RC flight simulator
An RC flight simulator is a computer program that allows pilots of radio-controlled aircraft to practice on a computer, without the risk and expense of damaging a real model. Besides the obvious use of training beginners, they are also used for practising new aerobatics, evaluating a model before buying it, and to allow flight practice when conditions are otherwise unsuitable. Most simulators allow the use of real R/C transmitters to control the sim.
There are a number of commercial packages available, such as Phoenix R/C, Hangar 9's FS One, SVK Systems ClearView, Great Planes' RealFlight and IPACS AeroFly. There are also some freeware packages, as listed below.
Most simulators allow the importing of add-ons such as new models and landscapes. There are many web sites dedicated to offering free content like this.
Some of these simulators are dedicated to R/C flight, while others are generic simulators that can simulate both full-scale and R/C flight.
Feature Comparison
Simulation | Type of aircraft | Price | License | Free Demo? | Operating System | Controller Type | External Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolute RC Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | Free | EULA | Yes | Apple, Android, Windows phones and tablets | On screen controls | http://www.happybytesapps.com/ |
Aerofly Professional Deluxe | Model planes and helicopters | $300 | EULA | No | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html |
AeroSIM RC | Model planes, helicopters, multicopters | €65 | Hardware keyed | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.aerosimrc.com/ |
AccuRC RC Flight Simulator | Model helicopters | $129.99 | Hardware keyed | No | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.accurc.com/ |
R/C Desk Pilot | Model Planes and Helicopters | $0 | Freeware | n/a | Windows | Joystick | http://www.rcdeskpilot.com/ |
ClearView | Model Planes and Helicopters | $40 | EULA | Yes | Windows, | Joystick or Controller | http://www.rcflightsim.com/ |
CRRCsim | Model Planes | $0 | Freeware/OpenSource | n/a | Windows, Mac, Linux | Joystick, Controllers | http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/crrcsim/index.php |
Dave Brown RCFS | Model Planes and Helicopters | $150 | EULA | No | Windows | Joystick, Controllers | http://www.dbproducts.com/store/rcfs2001.htm |
Digital Aircraft Modeller | Model Planes | $40 | EULA | Yes | Windows | Joystick, controllers | http://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/ |
Electric RC Sim | Model planes, quadcopter | US$1.99 | EULA | Yes | iOS | Touch screen controls | http://jetstripes.com/games/electric-rc-sim/ |
FlightGear | Planes, helicopters, model planes. | $0 | GPL | n/a | Cross-platform | Check categories: hardware (joystick) & R/C. | http://www.flightgear.org/ |
Flying Model Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | $0 | Freeware | n/a | Windows | Joystick, controller adapters | http://modelsimulator.com/ |
FSOne | Model Planes and Helicopters | $130 | EULA | No | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.fsone.com |
Phoenix R/C | Model Planes and Helicopters | $130–$175 | EULA | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.phoenix-sim.com |
PicaSim | Model planes | $0–$5 | EULA | Yes | Windows, iOS, Android | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim |
PRE-Flight | Model Planes and Helicopters | $25–$45 | EULA | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.preflightsim.com/ |
Great Planes RealFlight | Model Planes and Helicopters | $200 | EULA | Yes[1] | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.realflight.com/ |
Mugi Sim | Mugi slope soaring glider | $1 | EULA | Yes | Windows, iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | http://www.baawolf.com/mugisim_about.php |
Quadcopter FX Simulator | Quadcopters | $0 - $5 | Yes | Android, iOS | Touchscreen, Joystick, Controller | http://quadcopterfx.3dcreativeworld.com | |
Slope Soaring Simulator | Model planes | $0 | GNU GPL | n/a | Windows, Linux | Joystick | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/ |
HELI-X | Model helicopters | €49 | EULA | Yes. Also version 0.9 is free | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick, Real controllers | http://www.heli-x.net/ |
X-Plane | Just about anything | $30 | EULA | Yes | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick | http://www.x-plane.com |
AlphaMacSoftware's RC Helicopter Simulator | Helicopters | $0 | ? | Yes | Mac | System Joystick, Real Controllers | http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/index.php |
Ron's RC Flight Simulator | Electric Foamy Model Planes | $0 | Ad supported | n/a | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (Chrome or Firefox browsers only) | Logitech and Xbox Gamepads, OculusVR | http://www.ostafichuk.com/rons-rc-sim/ |
R/C Sim Sikorsky | Helicopters | €35 | EULA | Yes | Windows | Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Real Controllers | http://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html |
Reflex XTR2 | Model Planes and Helicopters | €169 | EULA | Yes | Windows | Real Controllers | http://www.simwerk.de/reflex-xtr-flugsimulator/ |