What RealFlight Trainer Edition is
This is a radio-control flight simulator for your PC, built to teach you how to fly model airplanes and helicopters before you risk a real one. It runs on the RealPhysics engine and was designed by both full-scale and RC pilots, so the flight behavior of each model is reproduced carefully. The simulation includes electronic assistance systems found on real models, such as SAFE and AS3X, so you can practice with the same help you would have in the air for real. Eight trainer aircraft from Horizon Hobby come with it: the Blade 230 S V2, Blade 330 S, E-flite Apprentice STS 1.5m, E-flite Habu STS 70mm EDF, HobbyZone Aeroscout S, HobbyZone Apprentice STOL S 700mm, HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ 1.3m, and HobbyZone Sport Cub S.
Flying together with friends
The game supports online co-op and online PvP, so you and your friends can fly at the same time over the internet. You can meet up at the same flying site, take turns at the controls, or fly against each other. Two locations are available from the start: Eli Field in Monticello, Illinois, the home field of Horizon Hobby with side-by-side paved and grass runways, and Carl Henson Field in Eugene, Oregon, home of the Eugene R/C Aeronauts, with a wide grass runway. Both are open spaces suited to learning, and they give your group a shared place to practice together.
Training and unlocking more content
Training modules walk you through the basics with an experienced pilot explaining flight assistance features and the knowledge you need to succeed. As you log flight time, you earn extra aircraft and airports at no additional cost. Two hours of flight time unlocks a set of "Next Step" models such as the Blade 150 S, e-flite Night Radian 2.0m, and e-flite T-28 Trojan 1.1m, plus the Alpine Meadow and Athletic Club airports. Four hours adds more, including the e-flite Turbo Timber Evolution 1.5m and the Alpine Lake and Soccer Field sites, one of which is an indoor setting and another a float flying site. When you want to go further, an upgrade to RealFlight Evolution is available with over 300 more aircraft, more than 75 flying sites, custom content, and the full suite of Challenges.
What you need before starting
A controller is required. The recommended option is the Spektrum InterLink DX simulator controller, which comes pre-configured for RealFlight. You can also use your own RC radio through a wireless interface such as the Spektrum WS2000 dongle or another third-party wireless interface, or connect a USB-capable transmitter directly. Any 4-axis game controller, such as a gamepad or advanced flight stick, works too, though these last three options need some setup on your end.