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	iOS, 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
Liftoff	Drone Racing Quadcopters	$20	Steam profile linked	No	Windows, Mac, Linux	Real controller, game controllers	http://www.liftoff-game.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/

References