thumb|Custom flying field of the HHAMS Aerodrome created for RealFlight 7.5
thumb|Custom flying field of the HHAMS Aerodrome created for Phoenix RC
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, [https://happybytesapps.com SVK Systems]' [https://rcflightsim.com ClearView], Knife Edge Software's RealFlight, IPACS' AeroFly and Trasna Technology's AccuRC. There are also a number of free simulators, with [https://www.seligsim.com/ SeligSIM (FS One)] 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==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:75%; width:80%; text-align:center;" ! Name ! Type of aircraft ! Price ! Software license ! Free Demo? ! Operating System ! Controller Type ! Last stable release (date) ! External Link |- | {{rh}} | Absolute RC Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | iOS, Android, Windows phones and tablets | On screen controls | | https://absolutesim.com/ |- | {{rh}} | Aerofly Professional Deluxe | Model planes and helicopters | US$300 | {{proprietary}} | {{no}} | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | | http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208224951/http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html |date=2015-02-08 }} |- | {{rh}} | Aerofly RC 7 | Model planes, Helicopters and Drones | €40+ | {{proprietary}} | {{no}} | Windows, Mac | Included or controller |2015-08-27 | https://www.ikarus.net/en/aeroflyrc-7/rc7-features/ |- | {{rh}} | Aerofly RC 8 | Model planes, Helicopters and Drones | €99+ | {{proprietary}} | {{no}} | Windows, Mac | Included or controller | | https://www.ikarus.net/en/rc8-features/ |- | {{rh}} | AeroSIM RC | Model planes, helicopters, multicopters | €65 | {{proprietary|Hardware keyed}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controller | 2019-02 | http://www.aerosimrc.com/ |- | {{rh}} | AirSim | Multicopters, cars, etc. | {{free}} | {{free|MIT License}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Linux | | 2020-04 | https://github.com/Microsoft/AirSim |- | {{rh}} | AccuRC RC Flight Simulator | Model helicopters | US$59 | {{proprietary|Hardware keyed}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controller | | http://www.accurc.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214020704/http://www.accurc.com/ |date=2015-02-14 }} |- | {{rh}} | Wings | Wings and planes including FPV racing | $36 | {{proprietary}} | FPS check only | Windows | Any analog USB controller | 2023-09 (1.17) | https://www.wings-sim.com/index.php |- | {{rh}} | R/C Desk Pilot | Model Planes and Helicopters | {{free}} | {{nonfree|Freeware}} | n/a | Windows | Joystick |2017-06 | http://www.rcdeskpilot.com/ |- | {{rh}} | ClearView | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$40 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, | Joystick or Controller | | http://www.rcflightsim.com/ |- | {{rh}} | CRRCsim | Model Planes | {{free}} | {{free|GPL}} | n/a | Windows, Mac, Linux | Joystick, Controllers | 2018-07-04 | https://sourceforge.net/projects/crrcsim/ |- | {{rh}} | 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 |- | {{rh}} | 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 |- | {{rh}} | Digital Aircraft Modeller | Model Planes | US$40 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Joystick, controllers | | http://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/ |- | {{rh}} | Electric RC Sim | Model planes, quadcopter | US$1.99 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | iOS | Touch screen controls | | http://jetstripes.com/games/electric-rc-sim/ |- | {{rh}} | FlightGear | Planes, helicopters, model planes. (Flight simulator, not RC) | {{free}} Flightgear#Commercial redistribution | {{free|GPL}} | n/a | Cross-platform | Check categories: [http://wiki.flightgear.org/Category:Hardware hardware] (joystick) & [http://wiki.flightgear.org/Category:Radio-controlled_aircraft R/C]. | 2019-01-29 | http://www.flightgear.org/ |- | {{rh}} | Flying Model Simulator | Model Planes and Helicopters | {{free}} | {{nonfree|Freeware}} | n/a | Windows | Joystick, controller adapters | | http://modelsimulator.com/ |- | {{rh}} | FS One | Model Planes | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controllers, USB Simulator Controllers | 2022-09-06 | https://www.fsone.com |- | {{rh}} | SeligSIM (FS One) | Model Planes | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controllers, USB Simulator Controllers | 2025-03-25 | https://www.seligsim.com |- | {{rh}} | Liftoff | Drone Racing Quadcopters | US$20 | {{nonfree|Steam profile linked}} | {{no}} | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real controller, game controllers | | http://www.liftoff-game.com |- | {{rh}} | 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 |- | {{rh}} | PhoenixSim | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$130–$175 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controller | | https://www.rc-thoughts.com/phoenix-sim/ |- | {{rh}} | PicaSim | Model planes | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, iOS, Android | Joystick, Controllers, Touch | | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim |- | {{rh}} | PRE-Flight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$25–$45 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controller | | http://www.preflightsim.com/ |- | {{rh}} | Great Planes RealFlight | Model Planes and Helicopters | US$200 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controller | | http://www.realflight.com/ |- | {{rh}} | 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 |- | {{rh}} | Quadcopter FX Simulator | Quadcopters | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Android, iOS | Touchscreen, Joystick, Controller | | http://quadcopterfx.3dcreativeworld.com |- | {{rh}} | Slope Soaring Simulator | Model planes | {{free}} | {{free|GPL}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Linux | Joystick | 2006-01-21 | http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/ |- | {{rh}} | HELI-X | Model helicopters and planes | {{nonfree|~€60}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}}. Also version 0.9 is free | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick, Real controllers | 2020-07-01 | http://www.heli-x.net/ |- | {{rh}} | Hover Here | Model helicopters | {{Free}} | GPLv3 | n/a. | Windows, Mac | Real controller, game controllers | 2022-08 | https://c.web.de/@949205153511112756/P_wvdHpRRLWNn-kKtXzr7g https://github.com/zulugithub/HoverHere |- | {{rh}} | X-Plane | Just about anything | US$30 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Linux, Mac | System Joystick | | http://www.x-plane.com |- | {{rh}} | AlphaMacSoftware's RC Helicopter Simulator | Helicopters | {{free}} | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Mac | System Joystick, Real Controllers | | http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/index.php |- | {{rh}} | Ron's RC Flight Simulator | Electric Foamy Model Planes | {{free}} | {{proprietary|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/ |- | {{rh}} | R/C Sim Sikorsky | Helicopters | €35 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Real Controllers | | http://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826142958/http://home.zonnet.nl/blacksphere2/rcsim.html |date=2012-08-26 }} |- | {{rh}} | Reflex XTR2 | Model Planes and Helicopters | €169 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows | Real Controllers | | https://www.reflex-sim.net |- | {{rh}} | Zephyr Drone Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | US$139.99 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Mac | Real Controllers | | https://www.zephyr-sim.com/ |- | {{rh}} | EreaDrone | Quadcopters/Drones | $18.99 | {{proprietary}} | {{no}} | Windows | Real Controllers, Game Controllers (Xbox, Logitech, etc) | 2026-04-08 (v0.10.0cs1263) | https://www.ereadrone.com/play |- | {{rh}} | VelociDrone FPV Racing Simulator | Quadcopters/Drones | £16.99 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Mac, Linux | Real Controllers | 2020-09-10 (v1.17) | https://www.velocidrone.com/ |- | {{rh}} | FPV FreeRider | Quadcopters/Drones | US$4.99 | {{proprietary}} | {{yes}} | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | USB Controllers | 2019-02-05 | https://itch.io/profile/fpv-freerider |- | {{rh}} | Wings | Model Planes | US$36 | {{proprietary}} | {{No}} | Windows, Linux | Real Controllers, Xbox, PS4 | 2023-09 (1.17) | https://www.wings-sim.com |- | {{rh}} | SIMNET | Multicopter, Fixed-Wing and VTOL drones | Subscription-based | {{proprietary}} | {{Yes}} | Cross-Platform (Web-based) | Real Controllers | | https://simnet.aero/ |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://rc-sim.de/ Forum - RC-Sim.de, the RC-Simulation Server]
Category:Radio-controlled aircraft Category:Drone racing