practical approach to learning to fly RC airplanes. So before you go out there and buy a RC plane and spend a ton of money replacing it time and time again due to multiple crashes, study up and train yourself in the principles of RC flight. This preparation can lead to a long and enjoyable experience in flying RC planes.

Next: Simulate an RC Plane Controller

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