Comparison

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs Ranger Trainer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

Practice instrument flight rules (IFR) navigation with this simulator. Learn and improve IFR procedures, including VOR, NDB, and holding patterns. Offers cockpit and map modes with adjustable wind and built-in tasks for comprehensive pilot training.

Highlights
  • Cockpit and map modes
  • VOR, NDB, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI instruments
  • Approach procedure practice
  • Adjustable wind settings
  • Holding pattern simulation
  • Custom scenario creation
  • Built-in training tasks
Features
Read full description

Flying by instrument flight rules (IFR) is not an easy task, especially for student pilots. With the IFR Flight Trainer Simulator, students can easily develop and experienced pilots can quickly improve their understanding of IFR navigation. This is the perfect app for learning and practicing IFR procedures, and it is much cheaper than a single flight hour. Try it out if you want to acquire an instrument rating or just want to brush up your IFR skills. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was designed with simplicity and intuitive operability in mind. The instruments available are: VOR, RMI, HSI, EHSI, DME, Directional Gyro and airspeed indicator. Thanks to a NAV 1 and a NAV 2 modes, you will also be able to train for two NDB/VOR approaches. Main features: • COCKPIT/MAP - Use the cockpit mode to practice and use the map mode to set up a scenario and check you progress. Both the aircraft and ground stations can be easily relocated to a new position by dragging and dropping them. • VOR, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI - This aviation app is carefully designed to reflect the characteristics of different instruments. Choose between VOR or NDB navigation, select your instruments (HSI/EHSI or RMI) and a speed range up to 400 kts. • APPROACH PROCEDURES - IFR Flight Trainer Simulator will help learn how to track a radial, how to intercept a radial outbound, inbound, how to fly a DME arc, and so on. It is the simplest way to learn the navigation procedures inside out! • WIND - Have you become familiar with all the procedures? Add some wind to spice things up. The wind settings are displayed on separate screen, where you can set its direction and speed to increase the challenge. • HOLDING - Set and practice standard or non-standard holding patterns. Test you skills with VOR or NDB fix holdings. You already know where your next flight will happen? Build a scenario for it in the app to practice what awaits you in real life. This way you can practice your flight in a safe environment before facing the real challenge in the cockpit. If you want to learn the essentials, take a look at the built-in tasks as well. All features: • Use the classic or glass cockpit mode to simulate what you see in a real aircraft • Use the map mode to learn and understand the procedures from a third-person point of view • Choose between VOR and NDB navigation • Use the following, carefully designed instruments: RMI, HSI, EHSI, Directional gyro, DME, Airspeed indicator • Fly your own routes by creating challenging scenarios, using holding patterns and adjusting the wind • Test your knowledge through various built-in tasks • Drag & drop the aircraft or ground station symbols to move them around quickly • Turn the aircraft with 1.5°/s, 3°/s (standard), 6°/s and 9°/s modes, or just simply rotate the compass dial • View your flight path by enabling the aircraft track trail • Simulate winds up to 50 kts • Practice IFR flying procedures by generating random scenarios Download the app to see for yourself whether we can help you learn the essentials of IFR navigation. Try it for free and prepare at home without wasting expensive flight or simulator time.

About

Ranger Trainer

This app offers an instrument navigation trainer for the TH-57C Sea Ranger helicopter. It provides free features for radial interception and beacon tracking, with a full version offering advanced wind modeling, directional gyro failure practice, and multiple display options.

Highlights
  • Instrument navigation training
  • Radial interception
  • NDB tracking
  • Rate turns
  • Wind modeling
  • Partial-panel practice
Features
Read full description

Get your head in the clouds with this instrument trainer for the TH-57C Sea Ranger. Why sit behind a computer screen or fight for simulator time when you can have the next best thing with this app! Free features include navigation aid radial interception and non-directional beacon tracking information, and standard and half-standard rate turns at a set airspeed. Full version features include a variety of airspeeds, accurate wind modeling of up to 140 knots with ground track references, selectable navigation needles and sources, selectable NAVAID with/without DME, ability to fail directional gyro for partial-panel practice, and multiple display and orientation options. *** This application is not endorsed by the Department of Defense ***

Screenshots

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator4 screens
Ranger Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator at 82% against Ranger Trainer's 0%. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator also leads on ratings volume (76 vs 19). Ranger Trainer's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Ranger Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ranger Trainer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 19 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 0% of Ranger Trainer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, Ranger Trainer monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator versus Ranger Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Flight Trainer SimulatorRanger Trainer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (76 ratings)4.6 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings76 — better19
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB20 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdMatthew Krivohlavy

Customer experience

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

All ratings76 ratings
Positive71.1%
Neutral6.6%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews130 reviews
Positive81.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative13.8%

Ranger Trainer

All ratings19 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes after short usage periods
  • Heading indicator gets stuck causing continuous turning
  • HSI radials appear to be offset or incorrect
  • DME distance calculations may be inaccurate (slant range issue)
  • Task completion triggers before reaching waypoints
Show 1 more
  • OBS cannot be changed without paid upgrade

Requested features

8 requests
  • Standard rate turn simulation for realistic intercepts and holdings
  • LOC (Localizer) mode for HSI reverse sensing practice
  • Fixed-card ADF instrument option
  • Adjustable turn rate settings to match different aircraft
  • Error feedback display showing incorrect flight paths
Show 3 more
  • Bearing and course to station relative to VOR1/VOR2
  • Higher difficulty levels for advanced pilots
  • Extended free trial period for proper app evaluation

Ranger Trainer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

One-time2
  • IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
  • IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99
1 purchases

Ranger Trainer

One-time1
  • Full Version$1.99

Questions

Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ranger Trainer free?
Ranger Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Ranger Trainer?
Ranger Trainer is rated higher. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator averages 3.9 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Ranger Trainer averages 4.6 from 19 ratings.
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Ranger Trainer have ads?
Neither IFR Flight Trainer Simulator nor Ranger Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Ranger Trainer?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, and Ranger Trainer monthly. Most recently, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ranger Trainer on October 24, 2026.

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