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 a 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 Apple, 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
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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, January 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.