The Flying Model Simulator (FMS) is a 3D simulation of a flying R/C model, which was developed by a couple of German programmers, Michael and Roman Möller. The FMS is a freeware program that can be copied and distributed to anyone, provided that all files are intact. It cannot be sold, except for shipping and handling charges, and commercial use of the FMS is prohibited.

The FMS homepage can be accessed by clicking on the logo at the top of this page. The latest version of FMS and several of the earlier versions can be downloaded from the FMS page. The earlier versions, 1.60 and lower, are DOS programs that are like almost all of the other DOS simulators, both commercial and freeware. Also like many of the commercial packages, it offered the option of using a trainer cord interface to a transmitter or any PC joystick. These older versions of FMS were perfectly fine for practice but the wireframe graphics leave a lot to be desired. The only English version of the older software was version 1.51 for DOS.

Version 5.0 Beta 5 of the FMS software is a DirectX 7.0 application, which means that it only runs on Windows 95/98/ME and requires that DirectX 7.0 and appropriate hardware are installed for it to be able to run. The manual states that a Pentium 200Mhz or higher processor is required, and while it does run, it is choppy enough to be irritating. As far as video hardware, any DirectX 7.0 compatible video card will work, but the better ones, Nvidea, Ati, etc., will give a more pleasing look.

The simulator includes one (1) "world" in which models are flown but it is fairly certain that more are in the works. It has seven (7) airplanes and two (2) helicopters to fly. They include a fairly even cross section of the currently most popular planes, but they are about as "generic" as possible. A biplane, pattern plane, trainer and glider are included among the others. The physics of the simulator are at least good enough to really feel the difference in the slow flying plane and the pattern plane.

This particular version is still in all German. This means that all of the dialog boxes and information are in German. If a user is not fluent in German, there may be difficulty in finding a command; for instance, how to calibrate the sticks. Many of the German words are close enough to the English equivalent, but this only is for some of the words. One way of helping to overcome this problem is to just try each of the commands, and make a note of what each does. It does not take long to find all of the commands required to start flying. By clicking on the menu command "Sprache", the menues can be changed to English.

There are a few individuals who sell interface cables for about $15 or an adapter box can be purchased for about $85 so that a transmitter can be used with this and any other simulator or game that uses a joystick. Another option is bo build an adapter cable. In a HTML document that is included in this program, there are schematics and instructions for making a cable, but they are in German. These manuals are now available in English from another source.

This simulator is great for those who would like to have fun with R/C planes and helicopters as well as current flyers that want to practice on those bad weather days. Is it as good as the $200+ simulator? No, but this price is much better for people who would rather spend the money on another few gallons of fuel or another aircraft.