An "emulator" in this context is a driver or background application that intercepts the software's request to check for the Interlink USB hardware. Instead of looking for the physical chip, the emulator sends a "virtual handshake" back to RealFlight 7 saying, "Yes, the official controller is connected."
RealFlight Evolution - Installation and Getting Started with Steam realflight 7 dongle emulator 19
: Launch RealFlight 7 directly through the emulator's "Run" button rather than the standard desktop shortcut. Troubleshooting Common Issues An "emulator" in this context is a driver