Sim & Equipment suggestions

[babstar]

I have arrived at RC & heli sim flying by complete accident! I recently followed a link, & ending up downloading the ClearView demo. I tried it out & had to buy it! -addicted.
Currently I use a ps2 controller, set up with the correct assignments as for the a conventional RC controller.
However, I think I would like to progress through to real world RC heli flying at some point in the future. Time constraints me from doing so right now, however, I do have ample time to practice on a simulator at night.
I also realise that a sim is just that - a simulation & not a substitute for real flying. However, many posts indicate that the muscle memory / orientation / situational awareness is enhanced by training on a sim , which aids the real world learning process.

So, given that I have a minimal investment thus far I would appreciate suggestions for a RC transmitter & sim that is going to give the best help to fly a real machine in the future. It's a blank sheet of paper, your suggestions please...

[jwilliam]

A lot depends on how far you want to go with this or think you might want to go.
I would say the next step would be to buy a real TX to use with the sim.
If you think you might fly Heli then get a Heli TX.
If you are really serious then buy the most radio you can like a DX7.
If you aren't that serious then I would just buy like an E-sky controller off ebay.
At least then you will have a controller that is like a real radio.
Game pads don't have the left stick that doesn't have a return spring on the up/down motion. And the sticks are a lot shorter.
And then a better sim would help.
I have PhoenixRC and like it, Real Flight or FSOne are also good.
I would suggest that you use your real radio if you can, just one less thing to get used to.

See http://www.emptynestgames.com/rc_sim_chart.html for a comparison.