An emulator is free (or available for a negligible donation to the developer). Pair it with a $30 FlySky FS-i6 or a $5 USB SIM dongle for your existing radio. You effectively save $100+ while getting superior hardware.
The is a third-party software utility that bypasses the "InterLink" hardware requirement of older RealFlight versions, allowing users to fly using their own RC transmitters or standard joysticks. Why the Emulator is "Better" than Original Hardware realflight g5 5 dongle emulator better