Power Switch: Great Planes RealFlight G5
Jay Smith
MANY AEROMODELERS have turned to RC flight simulators, either to help teach us to fly or to push our skills further using a system that has no emotional investment. Repairing virtual RC aircraft is as simple as pushing the space bar or reset button on the transmitter.
My first experience with RealFlight goes back to G2, when I was looking to step up from FMS (Flying Model Simulator). It was nice to have a dedicated USB transmitter, and I used it so much that I wore out the throttle stick. Even though it was beyond warranty, after one call to technical support I received a replacement transmitter free of charge.
This level of support, as well as the features of the program, led me to stick with RealFlight and upgrade to G3, G3.5, G4, and G4.5. Each new version added more elements, such as the break-apart feature for collisions, online gameplay, and the ability to fly off of water.
The release of G5 offers a whole new level of online play, with Combat. These events include streamer cutting, paintball, rocket launching, and machine guns. G5 Combat is best flown from the First Person Video (FPV) perspective, and some of the selected aircraft include improved cockpit details.
My first opportunity to try Combat in G5 was at the iHobby Expo in Rosemont, Illinois, in October. I was a bit concerned that cockpit-view Combat might be a little too arcade and less of a tool for becoming a better pilot.
I quickly learned that it is fun to dogfight with other players and that you have to be smooth on the sticks to keep up with the movements of your flying target. Even using the rudder helps get a tighter turn on opponents and allows you to spray them with machine guns from wingtip to wingtip.
Flying Combat at iHobby was fun and provided me with the opportunity to fly against as many as three other players. Playing via the Internet gives you the capability to customize the entire experience, from the airport to the type of airplane and number of players—as many as 32. Dogfighting with a dozen people can get intense!
Installation
Setting up RealFlight G5 is a breeze, thanks to the fact that installation requires only one DVD. During this process you will be prompted to enter the serial number of the software (located on the jewel case) and the USB transmitter. Then you can register the software and check for updates. It is recommended that you get the latest version; players with different versions might not be able to play online.
A great feature of RealFlight is that once you have authenticated the software and transmitter, you can run the program without having the DVD in the drive.
Once installed, you have two ways to launch G5: by using the RealFlight launcher or by using the RealFlight G5 icon. I use the launcher because it checks for updates every time I start the program.
Navigation
If you have experience with previous versions of RealFlight, you will find the navigation in G5 to be similar, only with more options. Since G4, selecting aircraft, flying sites, and other in-game options can be done via the transmitter as well as on-screen.
RealFlight is a menu-driven program with a list of options across the top of the screen. It contains submenus and pull-down lists for related choices within the program. You can access the menu bar by simply clicking on the menu item you want to expand or by pressing the first letter of the menu item on your keyboard, such as "S" for Simulation.
I won't go into great detail about navigation, because that is covered in the manual, but one of the first things many users want to try are the different flying sites and aircraft. The locations are in the Simulation menu item, then Select Airport. Airplanes are under the Aircraft menu item, then Select Aircraft.
RealFlight G5 has a total of 81 flyable aircraft, which include 20 helicopters and six sailplanes. There are 32 flying sites; nine of them are PhotoFields that use high-resolution digital images of real locations.
You might want to calibrate your controller, which is done by selecting Controller and then Controller Calibration. This allows you to confirm that all sticks, switches, and knobs are working. Once calibrated, it will be easier to trim aircraft in the simulator.
RealFlight G5 Details
Minimum Recommended System
(Some graphical features might be disabled; aerodynamic calculations will remain high in quality.)
- Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (local administrator access required)
- Intel Pentium 1.0 GHz or equivalent
- 512 MB RAM
- 4 GB hard-drive space
- DVD drive
- 3D accelerated video with 32 MB dedicated video memory; full Windows DirectX 9 compliant (Pixel Shader 1.4 support)
Optimal System
(for best graphical performance)
- Dual-core 2.4 GHz CPU
- 2 GB RAM
- 3D accelerated video with 512 MB dedicated video memory (Pixel Shader 3.0 support)
Multiplayer Requirements
- Broadband Internet connection
- Computer microphone for voice chat
- InterLink Elite Controller
- USB port
- Compatible FM or FM-selectable transmitter (if using the interface mode)
The connectors on the InterLink Elite cord and included adapters make the InterLink Elite compatible with the trainer jack on most Futaba and all JR, Spektrum and Tower Hobbies systems. Special adapters for use with most older Futaba and Hitec systems are available separately. Activation is required.
Review System (used for this review)
- Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 3)
- Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Sony DVD drive
- NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT video card (512 MB)
- Realtek High Definition Audio
RealFlight G5 costs $199.98 for the full version and $79.99 for the upgrade.
Multiplayer
The new multiplayer functionality, especially in Combat, is a blast. It's a nice break from focused flying, and it gives you the benefit of being able to finesse the sticks while competing with other pilots.
As a player, you have the option of hosting or joining a session. Hosting gives you all of the options, such as the name of the session, number of players, and type of session played. As the host, you have total control over the online session.
If you want to play, choose to join and select a session that can accept additional players. This will quickly get you into the action and is a good way to learn about the different options.
In multiplayer, each user can set up a pilot profile. That allows him or her to pick a name, choose an avatar, select a streamer color, and have a tagline. Another cool feature is hours logged, which shows the amount of time spent flying on the simulator. I was surprised by all the time I spent flying; it adds up quickly.
Voice chat is another great feature that has been improved in G5. Starting with G4, you no longer have to type on your keyboard to communicate. With the use of a microphone and speakers, or headset, you can communicate online in real time.
I chose to use a gaming headset that has a built-in microphone from Microsoft. Being plug-and-play, it requires only an open USB port on the computer. There's no messing around with the sound card; it works great to use to talk to other players, and it helps cut down on external noises.
When using chat, you can adjust in-game sounds from normal, reduced, or off, to allow you to better communicate with other players. This is controlled under Multiplayer and Simulation Sounds.
Combat
Since I received my copy of RealFlight G5, I have spent more time enjoying the various types of Combat than anything else. You can fly with biplanes (Sopwith Pup), warbirds (P-51 Mustang), or jets (L-39).
Each aircraft has a detailed cockpit and is capable of firing machine guns and rockets. Using the Pup or P-51, you can also fire paintballs.
If you prefer your Combat up-close, streamer cut is another option, using foamies, jets, or warbirds. When you cut another player's streamer, his or her aircraft is reset on the runway to start again.
Targeting helps you follow your opponent, and you can choose any of the players in the game to be targeted. This feature will also provide you with that person's name, score, and ranking.
To target a player, you can use the QuickSelect button on the transmitter. You can also press the "[" and "]" keys on the keyboard to cycle through targets.
In-game pop-ups show health, ammunition, and bonus points. It does seem arcade-like, but it helps to get restocked when you are in the middle of a huge furball with several pilots on your tail.
Training
There are several training aids in RealFlight G5. For airplanes there is a takeoff trainer, landing trainer, airplane hover trainer, and virtual flight instruction. Those for helicopter pilots include hover trainer, helicopter autorotation trainer, helicopter orientation trainer, and virtual flight instruction.
I have enjoyed using the Virtual Flight Instruction, with which you can receive training from some of the top names in RC including John Glezellis, Jason Noll, Frank Noll Jr., and Jason Shulman. Included voice instruction with the aircraft completes the sequence with an on-screen radio to walk you through the exact movements to perform basic maneuvers, up to 3-D flying.
The control menu can be helpful if you want to master a complicated maneuver and don't want to take control of all channels at once. You can pick each channel you want to control, and RealFlight will control the rest. This allows you to build confidence and master each control input when you are ready.
Flying
Once you have selected your aircraft and flying site, you are ready to fly—unless you want to change other parameters. I also like to dabble with wind and weather. Flying in wind is part of the hobby, and I enjoy setting up crosswinds in which to practice landings.
Not only can you set wind speeds and wind direction, but you can also adjust wind gusts. It is better to get comfortable with these conditions on the simulator, so that you will be more comfortable with how your model might react to them in real life.
If you need a break from focused flying, turn up the wind to 20–30 mph and fly. Doing torque rolls into the wind and attempting to hold maneuvers is not only challenging, but it is also fun.
Another feature of G5 is flight failures. These will allow you to experience reversed servos, a dead engine, or radio range or interference issues.
There are several other features to choose from, but structural integrity is definitely one of the most interesting. With this, you can break parts from your aircraft, such as landing gear on a hard touchdown or the rudder on a tail touch. Even wings can come off, and the simulator allows you to keep flying while the aircraft mimics the loss of these components.
In reality, your best bet is to ditch a damaged aircraft if you think you don't have full control. But on the simulator it is challenging to try to successfully land a broken aircraft on the runway.
Another interesting function is the new onboard cameras. It can be accessed through View or by pressing the "C" key.
This feature allows you to place a camera almost anywhere or select from fixed locations, such as the nose, tail, or cockpit. You can also put the camera in a movable module and rotate it with a channel, to achieve almost any camera angle you could want.
RealFlight has helped me learn several maneuvers using versions G2 to G5. With the help and confidence from the simulator, I successfully transitioned those moves to the real thing at the flying field. I started performing everything from inverted and knife-edge flight to Four Point Rolls and Slow Rolls by mastering them in front of the computer.
Aircraft Editor, Downloads, and Expansion Packs
RealFlight contains an aircraft editor that allows you to change or fine-tune any parameters. The AccuModel editor gives you control of all aspects of the aircraft, and you have more than 1,500 airfoils at your disposal. You can also access the Knife Edge Swap Pages online to download aircraft and flying sites that others have created or modified.
As I write this, 262 aircraft are available for download specifically for G5. Another 2,499 are available under G4 and G4.5, which will also work with G5.
In addition to obtaining all of the free aircraft and flying sites, you can purchase expansion packs. These give you access to even more aircraft and flying sites that Knife Edge Software has designed. Six expansion packs are currently available.
If you have a version of RealFlight from G3 to G4.5, the G5 upgrade is a nice option; an upgrade is available for $79.99. This allows anyone to use his or her existing controller and get the benefit of all the new features without dealing with rebates or the possibility of having to sell an earlier version.
Before you purchase G5, be sure your computer meets or exceeds the optimal system requirements posted on the box and included in this review. That is necessary to take full advantage of all that this system has to offer.
To learn more about Knife Edge Software—and to get an opportunity to win a free copy of RealFlight G5—visit the “About Us” section on page 70 of this issue.
MA
Jay Smith [email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor
Great Planes Model Distributors Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61826 (217) 398-8970 www.realflight.com
Sources
- Knife Edge Software: www.knifeedge.com
- Knife Edge Swap Pages: www.knifeedge.com/forums/downloads.php
Other Published Reviews
- Fly RC: April 2010
- Model Airplane News: April 2010
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
