- Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac Software
- Best Helicopter Simulator
- Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator Free
- Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac Os X
- Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator Mac
- Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac
Are you curious about which one is the best helicopter simulator? Look no further. We take a look at the cons and pros of every sim out there.
Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator 3d - CNET Download. Showing 1-10 of 2,163. RC Helicopter Simulator. 4.2 on 49 votes. RC Helicopter Simulator is the first configurable radio-controlled helicopters simulator for Macintosh Mac OS X. RC Helicopter Simulator is. Controlled helicopters simulator for. The simulator is fully. Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator free download - YS Flight Simulator, Flight Simulator X demo, RC Helicopter Simulator, and many more programs.
I’ll admit it. This article is long overdue.
Our original “best helicopter simulator” goes back to 2016 . A lot has changed since then. Some sims have disappeared, others have evolved and a new one (which we will obviously not include in the list) is still in the making.
Virtual Reality is also becoming stronger and we now have a sim that we couldn’t include before because it didn’t have a helicopter until last year.
A lot has changed. But does our final verdict change as well? Let’s see. And let’s start with the usual suspects.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX)
Microsoft Flight Simulator X - screenshot by Hamza Omar
Good old FSX is still around and kicking (and some folks still use FS2004).
Development of the sim has stopped years ago still, mostly due to the fact that people can use it as a base or a framework to build their dream sim, it’s still going strong. Not as stronger as before, of course, but the user base is still pretty strong.
Dovetail Games picked it up and released FSX: SE (Steam Edition). The company recompiled the code and made it available via Steam .
This brought somewhat of a new life to the sim which is one of the most inexpensive in the market and a great gateway for simmers out there.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X - screenshots by Hamza Omar
Helicopter wise, it’s frankly weak, though. The flight dynamics are pretty bad for rotorcraft. The helicopters feel heavy and you lose a lot of makes helicopters what they are.
Still, if you are not willing to spend a lot of money on a sim has proven itself over the years and, perhaps, make it as a less-expensive way to get into sims, it can help you achieve that.
You can make helicopters behave a lot better, though, with the use of Helicopter Total Realism (HTR) , which is a free module you can use that communicates with FSX and makes helicopters act a lot more like helicopters do. A lot.
So, FSX with HTR can become a great asset for a new pilot.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get Microsoft Flight Simulator X (Steam Edition) here .
Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3D (P3D)
Prepar3D - screenshot by Marc Morand
Prepar3D is FSX’s big brother if you want to call it. Or a cousin.
P3D was developed from the same base as FSX, but for the professional market. It suffers from the same pitfalls as its “little brother”. We could expect that, being a sim still actively under development, we could have some good news regarding our beloved helicopters.
Unfortunately, since Lockheed Martin’s target is the professional market, the company prefers to let their customers build the tools to suit their needs.
Prepar3D - screenshots by Markus Hubner
By means of a software development kit, Lockheed allows companies to custom-build things such as flight dynamics. As I interviewed Adam Breed , Lockheed Martin’s project manager for P3D, I asked him about any planned improvements for helicopters. The TL;DR: companies can use the software development kit.
So, I don’t think we’ll see any major improvements on P3D anytime soon.
The good news? Helicopter Total Realism (HTR) is compatible with P3D so, we can make helicopters actually behave like helicopters in P3D as well.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get Prepar3D here .
Laminar Research’s X-Plane
X-Plane - screenshot by Bel Geode
X-Plane is a sim that has been growing a lot for the past few years.
Especially after the release of X-Plane 11, Laminar Research have managed to penetrate the market and get some big names onboard such as ORBX, for example.
The flight dynamics are top notch and you can find a lot of excellent products. You’ll also find some of the best helicopters in this sim. Unfortunately, we don’t have a huge fleet of aircraft for the sim but that seems to be slowly changing as more developers are working on helicopters for this sim.
Left screenshot by Gergely Debreceni. Right screenshot by Jorge Pascoal
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get X-Plane here .
Eagle Dynamics’ Digital Combat Simulator (DCS)
Digital Combat Simulator - screenshot by Joe Hudson
DCS is considered by many the pinnacle of combat flight simulation and of helicopter flight simulation.
The first part is true, the second one is debatable. No sim is perfect.
DCS has some amazing helicopters that perform pretty well. It’s one of my favorite sims and if you are a fan of military sims, this is, definitely the sim to get.
Aircraft (or modules, like ED calls them) take a long time to produce and are somewhat expensive (usually over $40 – some up to $80 but, thankfully, helicopters don’t usually fall into this category).
The scenery is gorgeous, although limited (only a few areas are available) so we can’t fly around the world. The level of detail on the helicopters (well, in aircraft in general) is impressive. You will certainly love any helicopter you try.
Left screnshot by Roberto Linares. Right screenshot by Sérgio Costa.
Curiously, the helicopters available in DCS are exactly the same we had back in 2016 when I wrote the first installment of this article : we have the KA-50 Black Shark , the Mil-Mi-8MTV2 , the UH-1H Huey and the SA342 Gazelle .
Nothing changed here. Which is a shame.
Eagle Dynamics has announced the Mi-24 but we have no word on that whatsoever. There’s also a Bo-105 still in production but seems to be going slowly.
This is one of my favorite sims, along with X-Plane.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get DCS here .
FlightGear
FlightGear - screenshot by Stuart Cassie
FlightGear is the only free sim in the list. It’s an open source project that has been out there for some years and even has been used on some projects by real aircraft industry companies.
The flight dynamics are pretty good but FlightGear suffers from the same a lot of open source projects do: the sim feels a lot like it’s done for the developers that work on it, not so much for the end user.
FlightGear - screenshots by Stuart Cassie
As such it can be confusing to install, set up and the user interface, although a lot better than a couple of years ago, it’s still… Odd. It’s not really a user-friendly sim.
I still have high hopes for the sim, and it seems to be heading the right way.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get FlightGear here.
Take On Helicopters
Take On Helicopters - screenshot by Sérgio Costa
Note: this section was added after the publishing of the article, on May 26th, 2019.
Take On Helicopters was a fast (and somewhat of a flop) incursion of Bohemia Interactive into the realm of helicopter flight simulation.
The sim builds heavily on its mission system and comes with a couple of campaigns that spread through a North American and South Asia regions.
You do get a lot to do such as long lining, transporting people as well as other missions, which is a lot more than other sims out there, but things get old quickly as you play all the missions and the campaigns. You can also build your own missions (some of them change each time you play them), which is rather nice.
Sadly, the helicopter systems are limited, and the cockpits are not clickable.
Take On Helicopters - screenshots by Sérgio Costa
Take On Helicopters is rather entertaining – and challenging – but it’s not something I see myself using day in and day out. Honestly, it feels a lot like a game and there’s a reason for that: Bohemia Interactive made a helicopter game, not exactly a sim.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get Take On Helicopters here.
Bohemia Interactive ARMA III (yes, seriously)
ARMA III - screenshot by Roberto Linares
Oh yeah. I can hear some of you cringe. And you may be right.
ARMA III is not a flight simulator. Not at all. But I had to add it to this list.
Why? Well, because ARMA III has actually a pretty decent flight model (based on the previously mentioned Take On: Helicopters). The scenery is incredible and it’s just too much fun to fly around, pick up some friends, drop them on top of a building, do some CSAR…
ARMA III - screenshots by Roberto Linares
On some aspects, it’s all I wish DCS could be some day. Having actual people controlling the troops on the ground, talking to them, providing air support, it’s just a blast.
Turn the advanced flight model on and go, go, go!
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Macos catalina update download. Get ARMA III here.
FlyInside Simulator
FlyInside Simulator - screenshot by Sérgio Costa
FlyInside is somewhat of a “new kid on the block” while not actually being the new kid.
The company has entered the market with a solution that allowed FSX, P3D and X-Plane users to use their sims with VR (when P3D and X-Plane didn’t support VR yet). They have made quite a name for themselves and built an amazing reputation.
With the release of the native VR versions for these sims, though, FlyInside became redundant but the team didn’t quit, and they started working on their own flight simulator.
FlyInside Simulator - screenshots by Sérgio Costa
FlyInside (the sim) is still under heavy development and it shows. Scenery is still a bit poor, although the aircraft have good quality.
The flight model is pretty decent, and the team is working towards making it a good sim for helicopters. In fact, a few of us at HeliSimmer (some of which are real pilots) have been in touch with the team and providing them with feedback, although they are working closely with pilots that are part of their team or able to help them “on premises”, which is always easier.
FlyInside still has a long way to go but it’s looking very promising.
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get FlyInside Simulator here.
The newcomer: IPACS AeroflyFS2
Aerofly FS2 - screenshot by Sérgio Costa
Back in 2016, IPACS didn’t have any helicopters on their fleet. Last year, though, they released the Robinson R22 with the help of helicopter legend Claude Vuichard .
IPACS worked really hard to get the R22 as good as possible and a lot of real pilots say it’s an excellent rendition. Like I said, Claude Vuichard himself worked on the project and he swears by it .
AeroFly FS2 is a late contender but I have to say: it’s the best helicopter out there right now. Really, it is. A lot of you will probably be surprised and some even annoyed because I’m putting this in front of the DCS Huey or the Mi-8 but the truth is that the AeroFly FS2 R22 is an excellent helicopter with a lot of dynamics you don’t feel in DCS.
Aerofly FS2 - screenshots by Sérgio Costa
I hope IPACS releases more helicopters. I don’t fly it that often, mostly because there’s no scenery for my country but if they release an AS350, for example, I’ll be all over Switzerland!
In a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Where to get it
Get AeroFly FS2 here .
The verdict
First of all, I can’t stress this enough: it doesn’t matter which sim you use . And my opinion shouldn’t matter either.
You should use whatever sim helps you achieve your goals. Be it just for fun or for learning purposes.
We all know people look for “the best” though so I can provide you with my opinion.
All right, then, all this being said, I have to say that the list didn’t change that much since 2016 and that, for me, X-Plane is the best sim for helicopters right now.
It has matured a lot in the last 3 years. Lots of new scenery has come out, amazing helicopters have also been released and the community grew as well, bringing us new tools and more and more material for us to have fun.
ORBX definitely entered the market (which I hoped they did back in 2016) and the future looks bright for the sim.
Yes, AeroFly FS2 still has the best helicopter (singular) and yes, DCS has amazing scenery (a few maps) but, overall, X-Plane is a more complete sim: you can fly the world, get great scenery and amazing helicopters with excellent flight dynamics and the community also grew and is more united than ever.
It natively and fully supports VR and Laminar is working to further improve the sim.
My second choice? DCS. And then Aerofly FS2.
That’s my personal choice, though.
What about you? What’s the best helicopter simulator for you? Leave your opinion in the comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
About Sérgio Costa
Since then he has been primarily a helicopter flight simmer, trying his best not to crash and kill all his virtual passengers.
Sérgio is HeliSimmer.com's editor and writer and one of the Three Grumpy Simmers, a YouTube series and Podcast produced together with YouTubers Bel Geode and NovaWing24, obviously dedicated to flight simulation.
Comments
Recommended reading
In our forums
- Pro Flight Trainer Mapping in MSFS2020 October, 01, 2021 | 06:59:30
- R44 SkyLabs XPlane can't wind up the throttle September, 26, 2021 | 16:21:08
- Request for freeware helicopters by Larrylynx (Aerofly FS 2) September, 26, 2021 | 10:02:21
- Maybe the best 45 bucks I've spent on my computer September, 10, 2021 | 20:17:34
- Order problems September, 09, 2021 | 08:40:42
- BEST CONTROLS-nice budget August, 24, 2021 | 14:47:55
- Aerolite 103 update download August, 23, 2021 | 08:57:08
- Nemeth KA-32 Paint kit P3D August, 13, 2021 | 23:57:28
- MP Design Studio Bell 206 Idle Release August, 11, 2021 | 17:36:13
- Seeking help on best Heli-sim for learning pilots August, 10, 2021 | 00:15:32
The RC flight simulator experience is the next best thing to being in the actual pilot’s seat. Sims have always been exhilarating, but nothing compares to the training systems of today. The modern ones offer flight training for a variety of aircraft. They can include planes, helicopters, gliders, drones, and any other bird. Simulators can also have different environments and outstanding graphics to boot.
Anyone can enjoy the experience of a flight simulator, even those who don’t fly RC models. Here’s a quick breakdown of what these realistic pilot practice systems are:
- Powerful software programs loaded onto a computer
- Includes a radio controller of some description
- Train RC pilots before they take to the flying field
- Help experienced RC pilots to develop new skills safely
- Fun for family and friends who don’t even fly RC planes
The Real Benefit of an RC Pilot Simulator
Radio-controlled flight simulators are a fun and practical way to train. Newbie pilots experience more crashes than skilled users. Sometimes the damage is only cosmetic. Other times an accident grounds the craft until the user replaces a broken part. Then there are those pilots who write their models off in one hit—ouch! That can be upsetting and costly.
Going to flight school from the comfort of your home reduces the risk of accidents outdoors. That’s the point. A quality program puts you in the virtual pilot’s seat in preparation for those maiden flights.
Restricted Choice Is a Good Thing
There’s little choice out there when it comes to quality RC flight simulators. That’s a good thing. It means you won’t become overwhelmed with options or confused by offers and features. There used to be two worthy contenders, i.e., RealFlight and Phoenix. Unfortunately, Phoenix is no longer available. I’m not sure why because it was also an excellent and popular product among RC’ers.
The good news is that RealFlight is a world leader and their products are better than anything else. These programs don’t become defunct once you learn the flying basics either. You may want to look at helicopters later or learn how to fly gliders, etc. It’s also there when you want to develop new skills like fancy aerobatic and 3D routines. You get the idea.
There are a few other options though most are not in the same league as RealFlight. Some of them are free and certainly worth a look. You can read about them further down the page.
It’s Not a Game
It’s a big mistake when users of RC simulators treat the experience like a game. Yes, it’s fun, but its primary purpose is a pilot’s training tool. Try to keep things real and imagine the aircraft you’re flying is the actual model. You don’t want to become casual or pick up any bad habits that could transfer to your local flying field. Your simulator will become an invalid tool if you treat it as such.
The Learning Curve
Not all RC models are equal. Aircraft comes in different designs, sizes, aerodynamics, power systems, and abilities. Some models are easy to pilot out of the box, even for kids. But they also have restricted flight envelopes and pretty much fly themselves. Such models soon become boring as well. The real thrill of the flight is to take control and manipulate the bird to do what you want it to do.
The biggest challenge for new RC pilots is to learn hand-to-eye coordination. The brain should know what to do whatever the orientation is of the aircraft. That’s where the RC simulator comes into its own. You’ll appreciate that once you take those newfound skills to the flying field. Also, your aircraft simulator is always there to help maintain those skills or develop new ones.
Available RC Flight Simulators
The first part of this section looks at the flight simulator options from RealFlight. After those there a few alternatives including free options or those with free trials. These overviews will help you become familiar with the standard terms and simulator features.
RealFlight RF8 (Horizon Hobby Edition) w/ Interlink-X Controller
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
The true-to-life physics of the RealFlight RF8 bring unbelievable realism to your world. Software like this helps to install confidence in pilots who may not otherwise fly. Skilled users also love it as a tool to continually improve their flying skills. This package is the Horizon Hobby version with an Interlink-X Controller. It has lots of extra features including 12+ new aircraft from the favorite brands.
The interface is clean and intuitive. Trainee pilots can choose from 150 different types of aircraft including drones and helis. The program has more than 40 flying sites to keep flights interesting. Furthermore, users can edit models and journeys to match their needs and expectations.
Cons: A few users have reported issues running the software on Windows 10. Check the company has resolved any issues before you decide to buy if you use Win10.
RealFlight RF8 (Horizon Hobby Edition) Software Only
Mpps v16 windows 10. Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
This is the same program as the one above but without the interlink-X Controller. Not everybody needs or wants the included controller, though. The saving is around 80 dollars at the time of writing.
RealFlight RF8 (Horizon Hobby) Edition Add-On
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5
This handy add-on is for existing Owners of RealFlight 8 earlier version. It’s convenient because it means pilots who want the extra features don’t need to invest in new software. The add-on includes over 12 additional aircraft from HobbyZone, E-flite, ParkZone, Blade helis, Hangar 9, and FMS.
Kingzer New 6-Channel USB 3D RC Airplane, Heli Flight Simulator
Breakaway audio enhancer v.1.20.12 with keygen and crack. Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5
Consider the Kingzer USB 3D RC flight simulator if you only want to experiment. It’s an affordable introduction to sims and connects to a PC via a USB port. It’s restricted, but better than nothing.
DYNAM 6-Channel FMS USB RC Flight Simulator Software
Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5
Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac Software
Dynam 6CH is a little-known FMS USB RC Flight Simulator and not one I’ve tried. It doesn’t cost much yet seems to boast a few unique features. It comes with assembly sticks that use double bearings. That suggests they stay in place after long-time use. I like that fact that it’s a USB setup too. All you do is plug the controller into the computer’s USB port to play (no batteries needed).
Lutema Heligram RC 2.4GHz Flight Simulator for Helicopters
Best Helicopter Simulator
Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5
This is the Lutema 2.4GHz Heligram Flight Simulator. It’s for helicopter practice and comes with LED SkyText Technology. It’s a fun product to use and lets pilots display custom messages on the blades which is a bit gimmicky. There’s a virtual flight range of 100 ft. (30 M). The controller allows pilots to maneuver in all directions. Simulations include dual speed, gyro stabilization, and in-flight sounds.
Absolute RC Simulator App (Free to Use)
Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator Free
Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5
Absolute RC Simulator is free to download, so it has 100s of reviews. Despite that, it only gets an average rating from all the feedback. That’s likely because the graphics are subpar. I still think it’s a brilliant introduction for first-time users, and it’s versatile too. You can use it with RC planes, helis, and boats. It even comes equipped with 4 different camera modes.
Pilots get to choose from several flying fields. Skilled users can exploit various interactive objects to advance their aerial skills further. This app has 4 control modes and 3 skill level settings.
Helicopter 3D Rescue Simulator App for Planes and Choppers (Free)
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5
This is the 3D helicopter rescue flight simulator app and another free download. It provides fun and challenging virtual flight practice for helis and RC planes. The app comes with several challenges that include engaging rescue missions. There are also heavy lifts as well as carrying victims to hospitals. Other standout features are the realistic sound effects and detailed chopper rescue environments.
City Plane 3D Aircraft Pilot Flight Simulator (Free Download)
Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5
This app based flight simulator is a training app for flying passenger jet airplanes. It has two main practice flight modes. One is the Emergency Plane Landing and the other is Airplane Rescue. It’s more of a game than a realistic RC training simulator, but you can download it for free and take a look.
Airplane Flight Simulator RC by RC i6 Games (Free Download)
Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5
Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac Os X
Last on the list is an airplane flight simulator app with lots of flight training programs. Users can learn how to take off, land, perform emergency water landings, and control the aircraft in a storm. Other flight practices include banner advertising, racing, firefighting, and landing on an aircraft carrier. There are tons of missions and 40 levels to choose from at the time of writing. It’s free to download.
Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator Mac
Summing Up
Free Rc Helicopter Flight Simulator For Mac
Modern RC planes come with many failsafe and beginner-friendly flying modes. Even so, pilots of all levels do crash on occasion, especially when they take full control of the plane. Flight simulators help you develop real skills without the risk of damage to the actual model. Plus, simulators are fun to use indoors when the weather’s too bad to fly outside.