diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Ainstein_LR_D1.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Ainstein_LR_D1.h
index 849979f3dc..8d5b4d3a85 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Ainstein_LR_D1.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Ainstein_LR_D1.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Ainstein_LR_D1 : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Ainstein_LR_D1(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
     uint16_t reading_interval_ms() const override { return 100; }
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_BLping.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_BLping.h
index 762e5de961..dd1a742f7e 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_BLping.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_BLping.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_BLping : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_BLping(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF02.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF02.h
index 3d9604559c..9f89648aec 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF02.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF02.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Benewake_TF02 : public RF_Benewake {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Benewake_TF02(); }
+
     // see AP_RangeFinder_Benewake.cpp for definitions
     uint8_t byte4() const override { return 1; } // strength low-bits
     uint8_t byte5() const override { return 1; } // strength high-bits
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF03.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF03.h
index cd01419e33..8fed67c5e2 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF03.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TF03.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Benewake_TF03 : public RF_Benewake {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Benewake_TF03(); }
+
     // see AP_RangeFinder_Benewake.cpp for definitions
     uint8_t byte4() const override { return 0; } // reserved
     uint8_t byte5() const override { return 0; } // reserved
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TFmini.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TFmini.h
index 5589b5f303..5089af55b2 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TFmini.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Benewake_TFmini.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Benewake_TFmini : public RF_Benewake {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Benewake_TFmini(); }
+
     // see AP_RangeFinder_Benewake.cpp for definitions
     uint8_t byte4() const override { return 1; } // strength L
     uint8_t byte5() const override { return 1; } // strength H
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_GYUS42v2.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_GYUS42v2.h
index 7188cd30f9..2226cb9ff5 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_GYUS42v2.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_GYUS42v2.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_GYUS42v2 : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_GYUS42v2(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
     // TODO: work this out
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_JRE.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_JRE.h
index 4dbdbfe2c0..ae237dc201 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_JRE.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_JRE.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_JRE : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_JRE(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Lanbao.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Lanbao.h
index d773287a3e..e55d78d685 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Lanbao.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Lanbao.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Lanbao : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Lanbao(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LeddarOne.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LeddarOne.h
index 21f74ac8a7..e8e55a5821 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LeddarOne.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LeddarOne.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_LeddarOne : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_LeddarOne(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerial.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerial.h
index 686b448bcf..ad4a21a952 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerial.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerial.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_LightWareSerial : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_LightWareSerial(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
     void update(float range) override;
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerialBinary.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerialBinary.h
index 0454fb2890..03175cc492 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerialBinary.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_LightWareSerialBinary.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_LightWareSerialBinary : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_LightWareSerialBinary(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MAVLink.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MAVLink.h
index 9d901ba75a..31ddf087ed 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MAVLink.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MAVLink.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_MAVLink : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_MAVLink(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MaxsonarSerialLV.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MaxsonarSerialLV.h
index d23a865f7f..cf0854afc7 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MaxsonarSerialLV.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_MaxsonarSerialLV.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_MaxsonarSerialLV : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_MaxsonarSerialLV(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NMEA.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NMEA.h
index 4ba8feaf61..e2e483453a 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NMEA.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NMEA.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_NMEA : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_NMEA(); }
+
     uint32_t device_baud() const override { return 9600; }
 
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NoopLoop.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NoopLoop.h
index 1ee56d1528..f6f075c299 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NoopLoop.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_NoopLoop.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Nooploop : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Nooploop(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_RDS02UF.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_RDS02UF.h
index 17e7e3fe52..ec7d2dc154 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_RDS02UF.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_RDS02UF.h
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_RDS02UF : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_RDS02UF(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_TeraRanger_Serial.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_TeraRanger_Serial.h
index 31544f9138..2eff5ecbe1 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_TeraRanger_Serial.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_TeraRanger_Serial.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_TeraRanger_Serial : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_TeraRanger_Serial(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v0.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v0.h
index 7a3498adb6..e21f8d566b 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v0.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v0.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_USD1_v0 : public RF_USD1 {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_USD1_v0(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v1.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v1.h
index d2982e2cb8..d602618f3e 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v1.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_USD1_v1.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_USD1_v1 : public RF_USD1 {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_USD1_v1(); }
+
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;
 
 };
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Wasp.h b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Wasp.h
index a1e9b37acf..4e0ca2c02e 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Wasp.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_RF_Wasp.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace SITL {
 class RF_Wasp : public SerialRangeFinder {
 public:
 
+    static SerialRangeFinder *create() { return NEW_NOTHROW RF_Wasp(); }
+
     void update(float range) override;
 
     uint32_t packet_for_alt(uint16_t alt_cm, uint8_t *buffer, uint8_t buflen) override;