Fun Toy

Best Review on Swann SWTOY BSWANN US Stealth Helicopter Camera

This is an impressive program that is very realistic and helpful in improving your piloting skills for all sorts of model aircraft. I have used this to fly both power planes and Helicopters. I run this software on a Win7 system with no problems, it's smooth with no stutter. This software comes with a USB cable that allows you to plug directly into your Spectrum or JR radio. I have tested it with a DX7 and a JR 9503, both work great (I know it also works with a DX6). The cable has a circuit that verifies you have a valid license, and one really nice benefit is that for the years I've had this, I've continued to receive free updates. I originally purchased v2.5 a couple years ago and it's up to v4.0 now and I still get updates, support, and new models. Very nice! I know the competitors charge upgrade fees every year.

To use the software you setup a model on your radio specifically for the software. I called my "model" Phoenix. Then you go through a tuning process where you move the sticks and switches to show the software just what you have and how things work. Once you have the software and radio communicating well, it'll work very nicely. The setup process is simple and can easily be changed if you want to setup another radio.

I learned the hard way to fly via a very time consuming cycle of building for a month, flying a little and then building for days, weeks and months again. It was a difficult process and took years to actually learn to fly well. The good news is that I learned to build really well in that time! Due to my experience, I didn't have much faith in a simulator. My friends kept telling me to try a simulator and after several crashes that hurt my pocketbook, I decided to give this tool a try. I have been very impressed with this software. It works better than I expected and is a very useful and functional tool for improving your skills.

The software features include real flying sites that are actual pictures of real places. Very cool and impressive fields, dozens of planes, gliders and helicopters of all types. I like trying other models to see how they perform compared to the ones I fly. This software includes most of the Horizon Hobbies models which are nice to fly with since so many people are flying BNF models lately. I also like Flying the Align Helicopters since that's what I've been flying lately and they are here too.

To use this as a tool rather than a game requires you to focus as if it's a real flight and treat it like one. Since I'm currently working on Heli skills, I have it default to my current helicopter (Align 450 Pro, and now Gaui X5). I have the radio programmed so the functions, switches and actions simulate the model I will be flying in real life. I also use a watch timer and time my flights so that I'm simulating the timer on the radio and working to fly, not crash and then land all in a realistic situation. By treating it like a real flight and focusing I've seen and experienced real improvements in my heli flying. I've been able to practice difficult moves on the simulator and once I have them down and don't crash I've been able to take that to the real heli and fly those moves there.

In real life there are things that are more difficult than the simulator, for example tail washout or winds. Still the simulator gives me an amazing way to improve and is really beneficial during inclement weather.

I highly recommend purchasing this, especially if you already have a radio that will work with it. It's a valuable tool that will easily pay for itself in saved time and expense by avoiding crashes. Any of the Specktrum radios will work with this. I recommend a DX6 or better since you'll want to have the more advanced features as you move up through your models. The DX7 is a great radio for this, especially if you are flying helicopters.

5 stars, great simulator, and with free upgrades for years is an amazing value.

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