IFR Trainer Flight Instruments vs SimControlX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments
Master instrument flying with interactive modules and a built-in simulator. Practice navigation instruments, IFR procedures, and holding patterns. Ideal for student pilots and instructors preparing for instrument ratings.
- Interactive navigation instrument modules
- IFR procedure simulator
- Holding pattern practice
- Step-by-step learning
- Built-in IFR simulator
- Real-world holding entry training
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Master instrument flying with this all-in-one IFR trainer. Includes interactive modules for ADF/RMI (FREE), VOR/ILS, HSI, IFR procedures and holding patterns. Ideal for student pilots and flight instructors preparing for instrument rating (IR). • Learn & practice navigation instruments step-by-step • Use animations and interactive exercises • Train with our built-in IFR simulator • Practice real-world holding entries (parallel, teardrop, direct) ### Modules: 1. ADF/RMI Instructor (Free Trial) 2. VOR + ILS Instructor 3. HSI Trainer 4. IFR Procedure Simulator 5. Holding Pattern Instructor Whether you're preparing for your checkride, IR test, or just want to improve situational awareness, this app helps you fly safer and smarter. Designed by pilots, for pilots. ▶ Try the ADF/RMI module for free! ▶ Trusted by aviation schools worldwide. FlyGo Aviation – Elevate Your IFR Skills.
SimControlX
Control your flight simulator from your iPad with this instructor station app. Remotely manage aircraft position, weather, and system failures for realistic training and enhanced gameplay. Connects via Wi-Fi to supported simulators.
- iPad instructor station for flight simulators
- Remote aircraft repositioning
- Customizable weather settings
- Simulated system and engine failures
- Worldwide moving map with flight path tracing
- Quick Wi-Fi connection to simulator
- Fuel and battery recharge options
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SimControlX is a sophisticated iPad-based Instructor / Operator Station (IOS) for Prepar3D®, X-Plane and ELITE XTS flight simulators (please review currently supported simulator versions below). SimControlX brings updated iOS platform support, various under-the-hood improvements, a fresh look-and-feel as well as useful new features to its capable predecessor SimControl. It uses Wi-Fi to communicate to the host simulator via custom server software which can be obtained from www.simcontrol.net. SimControlX will enhance your flight simulator experience unlike any other app on the market. This app gives you the power of a powerful instructor station, in your lap! SimControlX grants users the ability to reposition aircraft instantly, change the wind and weather, fail engine components or instruments for realistic training in your simulator and much more without ever needing to get out of the captain’s chair or interrupt the simulation. This helps make the experience fun again by alleviating many of the common complaints, distractions, and tasks that require navigating through multiple computer screens. SimControlX also makes training scenarios easier than ever to achieve. With the use of instant aircraft repositioning you could, for instance, set yourself up for an approach 5, 10 or 15 nautical miles from the runway or even left or right downwind, as many times as you need or practice engine out procedures with the press of a button. Supported Simulators: - Prepar3D® v3.4, v4.0+ and 5.0+ - X-Plane 10 [64-bit] and X-Plane 11 - ELITE XTS Key Features: - Worldwide moving map screen with flight path tracing (requires internet connection) - Changing of user aircraft without using any tedious menus in the host simulator (P3D & X-Plane only) - Instant repositioning of aircraft - Set custom weather settings with multiple layers - Option to use current real METAR weather settings for your local area (requires internet connection) - Quick and easy connection to the simulator over WiFi - Fuel top off and battery recharge at the click of a button - AI traffic display on map (P3D & X-Plane only) - Dedicated failures page for instruments, systems, and engine malfunctions and random failures * This software as well as included data and charts are NOT for real world aviation use. They are intended for flight simulator use only. You must consult appropriate sources before flying a real aircraft. * More information available at www.simcontrol.net * For app support please contact support@simcontrol.net * For non-support questions, please use this email: info@simcontrol.net Credits: * Simulator connectivity thanks to Lockheed Martin® Prepar3D®, Laminar Research's X-Plane and ELITE Simulation Solutions XTS
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: IFR Trainer Flight Instruments at Free against SimControlX's $19.99. IFR Trainer Flight Instruments also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (952 vs 4). SimControlX's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments is free to download; SimControlX costs $19.99 up front. IFR Trainer Flight Instruments sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. SimControlX asks for nothing beyond the download.
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Trainer Flight Instruments has 952 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of IFR Trainer Flight Instruments's written reviews are positive against 50% of SimControlX's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IFR Trainer Flight Instruments | SimControlX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (952 ratings) — better | 3.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 952 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Flygo-Aviation Ltd | ELITE Simulation Solutions AG |
Customer experience
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments
SimControlX
In-app purchases
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments
- Holding Instructor$5.99
- VOR+ILS Instructor$9.99
- HSI Instructor$9.99
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- IFR Simulator$11.99
- All in one$31.99
- All in one$37.99
SimControlX
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IFR Trainer Flight Instruments free?
Is SimControlX free?
Which has better reviews, IFR Trainer Flight Instruments or SimControlX?
Do IFR Trainer Flight Instruments or SimControlX have ads?
Which is updated more often, IFR Trainer Flight Instruments or SimControlX?
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