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 AccuRC, 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 | $59 | 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 | https://sourceforge.net/projects/crrcsim/ |
Dave Brown RCFS | Model Planes and Helicopters | $150 | EULA | No | Windows | Joystick, Controllers | https://web.archive.org/web/20060509083404/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/ |
FS One | 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 | https://web.archive.org/web/20121230202019/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/ |
Zephyr Drone Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | $139.99 | EULA | Yes | Windows, Mac | Real Controllers | https://www.zephyr-sim.com/ |
VelociDrone FPV Racing Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | £20 | EULA | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real Controllers | https://www.velocidrone.com/ |
FPV FreeRider | Quadcopters/Drones | $4.99 | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | USB Controllers | https://itch.io/profile/fpv-freerider | |