Online sim training

[richardv]

Occasionally I hear about people simming online and getting training/help/advice from other users. How does this work and how do you find people that are willing to help? Do you pay for this sort of thing, or is it just finding helpful people? Does it require a mic/headphones or is it just typing in the message box?

I've been on a few times but it seems more like people showing off with skills/speed far beyond what I could ever do, and not much else.

[BrokeDad]

I know what you mean about people just showing their skills. I usually fly off somewhere out of the way of the main takeoff point/runway where folks are doing their smack 3D. I find my own space and sport fly. Sometimes I land out of the way and watch. If flying a nitro I always kill the engine because of the idle noise while watching. When flying online I always have my engine and rotor noise set to 30% or less.
Every so often I do find somebody helpful who is demonstrating moves and teaching somebody else. I got many pointers when first learning from several folks.
Some hosts prefer only text chatting where others don't mind people talking live. If they don't want that you'll be sure to get a warning to mute your mic.
It can be a problem when someone has a mic open with background noise keeping it active.

Usually late night (depends on your place in the world) is a good time to find people more willing to help as fewer are flying. That is if you can find an active session. I've met a couple of actual team pilots training others. Remember if you don't ask for help you probably won't get any offered.

The most polite and helpful places I've flown are on RF at Sonny's, Steve's, Chikkos, etc. Those are password protected though so you will have to contact the hosts via the forum to ask for access. I know at least one of them frequents HF.

[Steve Graham]

Hi Richard,

If you PM me I'll pass along the password for my site.

Yes a lot of online stuff is not really as effective as it could be. Partially because people just want to socialize and fly and partially because concentration falls off pretty quickly when doing focused training.

I enjoy helping others out when I have time. There's a lot more to learning a motor skill like flying RC helis than meets the eye. Repetition is often suggested and it's important but directed practice and evaluation hold far more promise. I've spent a lot of time as a full scale flight instructor as well as studying various subjects related to the subject of skill progression so have at least a passing knowledge in a few of the concepts.

I don't charge as I have a day job and am happy to help grow the hobby that is kinda struggling right now.

[blade450]

I don't SIM online often, but when I do I usually end up giving some advice to someone who needs it.
Showing off seems useless to me, on the SIM everyone is a 3d master.....IRL is where the true skills show.

You can always ask when you're online if somebody wants to help you, in my experience people don't mind and sometimes you get some real solid advice.

[zomaar]

I only fly online.

90 % of the time I will start a session with a meaningfull name , to avoid the 'generic' overcrowed rooms.

Heli basic hovering etc...
Heli tic toc training etc..
Heli inverted training etc...
Heli orientation training etc...

its best to limit it to heli's and in the past I asked via chat if the ppl would stick more or less the training. (These days I don't seem to care if they do not)

But if you seem to make consitent rooms , after a while you seem to see the same ppl returning and focusing on the chat rooms intend.

with phoenix you can kick and ban , the real idiots....

Don't seem to remember an occasion where I really 'voice chatted' with a guys to share experience , via 'typed' chat most of the time it doesn't go much faster then ' hi , hi , which heli's to do you fly irl ,....)