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.
Custom flying field of the HHAMS Aerodrome created for RealFlight 7.5
Custom flying field of the HHAMS Aerodrome created for Phoenix RC
There are a number of commercial packages available, such as Eiperle CGM's neXt - RC Flight Simulator, SVK Systems' ClearView, Knife Edge Software's RealFlight, IPACS' AeroFly and Trasna Technology's 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 (date) | External Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute RC Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | Free | Proprietary | Yes | iOS, Android, Windows phones and tablets | On screen controls | http://www.happybytesapps.com/ | |
| Aerofly Professional Deluxe | Model planes and helicopters | US$300 | Proprietary | No | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html | |
| Aerofly RC 7 | Model planes, Helicopters and Drones | Depends on Version | Proprietary | No | 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 | Proprietary | No | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | https://www.ikarus.net/en/rc8-features/ | |
| AeroSIM RC | Model planes, helicopters, multicopters | €65 | Hardware keyed | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | 2019-02 | http://www.aerosimrc.com/ |
| AirSim | Multicopters, cars, etc. | Free | MIT License | Yes | Windows, Linux | 2019-06 | https://github.com/Microsoft/AirSim | |
| AccuRC RC Flight Simulator | Model helicopters | US$59 | Hardware keyed | No | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.accurc.com/ | |
| R/C Desk Pilot | Model Planes and Helicopters | Free | Freeware | n/a | Windows | Joystick | http://www.rcdeskpilot.com/ | |
| ClearView | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$40 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, | Joystick or Controller | http://www.rcflightsim.com/ | |
| CRRCsim | Model Planes | Free | GPL | n/a | Windows, Mac, Linux | Joystick, Controllers | 2018-07-04 | https://sourceforge.net/projects/crrcsim/ |
| CSM | Model Planes and Helicopters | UK£69.99 | Proprietary | n/a | DOS, Windows | Real Controllers | 1998 (V10) | https://web.archive.org/web/20050830000501/http://www.rcmodels.org/csm/csm_simulator.htm |
| Dave Brown RCFS | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$150 | Proprietary | No | Windows | Joystick, Controllers | https://web.archive.org/web/20060509083404/http://www.dbproducts.com/store/rcfs2001.htm | |
| Digital Aircraft Modeller | Model Planes | US$40 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Joystick, controllers | http://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/ | |
| Electric RC Sim | Model planes, quadcopter | US$1.99 | Proprietary | Yes | iOS | Touch screen controls | http://jetstripes.com/games/electric-rc-sim/ | |
| FlightGear | Planes, helicopters, model planes. (Flight simulator, not RC) | Free Flightgear#Commercial redistribution | GPL | n/a | Cross-platform | Check categories: hardware (joystick) & R/C. | 2019-01-29 | http://www.flightgear.org/ |
| Flying Model Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | Free | Freeware | n/a | Windows | Joystick, controller adapters | http://modelsimulator.com/ | |
| FS One | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$130 | Proprietary | No | Windows | Real Controller | https://www.fsone.com | |
| Liftoff | Drone Racing Quadcopters | US$20 | Steam profile linked | No | 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 | Proprietary | Yes | 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 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | https://www.rc-thoughts.com/phoenix-sim/ | |
| PicaSim | Model planes | Free | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, iOS, Android | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim | |
| PRE-Flight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$25–$45 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.preflightsim.com/ | |
| Great Planes RealFlight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$200 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Real Controller | http://www.realflight.com/ | |
| Mugi Sim | Delta wing | US$1 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | 2019-03-27 | https://baawolf.itch.io/mugi-sim |
| Quadcopter FX Simulator | Quadcopters | Free | Proprietary | Yes | Android, iOS | Touchscreen, Joystick, Controller | http://quadcopterfx.3dcreativeworld.com | |
| Slope Soaring Simulator | Model planes | Free | GPL | Yes | Windows, Linux | Joystick | 2006-01-21 | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/ |
| HELI-X | Model helicopters and planes | €49 | Proprietary | Yes. 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 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick | http://www.x-plane.com | |
| AlphaMacSoftware's RC Helicopter Simulator | Helicopters | Free | Proprietary | Yes | Mac | System Joystick, Real Controllers | http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/index.php | |
| Ron's RC Flight Simulator | Electric Foamy Model Planes | Free | Ad supported | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (Chrome or Firefox browsers only) | Logitech and Xbox Gamepads, OculusVR | 2013 | http://www.ostafichuk.com/rons-rc-sim/ |
| R/C Sim Sikorsky | Helicopters | €35 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Real Controllers | http://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html | |
| Reflex XTR2 | Model Planes and Helicopters | €169 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | Real Controllers | https://www.reflex-sim.net | |
| Zephyr Drone Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | US$139.99 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, Mac | Real Controllers | https://www.zephyr-sim.com/ | |
| VelociDrone FPV Racing Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | £20 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real Controllers | https://www.velocidrone.com/ | |
| FPV FreeRider | Quadcopters/Drones | US$4.99 | Proprietary | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | USB Controllers | 2019-02-05 | https://itch.io/profile/fpv-freerider |
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External links
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