RC Flight Simulator Comparison Chart...

[Cybert99]

I've been researching RC flight simulators since Christmas and I decided to compile all of my notes, links, reviews and other info into a handy web table. Thought it might be useful to some of you helifreaks!

Here's a link:

http://www.emptynestgames.com/rc_sim_chart.html

[Cybert99]

Just FYI: I recently updated my chart with some new information, including a link to a comprehensive review of RealFlight's G4.

Hope you find it useful!

[bassplayinDude]

Thanks very much for your effort on your chart? Don't know if you're interested, but there's a couple of new free helicopter flight simulators that aren't on your list. One is at www.heli-x.net (click union jack for English version) and the other is at http://www.marksfiles.net/HeliSimRC/index.htm .

[Cybert99]

Thanks Bass! I just added those two sims to my chart. (Down at the bottom.)

[kgfly]

Nice summary, I see you went to a lot of trouble to gather all the details.

I have owned FMS, ClearView, Reflex/XTR, RF2.0 and Phoenix. I have had a brief try of FSone, RF3.0/3.5/4.0, PreFlight and some others. Currently I think Phoenix is the leader of the pack overall and it is what I am still using.

Which do you own/fly/prefer ?

[Cybert99]

I tried RealFlight G4 and FS One (at my local HS). I downloaded FMS and I actually bought ClearView. I've spent a lot of time studying the Phoenix and Reflex demos. AFPD is the real mystery. There isn't a demo and I don't think any of the local shops carry it.

I like ClearView, but the flight characteristics don't seem as realistic as G4. I'm VERY impressed with the Phoenix and Reflex demos, though honestly, I'm MUCH more excited about Reflex. The graphics are better and it just looks more realistic.

Having said that, I've seen a lot of forum comments from people who, like yourself, own both Reflex and Phoenix and they prefer the latter. Perhaps the Phoenix demo is old...

[kgfly]

I have not tried the newest version of Reflex/XTR (with the iVol controller) but the one I had was really very good and had some features that I liked better than Phoenix. However I found Phoenix to be very good too and better value for money overall. I also, like many other Reflex users, got tired of the candy-stripe wall. The models and scenery in Phoenix are very good and news ones are being added at a great rate of knots, for free. I prefered the indoor scenery choices in Reflex but I expect some new ones will appear for Phoenix so am not worried.

ClearView is amazing value for money and the developer is very responsive to feedback. The physics tends to change more often than the big boys. Sometimes I thought the changes were positive, sometimes negative.

I think the graphics in Phoenix are PDG (pretty damn good!) and the up-to-date version has numerous improvements over the old demo video.

[Funflyer]

I have Aerofly Pro Deluxe. I got it before I was into helis. Unfortunately I don't have any other sim experience to compare it to. But recently I find myself not that excited about flying the Aerofly sim. I recently installed the latest update and while the graphics are a little better there are also more bugs and I think they screwed up the sound a little. The bugs really get under my skin. It might be my computer / hardware configuration, but I have a 2 year old Dell with a 256Mb ATI video card. Also Aerofly doesn't have any heli training modes, contests, or in-flight failure practice not to mention multi-player. The only thing it has for heli's is balloon popping which is only fun once or twice. I know the other stuff isn't needed to get good practice out of a sim but the other stuff helps change things up so it isn't so boring.

I'm seriously considering Phoenix. Aerofly is pretty good, but I agree it is just a little weaker in the heli department. ANYONE have experience with Aerofly and Phoenix that can give me a direct comparison?

[smokinjoe52]

I too am using Aerofly, and would like a comparison between Phoenix and Aerofly (G4 too). I just don't like to practice using the AFPD sim. I am trying to decide if its just that I don't like sim's, or if AFPD is inferior.

[worldofmaya]

Hi!
I began with Aerofly... it's great for planes but really nothing for heli training. If you want the best available commercial simulator take Realflight. By far the best physics engine out there... if you just need a nearly as good, at some points better and others a little weaker (because it's not implemented by now like network flying) simulator take the free Heli-X! I had them both but sold them before Heli-X came out (because prices on ebay already dropped here on the German market) and just use Heli-X with a custom interface that works with PCM1024. Makes a difference too...
If you just want to train flying a heli that's a great solution! It's in it's first release and works really great for that! There're some issues because Heli-X uses OpenGL and some (especially ATI) cards/card driver have problems with this. The next release will have some major improvements like training objects... only thing you need is an interface that installs itself as joystick in Windows or Linux.
-klaus

[Funflyer]

I just picked up a used copy of Phoenix and so far I love it. It is definitely better than AFPD which is getting a little stale as someone else mentioned. Phoenix is a little more polished, looks better, heli's do fly a little better (except maybe auto's, Rex450 auto is too easy) and add to that the other features like online, water, failure modes, etc. I was getting bored with AFPD too but Phoenix is a nice fresh experience. I'm sure I'll become a little bored with Phoenix at some point too, but there are more features to play with to keep it interesting. I recommend keeping AFPD for planes if you already have it and pick up Phoenix for heli's, you won't regret it.