Setting Up a Real Flight Simulator to Practice Flying RC

Flying an RC airplane outside on a warm, sunny day is great! But in the winter, it can be hard to feel motivated to pack your gear and head out to the airfield when you know you’ll have to bundle up. Thankfully, you can still practice flying RC planes and helicopters even when the weather is bad with a simulator. The RealFlight simulator is designed with RC in mind. It includes simulated models of real RC airplanes, actual airfields to fly at, plus games and training scenarios to help build your skills (which is especially useful if you’re a beginner flying RC airplanes and helicopters).

Basic Requirements for Simulated RC Flying Setups

The Machine

Desktop computers and laptops can run real flight simulators, but you need to check the graphics and memory requirements before you jump in and install the simulator. Real flight simulators are similar in requirements to a 3D game, so you’ll need a graphics card that can support this. An integrated graphics processor simply can’t handle the workload. The best video cards for any simulator will have dedicated video memory (VRAM) and graphics processor (GPU). If this all sounds foreign to you, a “gaming computer” is what you’ll be looking for. Currently, RealFlight is only compatible with Microsoft Windows®.

The Screen

If you’re going to run your flight simulator on a laptop, your monitor is already built in and you can skip this part unless you plan to add an additional monitor. If you’re going to build out a desktop computer especially for simulated RC flying, there are a lot of options for a monitor setup. The favorite by far is a curved monitor; it brings any flight simulator to life and engrosses you in your flight without any interruptions to your line of sight as you track your RC airplane or helicopter. Single, flat monitors can work just as well. You’ll want to look for something with a fast refresh rate for the best experience. If you’ve got the technical understanding, match up your graphics card refresh rate capabilities to the monitor. If you’re a beginner and just looking to fly an RC flight simulator for fun, “gaming” and “media” monitors (like for watching a lot of videos) usually have what you need.

The Controller

There are two types of controllers for flying with an RC flight simulator: a compatible real-world transmitter connected via a wireless USB dongle, or a wired simulator controller designed to be similar to a real RC transmitter. The best part about using a real-world transmitter is that (if compatible) it can be the same one you use to fly RC airplanes and helicopters in real life which will help you build that muscle memory for your next trip to the airfield.

See RealFlight’s Knowledge Base for more information on the requirements for running the RealFlight simulator: Knowledge Base.

How to Setup a Real Flight Simulator for Flying RC Airplanes

RC pilots are often pilots in real life (private or commercial) or those who aspire to someday get their private license. Taking to the sky is just a way of life! If you’re like this, you may already have a real flight simulator setup with a yolk to control your flight, just like an in-real-life airplane. Here are some tips on setting up a real flight simulator for flying RC airplanes:

Your Workspace

Depending on your level of enthusiasm for real flight simulators, you may have a lot of accessories in your simulation area. The yolk is just the beginning – there are pedals, knobs, switches, and maybe even a touchscreen integrated into the setup. To have the most success with flying an RC flight simulator, your best bet is to have a way to clear some workspace for yourself. The yolk and pedals can get in the way and you’ll need a clear path from your transmitter to the USB port where your wireless dongle resides so the two can communicate with each other. Give yourself an easy way to clear out enough space for your transmitter. That might be a telescoping yolk or a way to slide it over on your desk.

Your View

Unless you’re doing aerobatic/3D flying, chances are you’ll always be looking up when flying your RC airplane. Look at a way to elevate your monitor to give yourself a better view of your RC airplanes (just a little, you don’t want to hurt your neck!). If you use multiple monitors in your real flight simulator, experiment with using only one monitor while using the RC airplane simulator. Some people find that the casing around the monitors creates too much of a break if your RC airplane goes across from one monitor to the other. A curved, wide-screen monitor is another solution that’s good for both real flight simulators and RC flight simulators.

Adaptors

You’ll need at least one USB port available directly into your computer for the wireless dongle or simulator controller. The fewer adapters, hubs, and extenders you use, the less likely you are to have a failure in your setup. Real flight simulators use a lot of accessories, and the result is almost always the use of a USB hub. This will work for your mouse, but the transmitter is less likely to function at its full capacity if it has to go through a hub. A delay in your relay can cause a delay in the response of your RC aircraft, which may lead to a crash. Thankfully, with an RC flight simulator, a quick reset and your aircraft is as good as new, but it can still be frustrating when trying to improve your flight skills if there’s a communication delay.

Setting up a computer for a real flight simulator or an RC flight simulator isn’t terribly complicated if you have the right equipment. Remember to check on the status of your graphics card before jumping in and limit the use of any USB hubs as much as you can. Soon, you’ll be ready to practice RC flying with your simulator to build your skills, even when the weather outside isn’t ideal for flight.