Learn or improve your flying without the financial trauma
This is a quick guide to help you install Real Flight 7.5 or RF 7.5 on your computer. Nate from TheRcSaylors will walk you through the easy installation ste. This is a quick guide to help you install Real Flight 7.5 or RF 7.5 on your computer. Nate from TheRcSaylors will walk you through the easy installation ste.
Text, photos and video by Tom Hintz
Computer sequences recorded from RealFlight 7.5
Posted – 2-19-2015
One of the truly wonderful things about learning to fly or improving those skills in a world filled with home computers is being able to buy a piece of software like RealFlight 7.5. To be sure, flight simulators have come a long way in recent years in terms of realistic flying characteristics that translate directly to your real world flying field. The digital crashes may not be overly realistic (no flying balsa or gnashing of the teeth) but the causes for them are very real. You mess up, you fly into the ground. Spot on real. Also totally unrealistic is the lack of financial hardship crashes can induce. In the RealFlight 7.5 world you push a button to resurrect the aircraft and try again.
The Basics
RealFlight 7.5 comes with a bunch of different schemes beyond just learning to fly. You can quite literally turn this into an arcade game of sorts complete with multi-player capabilities where you can host or join on-line games with other RealFlight 7.5 users. While I did explore those parts of RealFlight 7.5 my primary interest is using this as a learning platform that saves you and me money in the real world.
RealFlight 7.5 comes with a selection of airplanes, helicopters, multi-rotors and sailplanes totaling 140 aircraft. You also get over 40 flying sites to choose from including grass and paved runways as well as some pretty “different” flying sites that will certainly break the monotony if that I even possible with software like this. You can edit the aircraft and the flying fields which can be a huge help if you have unusual obstacles at your field.
RealFlight 7.5 also includes game-like “challenges” that force you to do increasingly difficult things with an aircraft in order to compete. There are special “challenges” for 3D and multi-rotors. Many of these are designed to force you to expand your flying capabilities and you have to complete one level satisfactorily to “unlock” the next level.
RealFlight 7.5 uses something called RealPhysics™ that makes the simulation more realistic and helps translate skills learned in RealFlight 7.5 to the real world with surprising accuracy. Plus you can control the environment to closely replicate wind conditions common to your flying site. You decide how strong the wind is coming from what direction and even manipulate the amount of turbulence. The aircraft really do react to the weather realistically which can be a huge benefit for those of us wanting to fly on days the wind is not calm.
RealFlight 7.5 allows you to tailor the on screen appearance through magnification and gadgets such as binoculars. You can record your best flights and even put a digital InterLink Elite controller on the screen that shows the sticks moving in real time as you fly the aircraft.
I bought the RealFlight 7.5 version that comes with an InterLink Elite controller, specifically designed for use with RealFlight 7.5. You can’t fly a real aircraft with this InterLink Elite controller but you don’t have to task one of your real radios to work with RealFlight 7.5 and run those batteries down or forget it is hooked up to the flight sim when you go to the field without it. The InterLink Elite controller feels much like a real transmitter and provides good practice for your flying fingers that translates to your real transmitter very well. If you fly helicopters they include a piece that you can install to get rid of the ratchet on the throttle. Many airplane pilots (me also) also like to get rid of the ratchet feel.
Of course the InterLink Elite controller comes with a “reset” button that we all wish our real RC equipment had. Fly an aircraft into the ground and all you have to do is push the reset button and the aircraft returns to the runway, ready for another attempt. Not at all realistic but its intention is spot on – to make learning faster.
Digital Instructor Pilots
Realflight 7.5 3d
One of the things I really like about RealFlight 7.5 is the training section that has several top level pilots demonstrating and talking you through many of the aerobatic moves we want to learn. The combination of seeing the plane do the maneuver, seeing how the sticks move and hearing the pilot tell you how and why this happens is invaluable. You get to fly in the same environment as the digital instructor and be able to re-play the how-to flight over and over to see exactly what they are doing.
In the Air
I know that RealFlight 7.5 has lots of nice gaming features but I am far more interested in the learning capabilities this software has. Having the InterLink Elite controller makes lots of sense to me and after using it extensively over the last several months I can say with confidence that it feels very much like the Spektrum DX8 I use at the field. So far, if I can do it in RealFlight 7.5 I can do it with my aircraft at the field. OK, I am still working on hovering planes, especially with the tail in the grass. I can do it within RealFlight 7.5 and that practice makes me more confident with my real-world models ad I am bringing the real models closer and closer to the ground.
Practicing in RealFlight 7.5 also lets you find the best way to bail out of a failed maneuver to save the plane and avoid any human units in the vicinity. Getting comfortable flying an aircraft out of a failed maneuver not only saves you tons of repair dollars, it makes you a better and safer pilot. The realistic reactions of the digital aircraft in RealFlight 7.5 lets you work on that skill regardless of the time of day or weather.
The huge selection of aircraft within RealFlight 7.5 means you can try out different styles of planes and actually get a feel for how they fly. You can also buy additional “aircraft packs” to expand your digital air force. This again gets back to the realistic flight characteristics of RealFlight 7.5. I often hear pilots I am helping remark how similar flying their plane at the field is to flying the digital version at home. It is no coincidence that the new pilots who practice on RealFlight 7.5 at home are making rapid progress with the real models at the field.
One of the downfalls for all simulators is depth of field and how the models look in the air in terms of size and distance. RealFlight 7.5 addresses this with the ability to zoom in on the aircraft which helps you see what you are doing much easier. I still fly the biggest aircraft I can find in a simulator because of the visibility and because they seem to be the most realistic feeling when I fly them. This applies to both fixed and rotary wing craft in RealFlight 7.5. This also seems to be true with other RC-based flight simulators I have tried.
The biggest knock I have against RealFlight 7.5 is the difficulty involved in dialing in dual rates and expo. It appears that it can be done but the interface to do so is anything but intuitive. The good news is that the models come with some dual rates and so far, those have sufficed for my current piloting skills. If you feel the need to alter these settings locating a teenager and putting a $20 on him to do it for you might be the least frustrating plan.
Conclusions
I think RealFlight 7.5 is the best flight simulator you can get to help learning to fly RC models or improve your skills. Since coming back to RC flying the students I have helped that were practicing in RealFlight 7.5 always advanced faster. I know this software is not free but its very real ability to save an aircraft makes the purchase price money well spent.
RealFlight 7.5 with the controller as shown in this review is selling for about $169.99 (2-17-2015) and there are other versions that have less and cost less. You just have to Google RealFlight 7.5 and see what you like best. RealFlight 7.5 does not sell directly to the public but their site does have the best info on this software.
Whether you are brand new to RC flying or a grizzled veteran just wanting to practice on bad weather days RealFlight 7.5 deserves a hard look. The realistic flight performance makes what you learn at the digital flying field apply to the real world field. I really like being able to practice a new maneuver without worry about killing an aircraft. Having tried this process many times now I am confident that I can take what learn in RealFlight 7.5 to the field and it is going to feel remarkably similar. I don’t know what more a flight simulator can do.
To see the system requirements for RealFlight 7.5 - Click Here
T visit the RealFlight 7.5 product page on their site- Click Here
Have a comment on this review? –Email Me!
RealFlight owners…download free, software updates with new aircraft, flying sites and more!
Now you can always have the most current version of RealFlight.
Our RealFlight Development team never stops working on new ways to keep RealFlight simulator fresh, exciting, and valuable for improving your skills. Updates let you enjoy their latest innovations without waiting for a new version — and what's even better is that they're available free via the Launcher's 'Registration/Updates' option.
Updates
Realflight 7.5 Dongle
RealFlight Trainer Edition
(August 2020)
RealFlight Trainer Edition is now available on Steam! This streamlined version of RealFlight has everything beginners need to become a confident and capable pilot.
RealFlight Trainer Edition ships with 5 airplanes and 1 helicopter from Horizon Hobby. They are variously equipped with SAFE, SAFE+, AS3X, and LAS technology.
The vehicle roster includes the brand new E-flite Habu STS 70mm EDF! The Habu is a sport jet which is capable of aerobatic flight and yet friendly enough to also function as a trainer for first-time pilots. 3S and 4S variants are included.
Also included are flight training lessons from experienced pilots that walk inexperienced flyers through the controls and features of the trainer models before progressing to the basics of flight.
RealFlight Trainer Edition is distributed through Steam. You can get it:
- With the RTF version of the Habu, which includes both a Spektrum WS2000 dongle and a code for obtaining RF Trainer Edition on Steam!
- Directly from the Steam store.
- By purchasing a Steam key at your favorite hobby shop.
- RealFlight Trainer Edition owners can also upgrade to the Steam edition of RealFlight 9 at a discounted price, making this a great entry point for new RealFlight users and a fantastic bonus for people who purchase the Habu RTF version!
For more information please visit the RealFlight Trainer Edition page on Steam.
Realflight 7.5 Fpv Drones
RF-9
Realflight 7.5 Rc Flight Simulator
- Version 9.00.022 (November 2019)
- New Features
- New vehicle: E-flite V-22 Osprey VTOL
- Multiplayer is now merged with sessions and players from RealFlight 7 and RealFlight 8
- Added 11 new 'InterLink DX' aircraft variants configured for separate rates. Aileron, elevator, and rudder rates are each controlled by a separate switch. (Any controller with enough input channels can utilize this; in practice that mostly means the InterLink DX.)
- One of the new 'InterLink DX' aircraft variants is also configured for triple rates. Each rate switch (aileron, elevator, & rudder) has low, medium, and high rate values.
- Increased the number of vehicle receiver channels from 12 to 15. This allows all 15 InterLink DX channels to be used simultaneously on a single vehicle.
- Improvements/Fixes
- Display names for InterLink DX input channels are more descriptive
- MFC aircraft and airport selection dialog layouts are adjusted to better support content with long names
- Radio profiles where channels are not mapped straight across (input channel 1 is mapped to output channel 1, etc.) work properly in the trainers, with autopilot, and with FlightAxis Link
- Welcome dialog: Fixed an outdated tip
- Aircraft
- New separate rates variants:
- E-flite Extra 300 3D 1.3m (InterLink DX)
- E-flite Havoc Xe 80mm EDF (InterLink DX)
- E-flite Timber X 1.2m (3D) (InterLink DX)
- E-flite Viper 70mm EDF (InterLink DX)
- E3D (InterLink DX)
- Futaba Sky Leaf 55 (InterLink DX)
- Great Planes Factor 30cc (InterLink DX)
- Hangar 9 P-51D Mustang 20cc (InterLink DX) - triple rates
- Hangar 9 Ultra Stick 30cc (InterLink DX)
- Multiplex ParkMaster 3D (InterLink DX)
- PAU 36% Edge 540 (InterLink DX) - Hangar 9 Cubcrafters XCub 60cc: Fixed a setup issue with power configuration (no change in flight behavior)
- New separate rates variants:
- How to Get It
- DVD and Tower Hobbies Digital versions:
Start the RealFlight Launcher. The option to update will appear below the usual 'Run RealFlight' button. - Steam version:
You can trigger the update by completely restarting Steam. Right click the Steam icon in your system tray and select Exit. Once everything closes, run Steam again, and the update should complete.
- DVD and Tower Hobbies Digital versions:
RF-8
- Version 8.00.019 (October 2017)
- New Features
- The Gremlin 280, a new high-performance 280-class heli
- A user interface is available in VR. Interact with it via the InterLink controller's UI buttons (recommended) or your computer's mouse.
- 8 new scenarios
- Fixes/Improvements
- VR: Added a 'VR Scale' property to onboard camera components. Adjusting this makes the cockpit camera experience more VR friendly, and can make models feel full scale while you're in them.
- VR: Added a 'VR User Interface Scale' property in the Settings dialog for adjusting the size of the UI while in VR
- VR: Added a helpful error message if RealFlight and your VR system are using different graphics adapters
- VR: For preexisting content (i.e., swap pages models), onboard cameras with simulated head movement enabled will use a different, friendlier 'VR Scale' default value
- Multiplayer: If someone is flying a drone model that you do not have, a generic drone model will be rendered in its place
- Multiplayer: The generic plane and heli models do not trigger an 'invalid colorscheme' console error message
- FBX Import: Normal and specular maps are correctly imported
- FBX Import: Propellers and heli blades import properly
- FBX Import: Models can be imported as airport objects
- Flight Modes gadget now appears in the lower right corner by default
- Added some Welcome dialog tips of the day
- Added 'Pause Sim When in Background' RF setting
- Misc. translations improvements
- Launcher: The Launcher has received a cosmetic and functional overhaul
- AIRCRAFT:
- Riley Model B: Removed a spurious rudder input mixed with aileron, increased rudder deflection, corrected main wing dihedral
- Synergy 766: Tweaked some gains for more accurate performance
- Tiny Terror 150: Has a tighter tune and more power
- Various: Tuned 'VR Scale' setting for cockpit cameras to improve the experience when flying inside the vehicle
- New Features
RF-X
- Version 1.00.042 (March 2017)
- New Features
- Flite Test Versacopter V2
- Gaui X7 FZ
- Gee Bee R-2
- Great Planes Factor 30cc/EP
- Wolf Spyder
- xCraft X PlusOne
- Fixes/Improvements
- Temporal Antialiasing (TAA) Improvements. A few highlights:
- The aircraft itself will be antialiased
- Aircraft will have a smoother shape in the distance
- Transparency is handled better in a few different circumstances
- Ghosting is reduced - Settings: The selected video mode is always used
- Settings: The highest available color depth will be used
- Settings: A secondary sort is applied to video resolutions based on refresh rate
- Settings: Fixed some other misc. video setting bugs
- Rewind: Heli rotor RPM and collective are correctly restored
- Rewind: Electric motors are properly restored to running state
- Rewind: Visual effects go away after changing aircraft during rewind
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Added support for custom flight mode names
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Added HUD support for Headless mode
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Added support for xCraft X PlusOne tail sitter design
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Headless mode's stored heading is now correct
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Vehicle remains steady during transitions between all modes
- Multirotor Flight Controller: Return to Launch maintains intended altitude and lands gently
- Selection dialogs: Home/End keys jump to top/bottom of list, respectively
- Selection dialogs: Name sort is case insensitive
- Selection dialogs: The different sort types use more fitting ascending or descending behavior
- Selection dialogs: Alt key does not engage the Filter box
- Flight Logs from version 1.00.028 display 0 for speed instead of a garbage value (old flight logs do not contain speed data)
- Hand-launch vehicle orientation is based on plane spawn orientation
- Depth of Field effect does not affect the controller display in the calibration dialog
- RF-97 Sailplane (Advanced) and X8 Quadcopter 1260 (Advanced) variants are available in the Vehicle Editor Beta
- Fixed issue preventing online updates for some users with non-English versions of Windows
- Performing this online update will change the physics multithreading setting to off, which is the new default
- LauncherHelper: Cached collision files are cleaned out during online updates
- Temporal Antialiasing (TAA) Improvements. A few highlights:
- AIRCRAFT:
- Thunderbolt Sbach 35% (both variants): Cosmetic upgrades
- Misc. art fixes:
- Flite Test Explorer Sport
- Flite Test Explorer Trainer
- H4 Quadcopter 520
- Hexacopter 780
- Octocopter 1000
- Python Biplane
- Quadcopter X
- Tricopter 900
- X8 Quadcopter 1260 (both variants) - Misc. transparency fixes:
- E3D
- Great Planes Revolver
- Mitsubishi A6M Zero
- RF-97 Sailplane
- Synergy E7
- Thunderbolt Sbach 35%
- Twinstar
- New Features
- Version 1.00.037 (December 2016)
- New Features
- Flite Test Tiny Trainer - The Sport variant, with an electric motor system and 4-channel control
- KDE 700 - A high-performance 700-class heli
- Green Grass Flatlands - A new airport designed to offer improved performance
- Saturation slider in Video Settings - The Sierra Nevada terrain in RF-X can appear too desaturated on some monitors. Use this slider if you want to punch up the color a bit.
- Binocular and HUD support for Flight Logs
- Resolution video setting includes available monitor refresh rates
- Fixes/Improvements
- Numerous performance optimizations
- Resolution options always reflect 32-bit color depth
- Countdown timer for video resolution changes behaves as expected
- Application window is sized correctly on displays with high DPI settings
- Vehicle placement behavior on reset is improved
- Only flight logs for existing vehicles are displayed
- Smoke remains enabled after switching between Sierra Nevada airports and Green Grass Flatlands
- Pilot spawn names are more descriptive
- Sim returns to the main menu if a vehicle fails to load
- Orbit & pivot camera modes are more responsive to mouse inputs
- Alphabetical sort option in selection dialogs is case insensitive
- Eliminated various memory leaks
- Miscellaneous other bugs
- Launcher: .DCKs are properly removed during uninstall
- Vehicle Editor (available separately)
- A new beta version of the RealFlight Vehicle Editor, 0.9.1, is available. You can install it over the top of the previous version to update.
- New Features
- Beta Update - Version 1.00.034 (November 2016)
- Vehicle Editor:
- Design, redesign, and modify existing aircraft to suit your tastes with the vehicle editor (available separately).
- Familiar toolkits similar to previous versions and compatibility with most older swap files.
- Supports open source FBX files; compatible with 3D Studio Max.
- 5X as many polys supported as ever before.
- Performance Enhancements:
- Improved frame rates and smoother operation throughout.
- RF-X now starts in 'Full-Screen' with a 'desktop' option.
- Green Grass Flatlands flying site for easy, less graphics-intensive flying.
- Vehicle Editor:
RealFlight Mobile
- 1.4 Update (January 2017)
- New Scorpion Sky Strider 280
- New Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
- 1.3 Update (July 2016)
- improve the flightcharacteristics of several models, including the new Xplorer V and the Tempest 280.
RealFlight Drone
- 1.00.035 Update (December 2016)
- The Scorpion Sky Strider 280 is a stylish 280-class FPV racing quad. We recreated two variants: one with the optional 5-degree angled arm clamps, and one with the optional 10-degree clamps. Both provide greater forward speed and visibility at lower vehicle tilt angles than a quad with upright motors.
- The xCraft X PlusOne is a unique hybrid design. The X PlusOne takes off, lands, and hovers like a quadcopter but tilts forward to fly like an airplane. With no control surfaces, all directional control comes from the four motors.
- 1.00.033 Update (July 2015)
- fully operational 3-axis gimbal for the Xiro Xplorer G
- headless mode can now be customized just like the 3 main flight modes
- Both versions of the Xplorer now have GPS
- Accessing both Xplorers is smoother and quicker than ever
RealFlight 7.5
- Update N (April 2015)
- Futaba Sky Leaf
RealFlight 7
- Update M (April 2014)
- Quadcopter trials
- Flyzone Calypso
- Update L (February 2014)
- Shipwreck HD
- Limbo III: 10 new ways to see how low you can go.
- Update K (January 2014)
- Great Planes Proud Bird ARF
- Balloon Burst III, with 10 exciting new levels.
- Update J (December 2013)
- The land/water classic: Flyzone DHC-2 Beaver
- Ring Race III
- Ring Race II: Bonus flying site!
- New, 27K polygon capabilities for builders
- Update I (November 2013)
- Flyzone Hadron Flying Wing
RealFlight 6.5
- Update H (January 2013)
- Heli-Max 1SQ Quadcopter
- Update G (December 2012)
- Gaui X7
- Update F (July 2012)
- The Giant Top Flite F4U Corsair
- Update E (June 2012)
- BF109e Messerschmitt
- Update D (May 2012)
- Enjoy a true change of pace: pilot an airboat!
- 3D Bayou Water Site
- Record engine sounds for RealFlight aircraft.
- Update C (April 2012)
- Synergy E6 and E7 Helis
- Try this option in 'engine out' flying
- Add more real-life details to your airports
- Customize the appearance of props
- Update B (March 2012)
- Gaui 330X-S Quad Flyer
- New customizing options for the NavGuide
- Create custom heli blades.
- Update A (February 2012)
- Great Planes® F-86 Sabre EDF
- Skycrane Helicopter
- Junkyard Airport 3D Site
How to Update
Open your software's Launcher and click Additional Options. Select Registration/Update and click the 'Check for updates before starting RealFlight' box. RealFlight will automatically search for new updates and download them for you. It's safe to say that keeping your copy of RealFlight current has never been easier.
- New Features