If you want to hone your RC airplane or glider skills, flight simulation software lets you do it in any kind of weather and you can even fly outdoor planes in the house -- virtually, that is. Don't risk hurting your RC airplane by learning to fly it on your PC first. These RC airplane flight simulators feature either RC airplane models only, or both airplanes and helicopters.
From
Hangar 9, this flight simulation software comes with over 30 popular RC aircraft models including foamies, jets, and helis, has photo-realistic skyscapes, 2D and 3D flying sites, and comes with a controller. Or, for a little less get it without the controller (
Buy Direct) and use your own JR, Futaba, or HiTec transmitter. The FS One with controller comes in 2 modes. Mode 2 (
Buy Direct) is the most common in the US where the right stick controls elevator and aileron while left stick controls throttle and rudder. Unfortunately, there's no free demo.
This RC flight simulator is visually stimulating with its life-like RC helicopter and airplane models and scenery composed of photos of real locations. The control aspect is as real as the graphics. If you own a pair of stereoscopic LCD shutter glasses, CRT monitor, and a Nvidia 3D graphics card you're in for a real treat. If you have a LCD flat screen monitor be sure to check and see if the 3D LCD shutter glasses suport it -- if not you can still enjoy this flight sim without them.
Get the demo.
Watch a video.
This is a graphically-rich visual experience in RC flight simulation. Although you can download a free demo, it doesn't allow you to actually testdrive the program. You can navigate through the demo like you would if you had the real thing but it only will give a description what that section would do if you had the real thing. It does give you three internal videos to watch though showcasing the product. Phoenix offers over 100 RC airplanes and helicopter models including gliders, trainers, electric and nitro models, and amphibious aircraft.
Watch a video.
From Ikarus, makers of Aerofly Pro Deluxe, this flight simulation software comes with 31 model airplanes, helicopters, and gliders. Use the Interface version with your own transmitter or get the game commander version with a controller. No demo but you can
download and watch the video on this page, look at screenshots, and download the PDF manual to learn more.
Judging strictly from the information on the Website, this flight sim looks promising. RCFS2001 features 10 airplanes and 3 helicopters, comes complete with a SimStar 2-stick controller. Despite it's age, there's a great plus for those that don't have a monster of a computer to run today's graphic intense programs: The minimum system requirements are small enough that even on a cheap budget machine you can still enjoy the RC flight experience -- which is why this older flight sim makes the list. Unfortunately, there is no free demo.
