Does it work on mobile and tablet?

Yes. It's compatible with desktop, iPad, tablet and mobile. You just need a modern browser.

How much does it cost?

There's a free trial with no sign-up. Personal plan is $4 USD/mo and Professional is $12 USD per student/mo.

It completely hides the map so you navigate using only cockpit instruments.

What's the difference with X-Plane or MSFS?

X-Plane and MSFS simulate full flight and require a powerful PC and peripherals. The Navigation Trainer focuses on IFR navigation, runs in the browser and needs no installation or special hardware.

How do I practice holding patterns online?

In the Navigation Trainer you configure the VOR or NDB station, select the entry radial and practice all three holding pattern entries: direct, parallel and teardrop. Add wind to practice real heading corrections inside the hold.

Can it help me prepare for my IFR checkride?

Yes. The Navigation Trainer is ideal for practicing the radionavigation concepts tested on the instrument rating checkride: intercepting and tracking radials, CDI and HSI orientation, RMI interpretation and navigating in simulated IMC conditions.

Can I practice DME arcs in the simulator?

Yes. You can practice DME arcs by setting the desired distance to the station and maintaining the arc with heading corrections. The DME panel shows distance, groundspeed and estimated time enroute (ETE) in real time.

Is it useful for flight instructors (CFII)?

Absolutely. Instructors can demonstrate complex IFR navigation concepts from a bird's-eye view on the map, configure specific scenarios per student and use blind mode to evaluate each student's ability to orient using only instruments.

✈ Online IFR trainer

Master IFR navigation — from your browser

Name: Navigation Trainer
Rating: 4.8 (124 reviews)
Author: Flightdemy

Real instruments (VOR, HSI, RMI, ADF, PFD), wind, blind mode and interactive map. Configure everything, open your browser and practice — on PC, tablet or phone, no installation needed.

Create free account Watch demo

Navigation Trainer — instrument panel and navigation map

See it in action

Discover all the Navigation Trainer options in under 3 minutes.

How does it compare?

Neither desktop simulators nor traditional online tools are designed to teach IFR navigation. This simulator is.

Focus Fly the full aircraft Complex controls IFR navigation only

Technology Desktop app Legacy technology Modern web technology

Setup Install + peripherals Requires add-ons Open and go

Mobile & tablet No Not supported Yes, supported

Hardware Powerful PC/GPU Desktop only Any device

Learning curve High Medium Low

IMC / Blind mode Built-in

School management Instructor panel

Cost $60–120 + addons Free (limited) From $2/mo

Ideal for Full flight Basic reference Master IFR

You decide how to train

Every aspect of the trainer is configurable. Adapt the tool to your level, your exercises, your program.

3 Instrument panels

Classic panel with Attitude Indicator + dual CDI, HSI with RMI and bearing pointers, or glass cockpit PFD. Pick what you need.

10 Aircraft

From basic trainers like the Cessna 172 to advanced models like the King Air 350 or the ATR 72. Each aircraft is configured with its real-world V-speeds and flight dynamics

Configurable wind

Direction, speed and real drift effect. Hidden mode so the student calculates correction without seeing the data.

Layered map

VORs, NDBs, Fixes, Airways — toggle each layer. Multi-level zoom and aircraft trail.

Blind mode

Hide the map completely. The student navigates using instruments only — the ultimate exercise.

Full radio panel

NAV 1, NAV 2, ADF, DME selector, configurable RMI needles (VOR/ADF). All from the side panel.

TO / FROM regions

Visualize TO and FROM zones of each VOR on the map. Understand what the CDI indicates before tuning.

Radials & courses on map

Display selected radials, OBS courses and heading lines directly on the chart. Instant visual reference.

DME with GS & ETE

Distance, groundspeed to station and estimated time. All in real time from the DME panel.

Flight instrument simulator: VOR, HSI, RMI & glass cockpit

Each instrument accurately recreated so you can practice IFR radionavigation like in a real cockpit — without leaving your browser.

VOR / CDI

Course deviation

HSI

Horizontal situation

RMI

VOR / ADF needles

PFD

Glass cockpit

Attitude

Flight attitude

Airspeed

Speed & V-speeds

Turn Coord.

Turn rate

Ideal for flight schools

Give your students a real practice tool — and your instructors full control.

Each student practices from their device, no installation needed
Instructors configure personalized scenarios per student
Standardize radionavigation training in your program
Your students arrive to the aircraft with concepts mastered — they make the most of every flight hour
Per-student pricing — scales with your school

Admin panel

Choose instrument panel per student
Assign aircraft
Configure wind and drift
Enable blind mode per student
Control visible map layers
Manage multiple students

Plans & pricing

Try it free. Choose the plan that best fits you or your school.

Free trial

No sign-up

Limited time

Full trainer access
All instruments
Time-limited session

Create account

Personal

$4 USD/mo

Billed monthly

Unlimited sessions
All panels & aircraft
Wind & blind mode
All updates

Get started

* Personal, non-commercial use only. Does not include paid instruction or institutional use.

Professional

$12 USD/mo

Billed monthly

Everything in Personal
Admin panel
Student management
Custom exercise creation
Advanced configuration
Priority support

Get started

Cancel anytime · No commitments · No lock-in

Did you know? One flight hour costs $150–300 USDGet to the aircraft with concepts mastered. Practice unlimited from $4/mo and make the most of every flight hour.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Navigation Trainer?

It's an interactive web tool to practice radionavigation. It includes real instruments like VOR, HSI, RMI and PFD, a map with navigation stations, and configuration options to adapt each practice session.

Do I need to install anything?

No. The Navigation Trainer works directly in your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). No downloads, plugins or installation required.

Can I use it in my flight school?

Yes. Instructors can configure specific scenarios per student from the admin panel: aircraft, instrument panel, map layers, wind and blind mode. Each student receives the configuration the instructor defines.

What instruments does it include?

VOR/CDI, HSI with bearing pointers, RMI with configurable VOR and ADF needles, attitude indicator, airspeed indicator with V-speeds, and turn coordinator. Available in 3 different panel configurations.

Does it replace flight hours?

No. The Navigation Trainer is a complementary practice tool. It doesn't replace flight instruction or certified simulator hours. It gives you the tools to practice radionavigation concepts at your own pace.

Is it free?

You can try the Navigation Trainer for free without signing up. For full access and extended sessions, you need a free account or an active enrollment at a school using Flightdemy.

What is blind mode?

It's an option that completely hides the map. The student must navigate using only cockpit instruments, without visual position reference. It's the most challenging exercise for mastering radionavigation.

Can I configure the wind?

Yes. You can adjust wind direction and speed. The aircraft will experience real drift. You can also hide the wind values so the student detects and corrects drift without knowing the exact parameters.

Does it work on mobile, tablet and iPad?

Yes. The Navigation Trainer is responsive and works on any device with a modern browser: desktop, laptop, iPad, Android tablet and mobile phone. No app installation needed.

How much does the Navigation Trainer cost?

There's a free trial with no sign-up. The Personal plan costs $7 USD per month with unlimited sessions. For flight schools, the Professional plan costs $20 USD per student per month and includes an admin panel and per-student configuration.

How do I practice intercepting a VOR radial online?

In the Navigation Trainer you tune the VOR station on the radio panel, set the OBS on the CDI or HSI, and practice interception with real wind and drift. You can enable blind mode for added difficulty.

Is it cheaper than a flight simulator?

Yes. A real flight hour costs between $150 and $300 USD. The Navigation Trainer costs from $7 USD per month with unlimited practice. It's the most affordable way to master radionavigation concepts before flying.

What's the difference with X-Plane, MSFS or Prepar3D?

Desktop simulators like X-Plane, Microsoft Flight Simulator or Prepar3D simulate the full flight experience and require a powerful computer, peripherals and complex setup. The Navigation Trainer focuses exclusively on IFR navigation: it runs in the browser, needs no installation or special hardware, and has a simplified interface so you can focus on learning to navigate, not on operating controls.

How is it different from other online navigation tools?

Most online navigation tools were built with Flash and now depend on emulators like Ruffle to function. They are not compatible with mobile or tablet. The Navigation Trainer is native HTML5 and JavaScript: it works on any device without plugins, with a modern interface, built-in blind mode and school management with an instructor dashboard.

Ready to master IFR navigation?

Create your free account and start practicing in minutes — from any device.

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