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's neXt - RC Flight Simulator, SVK Systems' ClearView, Knife Edge Software's RealFlight, IPACS' AeroFly and Trasna Technology's AccuRC. There are also a number of free simulators, with being the most well known and most feature rich.
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

NameType of aircraftPriceSoftware licenseFree Demo?Operating SystemController TypeLast stable release External Link
Absolute RC SimulatorModel Planes and HelicoptersiOS, Android, Windows phones and tabletsOn screen controlshttp://www.happybytesapps.com/
Aerofly Professional DeluxeModel planes and helicoptersUS$300Windows, MacIncluded or controllerhttp://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html
Aerofly RC 7Model planes, Helicopters and Drones€40+Windows, MacIncluded or controller2015-08-27https://www.ikarus.net/en/aeroflyrc-7/rc7-features/
Aerofly RC 8Model planes, Helicopters and Drones€99+Windows, MacIncluded or controllerhttps://www.ikarus.net/en/rc8-features/
AeroSIM RCModel planes, helicopters, multicopters€65WindowsReal Controller2019-02http://www.aerosimrc.com/
AirSimMulticopters, cars, etc.Windows, Linux2020-04https://github.com/Microsoft/AirSim
AccuRC RC Flight SimulatorModel helicoptersUS$59WindowsReal Controllerhttp://www.accurc.com/
WingsWings and planes including FPV racing$36FPS check onlyWindowsAny analog USB controller2023-09 https://www.wings-sim.com/index.php
R/C Desk PilotModel Planes and Helicoptersn/aWindowsJoystick2017-06http://www.rcdeskpilot.com/
ClearViewModel Planes and HelicoptersUS$40Windows,Joystick or Controllerhttp://www.rcflightsim.com/
CRRCsimModel Planesn/aWindows, Mac, LinuxJoystick, Controllers2018-07-04https://sourceforge.net/projects/crrcsim/
CSMModel Planes and HelicoptersUK£69.99n/aDOS, WindowsReal Controllers1998 https://web.archive.org/web/20050830000501/http://www.rcmodels.org/csm/csm_simulator.htm
Dave Brown RCFSModel Planes and HelicoptersUS$150WindowsJoystick, Controllershttps://web.archive.org/web/20060509083404/http://www.dbproducts.com/store/rcfs2001.htm
Digital Aircraft ModellerModel PlanesUS$40WindowsJoystick, controllershttp://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/
Electric RC SimModel planes, quadcopterUS$1.99iOSTouch screen controlshttp://jetstripes.com/games/electric-rc-sim/
FlightGearPlanes, helicopters, model planes. Flightgear#Commercial redistributionn/aCross-platformCheck categories: & .2019-01-29http://www.flightgear.org/
Flying Model SimulatorModel Planes and Helicoptersn/aWindowsJoystick, controller adaptershttp://modelsimulator.com/
FS OneModel PlanesWindowsReal Controllers, USB Simulator Controllers2022-09-06https://www.fsone.com
SeligSIM Model PlanesWindowsReal Controllers, USB Simulator Controllers2025-03-25https://www.seligsim.com
LiftoffDrone Racing QuadcoptersUS$20Windows, Mac, LinuxReal controller, game controllershttp://www.liftoff-game.com
neXt - CGM RC Flight SimulatorHelicopters, Model Planes, Multicopters and Drone RacingUS$89.90Windows, Mac, LinuxReal controller, game controllers2019-12-23https://next-sim.cgm-online.com/rc-flight-simulator_e.html
PhoenixSimModel Planes and HelicoptersUS$130–$175WindowsReal Controllerhttps://www.rc-thoughts.com/phoenix-sim/
PicaSimModel planesWindows, iOS, AndroidJoystick, Controllers, Touchhttp://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim
PRE-FlightModel Planes and HelicoptersUS$25–$45WindowsReal Controllerhttp://www.preflightsim.com/
Great Planes RealFlightModel Planes and HelicoptersUS$200WindowsReal Controllerhttp://www.realflight.com/
Mugi SimDelta wingUS$1Windows, iOS Joystick, Controllers, Touch2019-03-27https://baawolf.itch.io/mugi-sim
Quadcopter FX SimulatorQuadcoptersAndroid, iOSTouchscreen, Joystick, Controllerhttp://quadcopterfx.3dcreativeworld.com
Slope Soaring SimulatorModel planesWindows, LinuxJoystick2006-01-21http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/
HELI-XModel helicopters and planes. Also version 0.9 is freeWindows, Linux, MacSystem Joystick, Real controllers2020-07-01http://www.heli-x.net/
Hover HereModel helicoptersGPLv3n/a.Windows, MacReal controller, game controllers2022-08https://c.web.de/@949205153511112756/P_wvdHpRRLWNn-kKtXzr7g https://github.com/zulugithub/HoverHere
X-PlaneJust about anythingUS$30Windows, Linux, MacSystem Joystickhttp://www.x-plane.com
AlphaMacSoftware's RC Helicopter SimulatorHelicoptersMacSystem Joystick, Real Controllershttp://www.alphamacsoftware.com/index.php
Ron's RC Flight SimulatorElectric Foamy Model PlanesWindows, Mac, Linux, Android Logitech and Xbox Gamepads, OculusVR2013http://www.ostafichuk.com/rons-rc-sim/
R/C Sim SikorskyHelicopters€35WindowsKeyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Real Controllershttp://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html
Reflex XTR2Model Planes and Helicopters€169WindowsReal Controllershttps://www.reflex-sim.net
Zephyr Drone SimulatorQuadcopters/DronesUS$139.99Windows, MacReal Controllershttps://www.zephyr-sim.com/
VelociDrone FPV Racing SimulatorQuadcopters/Drones£16.99Windows, Mac, LinuxReal Controllers2020-09-10 https://www.velocidrone.com/
EreaDrone 2023Quadcopters/Drones$24.99WindowsReal Controllers, Game Controllers 2023-06-23 https://www.ereadrone.com/
FPV FreeRiderQuadcopters/DronesUS$4.99Windows, Mac, Linux, AndroidUSB Controllers2019-02-05https://itch.io/profile/fpv-freerider
WingsModel PlanesUS$36Windows, LinuxReal Controllers, Xbox, PS42023-09 https://www.wings-sim.com
SIMNETMulticopter, Fixed-Wing and VTOL dronesSubscription-basedCross-Platform Real Controllershttps://simnet.aero/