Phoenix Flight Simulator Download
Nakita Heitmann
CAE Phoenix provides simulator-based training programs for regional aircrafts in the Phoenix area. The training facility, adjacent to Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), features full-flight simulators for the Bombardier CRJ 200, CRJ 700 and CRJ 900, and for the Embraer E170 aircraft types.
Aircraft simulators have been around almost as long as airplanes. Nowadays, simulators are technologically advanced enough to replicate the experience of being in a real aircraft. Aerial Engagement provides Phoenix Valley pilots with the opportunity to use these simulators.
Until recently, simulators were only available for flight school students. We have now made it accessible to anyone, including pilots, instructors, and students by creating a public space. All you need to do is let us know what you want to rent and when you need it, and we will reserve a spot for you.
Flight simulators can help pilots become proficient faster, which means less time spent on training. In addition, they can help save both students and pilots a significant amount of money over the cost of renting an actual aircraft. The total cost for two hours Hobbs time in a rental aircraft is typically around $600. However, at Aerial Engagement you can save a bundle by joining our Unlimited Flight Club. This gets you unlimited flight simulator time for only $1,299.
Aerial Engagement offers the Unlimited Flight Club for Private Pilot and instrument students, which allows them to access flight simulators for an unlimited amount of time until they take their check ride. This helps them become proficient pilots faster and save money on training costs.
One of the most important advances in the R/C hobby in the past few years, in my book, is the Flight Simulator. The cost savings in repair and replacement of airframes and equipment will quickly justify the cost. If it is a new pilot learning to fly for the first time, learning new maneuvers, or just keeping the fingers limber over the winter months, a good simulator is the way to go.
The new Phoenix R/C Pro Flight Simulator 2.5 is now on the market complete with a Spektrum DX5e transmitter. This is not just a mock up of a transmitter, but a fully functioning, full range, 5 channel Spektrum DX5e 2.4 GHz transmitter. This transmitter can be bound to the BNF planes offered by Horizon Hobbie. A person can fly one of the BNF planes on the simulator then get the same plane, bind it to the transmitter and take the same controller used on the simulator to the flying field and fly the same plane for real. You can also buy receivers and bind them to the transmitter for other planes.
The Phoenix Simulator has Photo Realistic flying sites, and state of the art physics. The aircraft included run the range from trainer, to full on 3D capable aircraft. There are over 100 models to chose from including fixed wing powered and unpowered, helicopters and even an auto-gyro. Brands of models included from Horizon are E-Flight, Hanger 9, parkzone, Blade, and JR.
The Phoenix Flight Simulator and Spektrum DX5e come in a box packaged like most radio systems. When you open the box you find the radio manual, quick start guide and program disk in the foam on the outside. Open the foam packaging and you will find the DX5e transmitter, USB connection, adaptor and batteries for the transmitter.
Place the disk in your computer and it auto-starts. Load the program and the included Direct X program. Connect the USB connection and allow the computer to install the Human Interface device. You will need to restart you computer. The program suggests that you make sure that you have the latest drivers for your sound card and graphics adaptor.
Once you have restarted your computer, the program starts from an icon on your desktop. When the program starts it will check for updates. Install the updates and any of the additional models you want. The program will then restart to finish the installation of the updates. It's now time to connect your DX5e to the controller cord. Use the supplied adaptor on the end of the cord and plug it into the radio. The radio will power up when plug in the controller cord.
In the System menu you will find the following sub menus. Setup new transmitter, to use if you add a transmitter for the first time. Your Transmitter,used to calibrate your transmitter and check transmitter status. Your controls, used to switch between transmitters already added and to edit your transmitter setup. Your keys, used to check or change Mapped hotkey commands. Program setup, it has the following sub-menus: General, allows you set camera speed and interface theme; Physics, sets physics quality, simulation speed and how long to reset after a crash; Display, for graphics quality and resolution; Sound; Units; and finally language setup. In the Model menu you will find the sub menus to change, edit, position and reset the model.
The Flying site is used for selecting the flying site, seting up the weather, and to add a landing target or F3C box. When selecting the flying site, the window in the selection box pans a full 360 degrees to show the entire site. There are numerous flying sites including flying fields, sloap soaring sites, lake side sites, and a sports hall for indoorflying.
The view menu allows you to select from different options such as autozoom, and ground always in view. It also is used to set up various displays such as wind direction, a variometer that shows vertical speed and the controller to show stick position.
Multiplayer allows you to go online with other pilots from around the world. There are locations for North and South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, Asia, and a selection for Other locations.
All the added features such as the bomb drop and ability to fly with other online are great, but, as with any simulator the true test is the physics. The Phoenix simulator is right up there as one of the top of the line as physics go. You can even tweak the physics for your personal style.
One thing that I did notice out of the box is that some of the models are a little overly snappy for my taste. This can easily be corrected by editing the model. On most, all it took was a small change in CG, just like on an actual model.
I started out with the Extra after just a few flights I did go in and move the CG forward a little to suit my tastes, then went about putting the thing through it's paces. I was happy with the response and flight characteristics. I played with the low speed and high speed stall characteristics, the tumbling capability and the precision capabilities. I even tried out the streamers.
The supplied DX5e has a dual rate switch that limits the travel of the flight surfaces to about half of full defliction, which is useful when working with precision manuevers. You can also go into the transmitter setup in the program and tweak the controls to your flying style. You can even do some mixing, that is on all the time, and program curves into the different channels.
After working with the Extra for a little while I started looking at the different flying sites. I got to looking at one of the water sites and saw that it had an area for standard planes to take off and land. So I had to play with dipping the tail. The water physics is a lot of fun. You can dip the tail of your aircraft, or drag a wing tip and the reaction of the water is very realistic. If you crash into the water the plane will take a plunge then pop to the surface and the parts will float there for a short time.
The next stop on my tour of the program was the slope soaring site. I switched over to one of the slopers and away I went. Just like when I get out with the real thing, I dot to low a few times and would have had to take a walk, and a few times got too slow on turn and tip stalled into the side of the hill. Again the physics make you feel like you are out on the hill.
For the indoor planes and helicopters there is a sports hall. The foamies fly flawlessly like their real world counterparts. Everything from just buzzing around with the Blade MCX to attempting the things you see at the E-Toc. One thing that I would like to see added in an upgrade is a few vpp foamies.
There is one night flying site that is similar to being out on a night with just about a quarter moon. You can make out the ground and things around but it is dark. There are fixed wing and helicopters setup for night flying. Both stand out nicely against the dark landscape. Again it would be great if there were a few more models for the night flying site, but there are more models being released on a regular basis.
After working with the planes for awhile, I switched over to the helicopters. I have never done much with helicopters other than the Blade MCX and work on simulators. I was able to fly around with the trainer machine for awhile and even hover in place for a little while, but I could not even come close to putting the helicopter side of the program through it's paces. I was able to get some decent flight with some of the scale machines.
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