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THIS IS THE PAGE for model flyers with an interest in flight simulation - and that can cover all the mainstream programs as well as the specialist model flight simulators. I will do my best to bring you any interesting news of upgrades, add-ons, patches, etc., and am keen to hear from any of you on flightsim topics.

the CSM 3-in-1 r/c flight simulator

DO YOU USE a radio-control model flight simulator? 

I use the CSM version 10 3-in-1 simulator and have found it to be really helpful. My main use so far has been for model helicopter simulation, but now I have ventured into fixed-wing flying I will be trying out that option too. The graphics on the CSM don't look so good as some of the other simulators now on the market, but the program does run nice and smoothly and RC Models claim it's still the world's most aerodynamically accurate RC simulator, and I guess that's what really counts.  

I recently read an item in a news-group from a chap who statd that he had developed virtually all his heli flying skills on the CSM simulator, including nose-in hovering and aerobatics, and then successfully transferred them to the flying field without a single mishap! I can't say that I have been that successful, although I only dared to attempt nose-in hovering after a fair bit of practice on the simulator. I found that slowing down the flying speed setting on the simulator was particularly helpful in the early stages, gradually returning to normal speed as I became more confident. 

I was very nervous when I made my first attempt at nose-in, though, and I turned the model's nose towards me just a small amount at a time from the side-on position to start with. Then I got a bit bolder and moved the tail round in one fairly quick movement and this seemed not to effect the cyclic quite so much, so it stayed fairly stable in the hovering position. I must say, it was a great feeling when I first succeeded and there was something rather good about the nose-in view! Having said all that, I was trying again a couple of weeks ago and things got decidedly pear-shaped, as they say, and I finished up with a rather nasty tail-down landing - well, crash, to be honest! The spares arrived a couple of days ago . . .

Incidentally, I see that the latest version of the CSM simulator now has 7 new scale helicopters and 5 new pod-and-boom helicopter images. Apparently, current owners of version 10 can obtain an upgrade free of charge  by getting in touch by e-mail with CSM at tech@csm-ltd.co.uk. So, if your current model isn't on your program you may well find it on the upgrade. The new scale helicopters are Hughes 500 D, MD520 NOTAR, MD900 Explorer, Huey, Super Cobra, Eurocopter EC-135 and EC-120, whilst the new pod-and-booms are Raptor, Nexus, Ergo, Three Dee and MyStar 30.

Incidentally, the crash I referred to above proved to have damaged my CSM ICG 360 gyro and when I spoke to CSM on the 'phone they quickly recognised what was wrong. I sent it off to them by post on Wednesday afternoon this week (Feb 23) and it was back in this morning's post (Feb 25) fully repaired, checked and ready for installation. That's what I call good service!

If you use a model flight simulator, do please send an e-mail and tell us what you use, what you think of it, how helpful or otherwise you have found it, etc.