Home » Games » PC Games » Popular PC Games

Flight Simulators

Ranked #595 in Games, #19,725 overall

A Review of Flight Simulation Software

This lens explores popular Flight Simulator software products. Microsoft's Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition, the FAA approved X-Plane and the open source Flight Gear products. I have taken glider flight instruction and flown in gliders many times but until I can save up enough to complete my training, a good flight simulator helps me keep my skills up to date.

I have mostly worked with X-Plane but just picked up Microsoft's Flight Simulator X Deluxe edition. My first impression is I like X-Planes instrument panels better but Microsoft's product does include some nice flight instruction tutorials. The graphics and terrain in both products have been drastically improved and provide a nice flight experience.

Try demos of the products before you buy. Flight Simulator X, X-Plane, Flight Gear.

Purchasing a helicopter, plane or glider gift flight is a great idea for those that love to fly.

Contents at a Glance

Microsoft's Latest, Flight Simulator X D...
Microsoft Flight Simulator X System Requ...
Laminar Research's X-Plane
X-Plane System Requirements
Linux Flight Simulators
Microsoft Flight Simulator Resources and...

The deluxe edition contains additional aircraft.

The updated graphics are very nice. The tutorials are great and a voice walks you through your flight, providing tips on how best to perform tasks, which keys to use to take actions and also provides flight theory. I am impressed with this feature.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X System Requirements

It will not be fun to play if your system is too slow.

Windows XP SP2 256MB memory
Processor 1.0Ghz
Hard Drive Space 15GB
Video Card DirectX 9.0c Compliant with 32MB ram

I have seen a tiny bit of slowness on my 3.0Ghz Pentium 4 Dell E510 with 1GB RAM and a PCI express 256MB RAM video card.

Laminar Research's X-Plane

This product if F.A.A. approved for flight training.

I really enjoy this product and there is a strong user community supporting X-Plane. X-Plane 9.2 also runs on Linux! The X-Plane web site notes that some stores carry X-Plane, but they do NOT have the Mac, Windows, and Linux versions all on the same DVD, and they may be selling only an older version as well. If you want the Mac, Windows, and Linux version all on your DVD, latest version, then you should buy from X-Plane.com.

X-Plane System Requirements

Works on a Mac & Linux

Windows Pentium 1ghz+ any chip, 2 ghz+
Macintosh PowerMac 800+ G4 or G5 or Intel 2 ghz+
Linux x86 any chip, 2 ghz+
RAM 384 meg 1 gig for speed
Disk Space 4 gig 70 gig
CD/DVD CD DVD-DL
3-D CARD OpenGL OpenGL... NVIDIA has been more reliable
VRAM 16 meg 32 meg
Monitor 1024x768+ 1024x768+
Joystick/Yoke USB USB

Joysticks and Yokes
No joystick is required. You can fly with the mouse or numeric keypad. But to really be realistic you need a joystick or yoke. Any modern USB joystick should be fine for both Mac and Windows. You can get them here from X-plane.com.

Joystick/Yoke USB USB

Linux Flight Simulators

Many people have given up on both Mac OS X and Windows, luckily there are chioces.

Flight Gear for Linux: FlightGear is an open-source, multi-platform flight simulator. They even have a boot from CDROM version. I will be testing the Bootable CD version soon and I expect to see much better performance.
X-Plane: Works with Linux!

Microsoft Flight Simulator Resources and Add Ons

The Deluxe version contains 17 aircraft, but we always want more!

FsDome: A site with many planes and add ons for Flight Simulator.
Sim Radar: A Flight Simulator Community.
A deeper look inside Flight Simulator: This site provides a closer look at the Flight Simulator product.

X-Plane Resources and Add Ons

Laminar Research's Main Site: Check out the specifications of X-Plane. Historically X-Plane has proven to have better flight dynamics than other products.
X-Plane.org: A nice X-Plane user community site with many resources.
Get the full experience: After you add your flight controls, get a platform to be able to sense the real motion associated with your flight experience.

Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: Pacific Theater

In Combat Flight Simulator 2, you'll expereince an more...0 points

Share this list
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- Email

Wii Flight Simulation on Amazon

I've just started testing Wii flight simulation games.

Check for Reviews of Flight Simulator Software

Game Spot: Gamespot has well written reviews of software products. Microsoft Flight Simulator X deluxe edition rated 8.4 out of 10. X-Plane version 8 7.9.

Flight Controls

CH products are recommended for flight controls

Be sure to check out the low cost motion simulator from X-Plane to get the most realistic experience. Be sure to also check Flight Control reviews before you buy.

I can use both my sidewinder pedals as well as my joystick with X-Plane, but I have not figured how to use both in flight simulator.

Experience the Atmosphere - Take a Glider Ride

I got a good understanding of what is happening in the sky when I took my first glider ride. At the time I was studying Aviation Meteorology in college and it is amazing to experience how chaotic the air is, even if the sky is blue.

Soaring Society: I have taken glider flight lessons and have flown in a glider 6 times, once with my 3 year old. I hope to get a glider license in the future, but for now I keep practicing with my flight simulator software.
Mile High Gliding: This is where I have taken flight instruction and take glider rides with my kids.

Flickr Glider Pictures

"Gliders, sail planes, they're wonderful flying machines. It's the closest you can come to being a bird" ~ by turtlemom4bacon

automatically generated by Flickr

Experience the Atmosphere - Helicopter Rides

Flying a helicopter is fun!

Rotors of the Rockies Helicopter Rides!: While gliders provide a quiet flight, Helicopters are very cool. Maybe I have seen too many Magnum P.I. episodes.

Helicopter Flickr Plexo

Vote Down

Schweizer300 0 points

New Quick Flight Poll

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Share this poll
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- Email