DR> .... I  want to know if anyone has used those R/C
 DR> Control programs for the Home  Computer? Do they work? Are they worth
 DR> the price?? I see Tower hobby has 2  different IBM Trainer Programs.. I
 KB> I started flying RC aircraft 2 years ago and found that the
 KB> Microsoft Flight Simulator was helpful in mastering the "control
 KB> reversal" skill and the altered perceptions of flying an RC  airplane
 KB> as opposed to flying a full sized (Cessna 182) airplane.  I suppose
 KB> it should also be helpful in learning basic flying  skills though,
 KB> personally, I learned those earlier, not from MS  Flight Simulator so
 KB> I'm not well qualified to comment on that  aspect. Flight Simulator
 KB> was surprisingly realistic to me. You'll  want to configure it for
 KB> the Cessna airplane, the Control Tower  view, and a reasonable (10 or
 KB> so) zoom factor to give adequate  visibility. I haven't seen or used
 KB> the RC simulators youmentioned  but one can speculate that they have
 KB> been optimized for RC  training wheras the Microsoft one hasn't. One
 KB> problem you might  face with the Microsoft choice is the scarcity of
 KB> joysticks like  the ones on RC transmitters--it seems that all of the
 KB> computer  joysticks these days are of the exotic, multi-buttoned,
 KB> "handgrip"  style which is less realistic.
The programs I have seen come with a R/C control box that looks like your 
radio. I suppose that is why they are so expensive? I know that the ad stated 
that the control box plugs into your joystick/Mouse port on your home PC. I 
think I might give that a try.
 I know I need to have an instructor with me! I just have not met any as of 
yet! But  then again I have not ben looking that hard! :>
 Thanks for all of your helpful input on the subject!!
                               Don
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