Similar apps exist for phones and tablets, but only DJI, the market leader in drones, provides software that allows both amateur and professional fliers to correctly simulate how their products fly.
The DJI Flight Simulator is the ideal method to fly your drone without risking damaging it, whether you are new to flying or a professional pilot looking to gain some experience with your recently acquired product.
In this article, we will go over the key features, training modules, and supported drones, among other things, to help you understand what is the official DJI Flight Simulator, and why you should give it a try. Let us get the ball rolling.
What is the DJI Flight Simulator?
DJI Flight Simulator is a software program for Windows PCs that serves as a training tool for pilots, allowing users to utilize the company’s drones to recreate flight experiences in the comfort of their own homes, much like flight simulators for commercial planes.
This program is quite useful in certain scenarios. For example, if you own a drone business and want to train aspiring pilots to fly your expensive new quadcopters, you can utilize the simulator to have them fly them digitally for a few hours before putting them on the actual drone.
The rapid adoption of drone technology in a variety of work environments has resulted in a shortage of trained pilots. Therefore the DJI Flight Simulator is an excellent place to start your future employees’ careers.
DJI Flight Simulator system requirements
Unfortunately, you are limited to a 64-bit Windows operating system to run this simulator. Apple’s iOS and Linux platforms aren’t supported. A DJI remote controller and a Micro-B to USB-A cable, or a gamepad controller hooked into one of your USB ports, are also required.
These are the full system requirements to use DJI Flight Simulator on your Windows machine:
| Unit | Minimum | Recommended | Optimal |
| CPU | G4560 | i5-6400 | i7-7700 |
| GPU | GTX 1050 Ti | GTX 1060 or 1070 | GTX 1080 Ti |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | 11 GB |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| HDD | 80 GB free space | SSD+80 GB free | SSD+80 GB free |
However, my old system, which included a Ryzen 1700 CPU, together with 16 GB of RAM, and a Radeon Vega 56 graphics card, ran this simulator flawlessly. Therefore, don’t be too scared looking at the optimal recommended settings.
The DJI Flight Simulator’s main features
DJI’s renowned drone simulator was designed to educate pilots on how to fly in a variety of settings, and its key features reflect that. Let’s have a look at them quickly.
- Three flight modes
Just like the real thing, you can enjoy the three main fly modes included in every DJI product; normal, sport, and ATTI.
- Multiple points of view
Whether you plan to fly your drone in VLOS or FPV, the simulator has you covered, as it provides various points of view based on your requirements. Changing the viewpoint is simple, and having so many options bring you closer to the real-life flight you are simulating.
- Comprehensive physics engine
Thanks to the complete physics engine on which the simulator is built, you can now test your flying talents without the hazards and expenditures associated with real-life training.
- Life-like environment
Just like when you fly a real drone, you may experience wind and ground effects, together with realistic simulated crashes.
- Training modules
Choose between three training modules (more on this later): skills training, free flight, and application training.
- Seamless Connectivity
Setting up your controller to use it with the simulator is easy, and if you don’t have one handy, you can always use your keyboard or gamepad as a substitute.
DJI Flight Simulator Training Modules
The provided training modules are perhaps the most crucial element of the DJI Flight Simulator. These training scenarios help pilots gain the skills they need to complete their tasks successfully in the field.
There are four types of training modules:
1. Skills training
This training will show you the fundamental skills needed to control a DJI aircraft. The module is divided into three levels within 4 tests.
- Hovering test: Provides you with useful aid in improving your hovering abilities. The complexity of this seven-step exam will grow with each level, with a wind effect added to make it harder.
- Fly track test: Your control talents will be put to the test as you fly through a predetermined course throughout this training. This part has eight distinct scenarios in which you must use the aircraft to create squares, circles, and rectangles, much like in most practical certification tests.
- UTC pylon inspection: There are six levels to this course, all of which are aimed to help you become an experienced pilot in UTC pylon inspections. Preparation, navigation, and hovering are just a few of the talents you will be honing.
- DJI internal aircraft skill test process: In this training, you will draw rectangles and rings with the aircraft, similar to the fly track exercises, but you will also practice takeoff, landings, and hovering.
2. Free flight
In free flight, you will have to choose an aircraft, then a scenario to begin flying. Let us have a look at all the maps included in the module.
- Free-Flight-City: You can fly anywhere in a city. There are five different places to take off.
- Free Flight-Island: Enjoy a gorgeous island where you can fly drones and take in the scenery, with four take-off places.
- Free Flight-Hangar: Practice your flights in a hangar location.
- Free Flight-Mountain: Fly your aircraft over a breathtaking mountain with beautiful scenery.
- Free Flight-Forest: If you love green landscapes, this is the place for you, as you will be flying the drones in a lush forest.
3. Entertainment
In this training module, you will enjoy classic arcade video game modes, such as Time Trial and Tunnel Run.
- Time Trial: In this mode, you will fly through pre-determined pathways, passing through checkpoints to complete the course. It is all about obtaining as many points as possible here, so focus! There are three levels of difficulty in this adventure.
- Tunnel Run: Pass through certain rings to get points and time. The faster you fly, the higher your rank will be. Exciting!
4. Application
You will find two different applications in this module; power line inspection and search and rescue.
- Power line inspection: In this exercise, students will simulate the inspection of electrical power lines. It is broken into two parts: learning about the pylon and practicing inspections.
- Search and Rescue: Gain a grasp of the practical process of search and rescue drone methods in this program. There is just one scenario, in which you must seek for and locate a male hiker who has been lost in the woods.
DJI Flight Simulator supported drones
Although we wish DJI had included support for all of its drones in its flight simulator, the most recent additions to the fleet are not listed among the compatible aircraft. Drones like the incredible Mavic 3 or the low-cost Mini 2 are impossible to operate in the game.
However, there are other interesting products from the Chinese behemoth on offer. Some of them are industry standards for certain occupations, such as the Phantom 4 Pro, which is employed in nearly every business that uses this equipment for their benefit.
Here is a full list of the supported drones:
Free trial version
| Series | Drone |
| Mavic | Mavic 2 Zoom Mavic Air Mavic Pro |
| Spark | Spark |
| Phantom | Phantom 4 Pro |
| Inspire | Inspire 1 Pro |
Energy Version
| Series | Drone |
| Mavic | Mavic 2 Enterprise Mavic 2 Zoom Mavic Air Mavic Pro |
| Spark | Spark |
| Phantom | Phantom 4 Pro |
| Inspire | Inspire 1 Pro Inspire 2 |
| Matrice 200 | Matrice 210 RTK |
Enterprise Version
| Series | Drone |
| Mavic | Mavic 2 Enterprise Mavic 2 Zoom Mavic Air Mavic Pro |
| Spark | Spark |
| Phantom | Phantom 4 Pro |
| Inspire | Inspire 1 Pro Inspire 2 |
| Matrice 200 | Matrice 210 RTK |
DJI Simulator supported controllers
If you have already played video games, you will feel right at home with DJI Flight Simulator, even more so if this isn’t your first simulator. Using genuine drone controllers gives you a better sense of what it is like to fly your drone outside, but the experience is still enjoyable and realistic using an Xbox controller.
If you are not sure if your controller is supported, check in the list below:
Supported controllers
| Series | Drone |
| Mavic | Mavic Air DJI Smart Controller |
| Phantom | Phantom 4 Phantom 4 Advanced Phantom 4 Pro Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 |
| Matrice 200 | Matrice 100 Matrice 600 Matrice 600 Pro |
| Inspire | Inspire 1 |
| Lightbridge | Lightbridge 2 |
Note: The Xbox Series X|S and other PC controllers are supported by the software, though not officially.
DJI Simulator versions and prices
DJI’s simulator is a fantastic product, and the various versions cater to the needs of different users. However, there is a big variation in content and pricing between the free version and the enterprise/energy packages.
The free edition is fantastic, but it lacks many great functions. The Enterprise and Energy versions, on the other hand, have a lot more features, but their prices are excessive, especially for the Energy version.
The official website of the DJI Flight Simulator does not show prices for the Enterprise and Energy versions. However, the official DJI store in Madrid, Spain, where I repaired my Mini 2 a few months ago, shows that the Enterprise version has a price tag of 1,600 EUR ($1,753.99), while the Energy version costs 7,449 EUR ($8,166.38).
These prices are too high, considering that flight simulators based on commercial aircraft cost much less and offer many more features.
How to install the DJI Flight Simulator
No matter what version of the program you are running, installing the DJI Flight Simulator is a simple and quick process.
Follow these steps:
- Go to this website.
- Download the launcher executable file (.exe).
- Run the downloaded .exe file and install the launcher on your hard drive.
- Execute the launcher and log in with your DJI account (or create a new one if you have not registered yet).
- Once logged in, Enterprise and Energy users will have to enter their activation code. Free users can just click on the Free Trial version.
- The installation page should now be available. Install the simulator on your hard drive (SSD preferred).
- Once the installation is complete, click on START to begin your adventure in the DJI Flight Simulator.
My experience with the DJI Flight Simulator
It is not every day that you have the chance to crash drones with no consequences, right? As a result, playing with the DJI Flight Simulator was a fantastic experience. There is more, though!
The simulator provides several camera angles of each DJI drone featured, as well as technical details such as the imaging system and design elements. I missed being able to manage the Enterprise and Energy editions’ special aircraft, as well as their licensed game modes.
All the same, controlling the drones in the free modes should provide you with hours of entertainment.
New version?
In March 2019, the official DJI Flight Simulator was introduced, transforming our ability to learn how to fly a drone from the comfort and safety of our own homes. The free version is a great method for new pilots to gain a feel of the drone before taking their practical examinations or just a way to practice when you don’t want or can’t go outdoors to fly.
There is no mention of a new version or the addition of more aircraft models to the current software that I could locate. It is a shame because the simulator has a ton of potential. If DJI put some time and effort into it, it could easily become a legendary tool.
Having worked in the game development industry for a short time, I am fully aware of how difficult it is to build a video game and commercialize it. It’s unclear if DJI’s revenues covered the cost of developing the simulator, but it appears to me that the way they monetized it was quite difficult to access.
I’m not suggesting that they should develop a DJI Flight Simulator every year as Electronic Arts does with FIFA games, but I believe the tool described in this article could have been much greater.
This concludes today’s talk, pilots. I hope you learned something new about the DJI Flight Simulator. If you have a supported controller, I recommend giving it a shot because it’s a lot of fun to test.
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