There are a wide variety of simulators available, from free, to well over £100 and while it is largely personal preference which one you use, we would advise you to seek advice from other club members. Here are some links to popular simulators:
Real Flight www.realflight.com
RealFlight has more to offer than ever before. The supremely realistic physics which have drawn pilots to RealFlight since the first edition hit the market are back and further improved. Upgraded graphics, driven by UNIGINE, render the world in detail refined down to the last blade of grass.
Accessing the world of RealFlight is easier than ever with a simple, intuitive interface which virtually guarantees you’ll be up and flying in moments. There’s zero learning curve, zero hassle, just flying fun.
Once you’re in, the unbounded scope of the flying sites—especially the 8 million acre Sierra Nevada site—will astound you and their detail will draw you in. Numerous fan-favorite flying sites have been remastered. There are new international flying sites like Wasserkuppe in Germany and Calahorra Castle to enjoy as well. Plus, over fifty new aircraft, detailed to the panel lines and rivets, await your every command.
Real Flight features Planes, Helis, and a small number of multi-rotors (drones).
Phoenix www.phoenix-sim.com
Phoenix is the incredibly popular worldwide R/C simulator that lets you master this complex and rewarding hobby int he comfort of your own home.
Whether you are a brand new pilot picking up your first trainer model, or a seasoned veteran practising for your next big competition, Phoenix has everything you need to take your skills to the next level.
Blending incredibly life-like and accurate model physics with beautiful cutting-edge graphics and a multitude of unique features, Phoenix is a fantastic package for beginners and professional model pilots alike.
Phoenix also features Planes, Helis and a small number of multi-rotors (drones).
FPV Freerider fpv-freerider.itch.io
FPV Freerider is an RC Quadcopter racing simulator. It is available as a free demo version and a full version, with six different scenes for $10.
The demo has a deliberately rather sluggish quad setup. In the full version you have the ability to adjust settings for input rates, camera and physics precisely to your liking.
Fly (and crash!) all you want regardless of rain, wind, sleet or snow – all for the price of a few replacement props.
Velocidrone www.velocidrone.com
Velocidrone is a feature-packed FPV drone racing simulator, suiting a range of flyers from novice through to world champions.
It has an online multi-player feature, allowing you to race against other competitors from around the world and a track editing feature, so you can create your own tracks.
Liftoff www.immersionrc.com/fpv-products/liftoff-drone-race-simulator/
Simulating many real-world racing drones and allowing the user to customise the characteristics of the flight controller to match their own, means that Liftoff is one of the most realistic simulators you can get.
Currently only £14.99 on STEAM, it’s a lot cheaper to practice with this than footing regular repair bills.