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 Eiperle CGM' neXt - RC Flight Simulator, SVK Systems' ClearView, Knife Edge' RealFlight, IPACS' AeroFly and Trasna Technology' AccuRC. 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
Name | Type of aircraft | Price | Software license | Free Demo? | Operating System | Controller Type | Last stable release | External Link |
Absolute RC Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | iOS, Android, Windows phones and tablets | On screen controls | http://www.happybytesapps.com/ | ||||
Aerofly Professional Deluxe | Model planes and helicopters | US$300 | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html | |||
Aerofly RC 7 | Model planes, Helicopters and Drones | Depends on Version | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | https://www.ikarus.net/en/aeroflyrc-7/rc7-features/ | |||
Aerofly RC 8 | Model planes, Helicopters and Drones | Depends on Version | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | https://www.ikarus.net/en/rc8-features/ | |||
AeroSIM RC | Model planes, helicopters, multicopters | €65 | Windows | Real Controller | 2019-02 | http://www.aerosimrc.com/ | ||
AirSim | Multicopters, cars, etc | Windows, Linux | 2019-06 | https://github.com/Microsoft/AirSim | ||||
AccuRC RC Flight Simulator | Model helicopters | US$59 | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.accurc.com/ | |||
R/C Desk Pilot | Model Planes and Helicopters | n/a | Windows | Joystick | http://www.rcdeskpilot.com/ | |||
ClearView | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$40 | Windows, | Joystick or Controller | http://www.rcflightsim.com/ | |||
CRRCsim | Model Planes | n/a | Windows, Mac, Linux | Joystick, Controllers | 2018-07-04 | https://sourceforge.net/projects/crrcsim/ | ||
CSM | Model Planes and Helicopters | UK£69.99 | n/a | DOS, Windows | Real Controllers | 1998 | https://web.archive.org/web/20050830000501/http://www.rcmodels.org/csm/csm_simulator.htm | |
Dave Brown RCFS | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$150 | Windows | Joystick, Controllers | https://web.archive.org/web/20060509083404/http://www.dbproducts.com/store/rcfs2001.htm | |||
Digital Aircraft Modeller | Model Planes | US$40 | Windows | Joystick, controllers | http://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/ | |||
Electric RC Sim | Model planes, quadcopter | US$1.99 | iOS | Touch screen controls | http://jetstripes.com/games/electric-rc-sim/ | |||
FlightGear | Planes, helicopters, model planes. | Flightgear#Commercial redistribution | n/a | Cross-platform | Check categories: & . | 2019-01-29 | http://www.flightgear.org/ | |
Flying Model Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | n/a | Windows | Joystick, controller adapters | http://modelsimulator.com/ | |||
FS One | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$130 | Windows | Real Controller | https://www.fsone.com | |||
Liftoff | Drone Racing Quadcopters | US$20 | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real controller, game controllers | http://www.liftoff-game.com | |||
neXt - CGM RC Flight Simulator | Helicopters, Model Planes, Multicopters and Drone Racing | US$89.90 | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real controller, game controllers | 2019-12-23 | https://next-sim.cgm-online.com/rc-flight-simulator_e.html | ||
PhoenixSim | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$130–$175 | Windows | Real Controller | https://www.rc-thoughts.com/phoenix-sim/ | |||
PicaSim | Model planes | Windows, iOS, Android | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim | ||||
PRE-Flight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$25–$45 | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.preflightsim.com/ | |||
Great Planes RealFlight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$200 | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.realflight.com/ | |||
Mugi Sim | Delta wing | US$1 | Windows, iOS | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | 2019-03-27 | https://baawolf.itch.io/mugi-sim | ||
Quadcopter FX Simulator | Quadcopters | Android, iOS | Touchscreen, Joystick, Controller | http://quadcopterfx.3dcreativeworld.com | ||||
Slope Soaring Simulator | Model planes | Windows, Linux | Joystick | 2006-01-21 | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/ | |||
HELI-X | Model helicopters and planes | . Also version 0.9 is free | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick, Real controllers | 2019-03-01 | http://www.heli-x.net/ | ||
X-Plane | Just about anything | US$30 | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick | http://www.x-plane.com | |||
AlphaMacSoftware's RC Helicopter Simulator | Helicopters | Mac | System Joystick, Real Controllers | http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/index.php | ||||
Ron's RC Flight Simulator | Electric Foamy Model Planes | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | Logitech and Xbox Gamepads, OculusVR | 2013 | http://www.ostafichuk.com/rons-rc-sim/ | |||
R/C Sim Sikorsky | Helicopters | €35 | Windows | Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Real Controllers | http://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html | |||
Reflex XTR2 | Model Planes and Helicopters | €169 | Windows | Real Controllers | https://www.reflex-sim.net | |||
Zephyr Drone Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | US$139.99 | Windows, Mac | Real Controllers | https://www.zephyr-sim.com/ | |||
VelociDrone FPV Racing Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | £20 | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real Controllers | https://www.velocidrone.com/ | |||
FPV FreeRider | Quadcopters/Drones | US$4.99 | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | USB Controllers | 2019-02-05 | https://itch.io/profile/fpv-freerider |