Drone simulators – do you need one?

Last Updated on September 21, 2019

Why a drone simulator?

Drone simulators can be a great way to get into flying a drone. You can start practicing even when the weather is bad. A few hours of practice with a simulator can save you from some disastrous and expensive crashes. A flight simulator can be used to:

• Practice controlling your drone before your first flight
• Help to reduce the possibility of crashing your drones
• Practice flying your drone when the weather condition is windy or raining outdoors.

Types of Drone simulators

We can classify drone flight simulators into these general groups:

• Drone simulators for practicing FPV racing drones
• Drone simulators for practicing gimbal control camera drone
• Drone simulators for practicing RC helicopter
• Drone simulators for practicing flight maneuvers
• Drone simulator games

To be fair, many drone flight simulators fit very well into multiple categories.

Which drone flight simulator is right for you?

Which drone flight simulator you choose should be dependent on what you intend to do with it.

• Do you want to practice controlling your camera drone?

– You want a simulator to acquire good flight control and camera control skills.
– You want to practice making smooth turns and avoid jerky movements.

• Do you want to practice controlling your racing drone?

– You want to develop exceptional control, and ability to make fast turns.
– You want to anticipate needs for changes in direction and speed.

• Do you want a flight simulator with a controller or one without a controller?

– If you already have a controller, make sure it is compatible with your simulator

What to consider before you buy a drone simulator?

• Computer platform: PC or MS Windows – Mac – Android (Most simulators were written for only one platform. Be sure to select one that matches the platform that you have.)
• First person view (FPV) vs. Gimbal Camera. Simulators that are FPV or have an FPV mode are better suited to practice racing. Some simulators offer both FPV and Gimbal camera modes.
• Quadcopter vs RC fixed wing (or both). Some simulators offer simulation of several types of aircraft.
• Practice vs. Entertainment. If you are looking for some light entertainment or a good way to kill some time, look at the drone simulator games.
• Drone simulator with a controller or without a controller? If you already have a quadcopter ground controller, many simulators will allow you interface the existing ground controller via a connector PCTx USB interface. This feature gives an even more realistic feel to the simulator.

What to learn before you start using a simulator?

• Most quadcopters are controlled by two sticks. About all that you need to know about quadcopters is what the two sticks do. (Left motor speed, right for direction.)

Top-rated drone simulators for PC

1. Great Planes RealFlight Drone RC Flight Simulator

Model: Great Planes RealFlight Drone RC Flight Simulator with controller
Type: Drone simulators for practicing flight control and camera control
Best use for:

• A beginner who wants to explore the drone world
• An aerial photographer who wants to master aerial photography skills
• Camera simulated (you can choose mode fpv or gimbal)
• Quadcopter simulation (15 different quadcopters, see below)
• Realistic vs. Entertainment (realistic)

System Requirement:

• Platform Microsoft Windows 8 or 10
• For best graphical performance

-At least Dual Core 2.4GHz CPU
-2 GB RAM
-3D Accelerated Video with:
-512 MB dedicated video memory
-Pixel Shader 3.0 support

List of drones simulated by Great Planes RealFlight Drone RC Flight Simulator:

• Hexacopter
• 8X Quad 1260
• Hubsan X4 Pro
• Helimax Voltage 500 3D
• Quad X
• Exploere 580
• Gaui 33X-S
• H4 Quad 520
• KnifeEdge Quad
• Octocopter
• 8X Quad 1260
• Tricopter
• Dead Cat
• Eldritch Copter

Summary: Great Planes RealFlight Drone RC Flight Simulator

This RealFlight Drone RC Flight Simulator is a great choice for any drone enthusiasts who wants to reduce the risk of crashing your camera drone investment. It is designed especially for an aerial photographer who wants to master aerial photography skills from the drone’s point of view. This simulator provides fast and safe ways to learn how to maneuver a drone, FPV camera, and gimbal mounted camera control.

Twenty environments are available with this model. Frankly, I was ok with 5 when that was all that I could get. If you get bored easily, then you might want to look at the next model – the RF8 has 40 environments.

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2. Great Planes RealFlight RF8 (Mode 2) RC Flight Simulator with controller

Model: Great Planes RealFlight RF8 (Mode 2) RC Flight Simulator with controller
Best use for:

• Learn about quadcopters, even if you have never flown before
• Master skills needed for aerial photography
• Learn skills needed in drone racing
• Camera simulated: yes
• Quadcopter simulation: Yes
• Realistic vs. Entertainment: Realistic

System requirements:

• Platform requires MS Windows PC

Key features: RealFlight RF-8 Mode 2

• The simulation of the physics involved in flight is the reason that the RealFlight simulators are the #1 RC flight simulator on the market
• The Interlink-X interface is intuitive – low learning curve.
• Excellent immersive graphics for 40 different environments
• Fly in locales like the Sierra Nevada (8 million acres simulated), Joe’s Garage, Wasserkuppe in Germany or the Castle in Calahorra
• Trees in a variety of shades and shapes
• Test your skills in a variety of humidity settings, haze, and sunlight glare
• Game-like challenges to test and hone your FPV flying skills

Key features: Interlink-X Controller

• Reset button allows you to replay your victories or reversing your crashes (only on RealFlight RF series)
• Practice without wear and tear on your field transmitter
• You can control most simulator functions right from the controller
• 10-channel Radio Control for control of flight features and weapons
• Built-in features help camera drone pilots aim cameras for the best shots
• USB Port
• Compatible FM or FM-selectable transmitter (if using the interface mode).
• Note: The InterLink-X cord and included adapters make the InterLink-X compatible with the trainer jacks on most Futaba and all Tower Hobbbies, JR, and Spektrum systems.

List of drones simulated by Great Planes RealFlight RF-8 Mode 2 Simulator:RC Aircraft, Sail planes, Helicopters plus the following drones:

• 8X Quad 1260
• Explorer 580
• Gaui 330X-S Quad Flyer
• H4 Quad 520
• Helimax 1SQ
• Helimax FORM 500
• Helimax Voltage 500 3D
• Hexacopter
• Hubsan X4 Pro
• Octocopter
• Quad X
• RISE RXS255
• Scorpion Sky Strider 280 (2 variants)
• Tricopter
• Tempest 250 (2 or more variants)
• Tempest 280
• Tiny Terror 150
• Xiro Xplorer (2 variants)

Summary: Great Planes RealFlight RF-8 Mode 2

This RF-8 model gets all the realism, beautiful photographic detail and great simulation of the physics involved in flying.

• VR compatible.
• Real joy stick controls makes it feel just like you are in the field.
• Simulates several specific drones.
• Simulates many specific flying sites.
• Has game like “challenges”.
• It has adjustable wind settings direction and speed.
• Camera position can be set (nose, above, wing tip, etc.)

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3. Great Planes RealFlight RF-8 RC Radio Control Simulator Software DVD Only

Model: Great Planes RealFlight RF-8 RC Radio Control Simulator Software DVD Only (without controller)
Type: Drone simulators for practicing FPV camera control
Best use for:

• Quadcopter pilot who wants to practice even in bad weather; drone pilot who wants to polish aerial photography skills.
• Camera simulated
• Quadcopter simulation
• Realistic vs. Entertainment: Real

System requirements:

• Requires Interlink controller or other other controller you happen to have.
• Platform: Requires controller and Windows Vista, 7, 8 or Windows 10 to run. Administrator access required.
• Intel Pentium 1. 0 ghz or equivalent 512 mb ram10 gb hard drive space, dvd drive, 3d accelerated, Video with: 32 MB Dedicated Video Memory.

Key features

• Upgraded drone racing physics. Simulation of real physics make RealFlight simulators have lifelike experience than with competitors. The simulation programs perform thousands of calculations every second to provide the realistic experience.
• If you have a VR headset, then the immersive experience of flying as if you are inside in the quadcopter will be available to you.
• Over 40 3D sites are included. A favorite site included is the FPV Airport site. Editing and importing custom aircraft are included allowing you to build and import more complex 3D models.

Compatible controllers: The RealFlight RF8 is compatible with the following controllers (sold separately):

• Oculus Rift controller
• HTC VIVE VR controller
• Interlink-X controller

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4. RealFlight 8 Horizon Hobby Edition Flight Simulator Software Only

Model: RealFlight 8 Horizon Hobby Edition Flight Simulator Software Only
Type: PC based simulator for learning quad copter piloting or practicing skills when weather is bad outside.
Best use for:

• Practice flying when weather is bad.
• Learn to fly without taking the chance of losing the quad copter or crashing it into a tree.
• Experience flying a quad copter in many countries (US, UK, etc.) by flying the simulated sites!

System requirements:

• Windows 10 (With admin rights)
• Intel® Pentium® 1.0GHz or equivalent
• 512 MB RAM
• 10 GB Hard Disk available
• DVD Drive
• 3D Accelerated Video with:
• 32 MB Dedicated Video Memory.
• Fully DirectX® 9 compliant (Shader Model 2.0 or better).
• InterLink-X, RealFlight compatible controller, or other Gamepad/Joystick.
• Note: some graphical features may be disabled. Aerodynamic calculations will remain high quality.

For better performance

• Dual Core 2.4GHz CPU
• 2 GB RAM
• 3D Accelerated Video with: 512 MB dedicated video memory

Multiplayer Requirements

• Broadband Internet connection
• Computer microphone for voice chat

Optional InterLink®-X Controller Requirements

• USB Port
• Compatible FM or FM-selectable transmitter (if using the interface mode)

VR Requirements

• Works with both the Oculus Rift and HTC® Vive™ VR headsets (for other headsets, see mfg specs)
• Online Activation Required

Some of the new aircraft added to the simulations by RealFlight 8 Horizon Hobby Edition:

• HobbyZone® Sport Cub S with SAFE® Technology
• E-flite® Apprentice® S 15e, Timber 1.5 m, Timber 1.5m with Floats, Carbon-Z® Cessna 150 2.1m , F-27 Evolution, Mini Convergence® VTOL *
• ParkZone® Conscendo™ Advanced
• Hangar 9® Carbon Cub 15cc *
• Hangar 9 Ultra Stick 30cc
• FMS F-15 Eagle V2 64mm EDF
• Blade® Fusion™ 270
• Blade Fusion 480

Summary

Excellent low-cost way to learn to fly a quad copter or to keep up your skills during bad weather.

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5. AeroSIM RC– Flight Simulator without a controller

Model: AeroSIM RC– Flight Simulator without a controller
Type: Flight simulators for learning to fly a RC aircraft, practicing maneuverability, and operating camera drone

Best use for:

• Learning basic piloting skills
• Good for training to fly in a variety of settings
• Camera: simulated
• Quadcopter: simulation
• Realistic vs. Entertainment: Realistic

System requirements:

• Platform: MS Windows PC.
• Requires: You must buy your own transmitter.
• Can run in 512MB RAM. 32 MB Graphics.

Key features

AeroSIM is a training tool to help new drone pilots hone their flying skills without risking valuable equipment and time. This simulator is a useful tool to learn aerial photography, search and rescue, surveys, surveillance, construction project reporting. Compatible controllers can often be directly connected via the mono jack (exceptions noted – sometimes an additional adapter is required).

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