Horizon Hobby Releases FS One at the
2006 Toledo Weak Signals Conference
 Every year on the first weekend of April, RC modelers converge at the SeaGate Center in Toledo, Ohio for the perennial Toledo Weak Signals Conference. This year was the 52nd annual exposition where manufacturers, hobby dealers, and model builders all have a three-day opportunity to see the new models people have built over the winter, the new products the manufacturers release, and an opportunity to talk with all the people they have read about in the magazines or seen at flying events.
It is also a time to meet with longtime friends and discuss the offerings that are new and creative. There are new airplanes, accessories, engines, electric motors, batteries and flight simulators. This year the flight simulators were a major attraction. The exhibitors with simulator displays were inundated from the time the doors opened until they were pulled away from the monitors at closing time.
Flight Simulators at the Show
With the popularity of electric models, a large number of young people are being introduced to the RC flying hobby at the same time many accomplished flyers want to sharpen their skills or feel comfortable with a new model before exposing it to the harsh realities of real life. As a result, simulators have become very popular and almost a necessity. Learning to fly indoor 3D models is particularly challenging without a simulator. The simulators have a familiar video game "feel" that many young people are comfortable with.
Horizon Hobby, Hobbico, Ikarus, MRC and some others had simulators on display. With the exception of FS One at the Horizon Hobby exhibit, all of the other simulators were previously available. Subsequently, it was a popular idea to move from one to the other during the show just to see how they "stack" up against each other. It was also obvious that many people are trying to make a decision as to which simulator to purchase.
Horizon Hobby introduced the brand new FS One Flight Simulator from Hangar 9 and developed by InertiaSoft. FS One has raised the bar for flight simulators. A casual observer at Toledo would probably ask, "Why is the crowd over there?" All during the show, a crowd of people 4 to 6 persons deep surrounded the three display monitors. There simply was not enough time for everyone to get a chance to "fly" the simulator. Hangar 9 and InertiaSoft have been able to capture not only extreme screen resolution but also the actual feel of the specific model a pilot has selected. The models onscreen exhibit the same aerodynamics and control response that the pilot will experience when flying the actual RC model. This is the core feature of the new FS One simulator.
FS One Features Include
• Superior aerodynamic modeling
• Extensive high-alpha (high angle of attack) "post stall" effects
• High-fidelity aerodynamic modeling that accurately depicts the effects encountered during 3D maneuvers
• Realistic stalls, including tip stalls
• Engine/propeller torque, gyroscopic effects and more
• Five 3D and over 20 photo-panoramic flying sites to choose from
• Over 40 different user-selectable photorealistic skyscapes
• Over 30 High Fidelity models to fly, all with stunning visual features and all adjustable with FS One’s powerful Aircraft Editor and Scaling Wizard tools
• Complete Control Customization: Use FS One’s TacCon Controller or your own JR, Hitec, Airtronics, or Futaba transmitter. Airtronics and Futaba Micro Plug adapter cables are sold separately.
When asked about their opinions of the simulators, it seems many Toledo attendees may have had one opinion before having flown the simulator, but after having experienced FS One, they were wide-eyed and remarked about how much it feels and responds like the actual model does when out at the field flying. The realism is a bit uncanny at first but is easy to adopt. The pilot will select a model, and then the model can be set up to conform to the pilot’s preferences. FS One is offered with the TacCon controller included with the program or the pilot can use his own personal transmitter. Note: FS One is also offered without the TacCon controller. The interesting part is that the transmitter can be set up using all of the features that are available in a specific radio transmitter. Throw rates, dual rates, end point adjustments, sub trims, mixes and on and on. Helicopters are also no problem, offering the pilot a chance to save many dollars in spare parts by becoming proficient on the simulator before going to the real thing. There are also sailplanes available; the pilot sets the wind speeds and other parameters. A soaring pilot even has the opportunity to work on dynamic soaring. There are so many features that even a short demonstration flight caused excitement among all who tried it at Toledo.
Realistic flying fields have been a strong point in the other simulators. FS One takes the realism to a higher level. The five 3D venues bring you right to the flying field without even leaving your computer desk. The 20 full panoramic and 40 photorealistic skyscapes offer pilots the opportunity to experience a huge variety of different flying situations. Indoor flying will result in crashes if you hit the walls but of course there is no need to purchase a new model. Flying the same model at different fields gives the pilot a chance to become familiar with different runways and field obstacles. A few flights on different virtual fields and you will feel confident in any environment.
The overall performance of RC flight simulators is pretty amazing compared to what was available just three or four years ago. The industry has come a long way, and now FS One takes the performance to new heights providing an experience that is as close as you can get to actual real-life flying at a local club field. After having the virtual flight experience using FS One, the real value of the system becomes evident. Fliers are now going to be able to arrive at the flying field with the skills necessary to make successful flights, due in no small part to the realistic flying experience they can have with FS One. Full-scale aviation has been using sophisticated simulators, and now RC modelers are able to get a similar level of experience before they fly their latest model creation.
FS One Is the Simulator to Get
After having experienced FS One, many people were asking "When can I get it?" Or the next question is almost always "How much does it cost?" The answer: It will be available in Summer 2006. The cost is a very reasonable $179.99 for use with your transmitter, or $209.99 including the TacCon controller. This new entry into the RC flight simulator market will offer many new features that pilots have been asking for. The response will be very enthusiastic if the interest at the 52nd Toledo Weak Signals show is any indication. |