An RC flight simulator is a computer program

Computer program

A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...

 that allows pilots of radio-controlled aircraft

Radio-controlled aircraft

A radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...

 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

Hangar 9

Hangar 9 is a line of glow, gas and electric powered Almost Ready to Fly and Ready to Fly radio controlled airplane models for the entry level through expert modeler.They are the creators of the Progressive Training System P-51 Mustang model...

's FS One, SVK Systems ClearView, Great Planes' RealFlight

RealFlight

RealFlight is a radio-controlled airplane and helicopter simulation software series created by Knife Edge Software and published by Great Planes...

 and IPACS AeroFly. There are also some freeware packages, the most popular being Flying Model Simulator (FMS).

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;"
|-
! Simulation
! Type of aircraft
! Price
! License
! Free Demo?
! Operating System
! Controller Type
! External Link
|-

| Aerofly Professional Deluxe
| Model planes and helicopters
| $300
| EULA
|
| Windows, Mac
| Included or controller
| http://www.aerofly.com/afpd/index.html
|-

| AeroSim RC
| Model planes, helicopters, multicopters
| €65
| Hardware keyed
| yes
| Windows
| Included controller
| http://www.aerosimrc.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
|
| Windows,
| Joystick or Controller
| http://www.rcflightsim.com/
|-

| CRRCsim
| Model Planes
| $0
| Freeware/OpenSource
| n/a
| Windows, Mac, Linux
| Joystick, Controllers
| http://crrcsim.berlios.de/wiki/
|-

| Dave Brown RCFS
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $150
| EULA
|
| Windows
| Joystick, Controllers
| http://www.dbproducts.com/store/rcfs2001.htm
|-

| Digital Aircraft Modeller
| Model Planes
| $40
| EULA
|
| Windows
| Joystick, controllers
| http://www.digitalaircraftmodeler.com/
|-

| FlightGear
|
| $0
| OpenSource
| GPL
|
|
|
|-

| Flying Model Simulator
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $0
| Freeware
| n/a
| Windows
| Joystick, controller adapters
| http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html
|-

| FSOne
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $130
| EULA
|
| Windows
| Real Controller
| http://www.fsone.com
|-

| Phoenix R/C
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $130-$175
| EULA
|
| Windows
| Real Controller
| http://www.phoenix-sim.com
|-

| PRE-Flight
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $25-$45
| EULA
|
| Windows
| Real Controller
| http://www.preflightsim.com/
|-

| Great Planes RealFlight
| Model Planes and Helicopters
| $200
| EULA
| none
| Windows
| Real Controller
| www.realflight.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
| version 0.9 is free
| Windows, Linux, Mac
| System Joystick
| heli-x.net
|-

| X-Plane
| Just about anything
| $30
| EULA
|
| Windows, Linux, Mac
| System Joystick
| www.x-plane.com
|-

External links

Note - simulators are commercial, MS windows based products unless otherwise noted.

• Aerofly Professional Deluxe, also in Mac OSX and Linux operating system versions. No Demo
• AeroSIM RC-Demo Limited to 2 minutes, 63 MB
• R/C Desk Pilot Free Beta version available for download
• ClearView-'Demo Time provided' - 120 MB demo
• CRRCsim - open source / cross platform, runs on Windows, OSX and Linux,
• Dave Brown RCFS - No Demo Available
• Digital Aircraft Modeler-Demo Available - 35 MB demo
• Flying Model Simulator (FMS) - freeware
• FS One - No Demo Available
• Phoenix R/C - Demo lets you view 3 recordings using game engine
• PRE-Flight - Demo available size unknown
• Realflight - Demo available for version G5
• Reflex XTR - No demo available
• Ripmax - No demo available
• Slope Soaring Simulator - Free, open source, cross platform
• HELI-X - Written in Java, runs on Windows, OSX and Linux, demo available
• X-Plane - Inexpensive flight sim, supports R/C. Runs on Windows/Linux/Mac. Free demo.