In addition to buying additional airplanes, you can subscribe to global scenery for $49.99/year.

The free version doesn’t have as many limitations as you might expect: it’s a solid simulator right from the start. X-Plane is free to download, and while it really flies on newer iPad Pro models, it will run on any device with iOS 13 or newer. You can even set these to “could fail” to add some surprise factor. This makes it fast and easy to set the flaps to fail or leave the fuel cap off. The bottom of every Free Flight launch page includes options for airplane, location, weather, time, and failures.

The other feature we really like is the option to adjust weather and fail systems.

For basic glass cockpit proficiency, it’s a lot more than a game. For example, when you tap on a light switch, the app will show you what it does. This isn’t exactly like the real thing, but it’s pretty close. You can push all the buttons, engage the autopilot, and tune the radios. The latest update includes an improved Cirrus Jet, with a surprisingly lifelike G1000 panel. The level of detail in the cockpits is exceptional, with every switch and knob visible (and adjustable). Additional airplanes cost between 99 cents and $4.99. The app includes a Cessna 172, Cirrus SF50 jet, Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, and F-22 Raptor by default. You can choose from a pre-loaded Challenge, or select Free Flight to choose your airplane, airport, and weather. The mobile version has most of the features that have made the original one so popular, including realistic airplane models, stunning scenery, and intuitive controls. X-Plane is a familiar name among pilots, as the company has offered a robust desktop simulator for many years. Here are our top picks for flight simulators that work on the iPad and won’t make pilots roll their eyes. Lots of these have flashy videos in the App Store, but most of them are aimed at casual gamers, not pilots. For those reasons-and many more-there is still a thriving market in iPad-based flight simulators. If you want the best flight simulator experience this is the way to go.īut not everyone has a Windows computer that’s powerful enough to run MSFS, and sometimes you only have time for a quick sim session. This is an impressive new option, and when paired to high quality flight controls, it’s a valuable resource for keeping current at home (but don’t try to learn crosswind landings on it). Mention “flight simulator” right now and most pilots will think of the new Microsoft Flight Simulator, which has been one of the hot topics in aviation since it was released last year.

Flight simulator for macbook pro