IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs Flight School Apps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Flight School Apps
This app provides supplemental pilot training materials for various aircraft, including Cessna, Citation, Piper, and more. It offers study tools for written exams, oral exams, and general aviation knowledge, with options for flashcards, quizzes, and memory items.
- Aircraft system study tools
- Flashcards and quizzes
- Memory item study
- Aircraft limitations study
- Worldwide weather and flight planning
- Custom flashcard maker
- Aircraft conversion calculator
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This app is not associated with the aircraft manufacturer. The information is supplemental and does not replace the aircraft flight manual. Information may vary depending on your airline or companies policies and procedures. WHAT KIND OF AIRCRAFT ARE AVAILABLE? CESSNA Cessna 152 Cessna 162 Skycatcher Cessna 172N Cessna 172P Cessna 172SP Cessna 182S Cessna Caracvan C208 CITATION Citation II Citation Mustang Citation M2 Citation CJ, CJ1, CJ1+, CJ2, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ3+, CJ4 Citation XLS+ Citation X PIPER Piper Archer Piper Archer LX Piper Warrior Piper Seneca I Piper Seneca II Piper Seminole Piper Arrow Piper Cherokee Piper (PA46) M350 CIRRUS Cirrus SR20/SR22 PILATUS PC12-45 PC12-47 PC12-47E NG MULTI-ENGINE Multi-Engine Oral Study App BEECHCRAFT King Air 90 King Air 200 King Air 300/350 EMBRAER Phenom 100 Phenom 300 ERJ-145 E-170/175/190 BOMBARDIER Challenger 300 CRJ-200 CRJ-700/900 AIRBUS A320 BOEING B-737-300/400/500 B-737-700/800 B-747/400 B-757/767 B777 B787 DIAMOND AIRCERAFT DA-20 DA-40 DA-42 DAHER-SOCATA TBM-700/850 TBM-900 INTENDED USE OF OUR APPS •Used by pilots to study for written exams, oral exams, check rides, recurrent training and general knowledge. WHO USES AIRCRAFT APPS IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY? •Private Pilots, Corporate Pilots and Commercial Airline Pilots. CONTENTS OF FREE INITIAL DOWNLOAD •Worldwide Weather •Airport to Airport Distance Calculator •Airport METAR & TAF Search •Custom Aircraft Flashcard Maker •Aircraft Conversion Calculator •Continuous Running Zulu Time Clock •Airline Interview Questions CONTENTS OF IN-APP PURCHASES •Flashcards •Quizzes •Memory Items •Limitations ~SPECIFIC APP INFORMATION~ FLASHCARDS •Choose any aircraft system from a drop down menu and easily study technical questions about the airplane. •Easy to use Back and Next buttons. QUIZZES •Choose any aircraft system from a drop down menu and test your knowledge with a multiple choice quizzes. Take the quizzes with an optional timer and background noise to enhance your learning experience. MEMORY ITEMS •Study all aircraft memory items in the easy to use PDF reader that allows you to print, email and customize your learning experience. LIMITATIONS •Study all aircraft limitations in flashcard format and use the quiz at the end to test your knowledge. AIRPORTS WEATHER & FLIGHT PLANNING •Choose any airport in the world and see the most up to date weather and METAR/TAF information. Use the Airport Flight Planning feature to check distance to and from airports in NM. With WIFI or a cellular connection, your aircraft position will display on the map. CUSTOM AIRCRAFT FLASHCARD MAKER •Easily make your own systems flashcards by naming the category and typing in your own question and answer. AIRCRAFT CONVERSION CALCULATOR •Fast and accurate conversions of many commonly used aviation calculations which include: •Foot - Meter •Nautical Mile - Statute Mile •Nautical Mile - Kilometer •Inch - Meter •Pound - Kilogram •Gallon (US) - Liter •Gallon Imp.) - Liter •Fahrenheit - Celsius •Pressure inHG - hPA •Gallons - LBS •Knots - MPH Zulu Time Clock IN APP PURCHASES TERMS AND CONDITIONS STEP 1: Download FLIGHT SCHOOL APPS from the App Store (FREE Download). STEP 2: After Flight School Apps has downloaded to your device, enter the password given to you by your flight school administrator and tap LOGIN. STEP 3: Tap the Buy button under the aircraft you wish to purchase. Your account will be charged a one time price for the material and content. The price is listed on each Aircraft App and the price will be different based on the content in each app. STEP 4: Once purchased, the IN-APP Purchases cannot be canceled. STEP 5: Access to the material and content never expires. STEP 6: Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. STEP 7: Tapping the “restore purchases” button will restore in-app purchases that are associated with your App Store account.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Flight School Apps at 5.0 against IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's 3.9. Flight School Apps also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's advantage is ratings volume (76 vs 2). 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
Both are free to download. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Flight School Apps sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Flight School Apps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator has 76 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 100% of Flight School Apps's.
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, Flight School Apps fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IFR Flight Trainer Simulator | Flight School Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (76 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 76 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 127 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Flygo-Aviation Ltd | Aircraft Apps LLC |
Customer experience
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Flight School Apps
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
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- 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
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- Bearing and course to station relative to VOR1/VOR2
- Higher difficulty levels for advanced pilots
- Extended free trial period for proper app evaluation
Flight School Apps
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
- IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
- IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99
Flight School Apps
- Wyandotte Aviation SchoolFree
- MindCoach: Mental HealthFree
- N75743 (C172N)$9.99
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- N61658 (C172M)$9.99
- N61813 (C172M)$9.99
- N73477 (C172M)$9.99
- N73192 (C172M)$9.99
- N61628 (C172M)$9.99
- Beechcraft Musketeer Sport B19$19.99
- Cessna C172N$19.99
- Cessna C152$19.99
Questions
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
Is Flight School Apps free?
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight School Apps?
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight School Apps have ads?
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight School Apps?
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