RC flight simulators have actually been around as long as computers have been in homes. Early systems were pretty basic and somewhat lackluster. That was mainly a fault of the technology available. There just wasn’t enough processing power to recreate something as complex as real-time flight. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find a whole new world. Processing power, memory, graphics capabilities and data storage have finally developed to the point that a realistic RC flight sim is possible.

The basic idea behind radio control flight simulators is that instead of communicating with an airplane, your RC transmitter sends control information to your computer. As you operate your radio control transmitter, an accurately rendered computer model of an airplane responds on the screen. With scenery and realistic sounds, this virtual airplane flies as if it was real and you were outside controlling it.

The advantages of RC flight simulators are obvious. First of all, you’re using your own transmitter, which means whatever you learn inside during the simulation should easily transfer to the real flight line outside. As you control your virtual plane, you will learn what makes it soar and what makes it crash. Of course, that’s an advantage in itself. A crash is not a real crash, so there’s no broken airplane to go scoop up off the field. No more slinking back to your car after you’ve just arrowed your latest pride and joy into the dirt.