ChairFly Trainer
Connor Van Siclen Education iPad
ChairFly Trainer is a free Education app for iPad by Connor Van Siclen. Requires iOS 26.5. Updated October 17, 2026.
- Price
- Free
- on the App Store
- Size
- 2 MB
- Age 4+
- Updated
- Oct 17
- 2026 · v1.2
Screenshots
About ChairFly Trainer
Learn to fly the instruments before you ever get in the airplane. ChairFly turns your iPad into a portable instrument cross-check trainer: a tilt-sensing panel with an on-screen throttle, built for student and instrument pilots who want to sharpen their scan, hold entries, and approach flows anywhere there's a seat. Whether you're chair flying your IFR syllabus at the kitchen table or brushing up before a checkride, ChairFly gives you a full instrument panel, ATC-style clearances spoken out loud, and approach scenarios that grade how you fly them. THE 6-PACK A classic steam-gauge panel: airspeed, attitude, altimeter, turn coordinator, heading indicator, and VSI, all driven by your iPad's tilt sensor and an on-screen throttle lever. Pitch and power work together the way they do in the airplane: climb performance fades as you slow, and a stall means lowering the nose to recover. MIXED COCKPIT Flip the 6-Pack's attitude indicator to a compact glass display with its own airspeed and altitude tapes, the same mix of glass and steam found in many training aircraft. GLASS COCKPIT Unlock a full glass-panel PFD with an auto-renewing monthly subscription that starts with a trial period (see in-app pricing for details). Airspeed and altitude tapes, an altitude selector, VSI, glideslope and CDI needles, a heading compass with a draggable heading bug, and a moving map in the corner. ILS APPROACHES & MISSED APPROACH PRACTICE Get vectored onto the localizer, capture the glideslope, and fly it down to the DA. Switch to Missed Approach Practice and there's a 50/50 chance the field isn't in sight at minimums. Go missed, climb back out, and fly the missed approach instructions. VOR HOLDS & VOR APPROACHES Get a randomized holding clearance and fly the correct entry: direct, teardrop, or parallel. A Correct Entry diagram shows which entry you should have flown and why. Or fly a full VOR approach: enter the procedure turn, hold, descend on ATC's call, then get cleared to circle and level at the MDA. RNAV APPROACHES: LNAV & LNAV+VNAV Fly GPS approaches waypoint to waypoint. Step down altitude by altitude on LNAV, or ride a stabilized glidepath on LNAV+VNAV. The altitude selector shows the next altitude to fly. ATC, OUT LOUD Every clearance is spoken in ATC phraseology, with headings, radials, and runway numbers called out digit by digit, just like on frequency. Train your ears, not just your eyes. XPDR 1200 OPEN FLIGHT No scenario, no clearance. Just you, the panel, and open airspace. Practice raw stick-and-throttle control and your instrument scan at your own pace. BUILT FOR HOW PILOTS STUDY ChairFly is a cross-check trainer. It fits in your flight bag, needs no yoke or rudder pedals, and turns downtime between lessons into scan practice. Instrument students, private and commercial pilots staying proficient, and CFIs and CFIIs teaching hold entries and approach flows will all find a use for it. ChairFly is a training aid and is not authorized for actual navigation. Privacy Policy: https://chairflytrainer.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
What’s new
Version 1.2 · Updated October 17, 2026
New in 1.2: RNAV approaches (LNAV and LNAV+VNAV minimums), VOR approaches, ILS missed approach practice, and a new Mixed Cockpit option on the 6-Pack. Bug fixes and polish.
App privacy
The developer, Connor Van Siclen, reported these privacy practices to Apple.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Alternatives to ChairFly Trainer
Looking for apps like ChairFly Trainer? Here are 6 similar apps on the App Store. The highest rated is IFR Trainer: Holds & Radials (4.6/5), and all 6 are free to download.
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| App | Rating | Price | Last updated | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChairFly Trainer | – | Free | October 17, 2026 | |
| IFR Trainer: Holds & Radials | 4.6 / 5 (8) | Free | Oct 12, 2026 | Compare |
| VOR Simulator Pro | 4.6 / 5 (19) | Free | Mar 31, 2026 | Compare |
| Garmin GTN Trainer | 3.5 / 5 (10) | Free | Oct 9, 2024 | Compare |
| Garmin GTN Xi Trainer | 2.8 / 5 (36) | Free | Jun 13, 2024 | Compare |
| Garmin TXi Trainer | 1.9 / 5 (7) | Free | Dec 9, 2025 | Compare |
| Garmin GPS Trainer | 2.1 / 5 (28) | Free | Aug 11, 2024 | Compare |
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