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Exellent flightsim - one of the best sims on the market

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 331 / 340
Date: December 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I am in love with avaiation, and therefore FS has become a part of my computing experience. I purchased FS 1998, and though it was a tolerable product, I in no way felt that it was a great simulation of flight. It just didn't have the look and feel of flight. However, I was blown away by the progress made in FS 2002. Though the clouds were not always realistic (modeling gave them a two-dimension look that was disconcerting to say the least), I thought that the overall experience was pretty good.
I saw FS 2004, and I thought it was probably mot much of an improvement based on reviews I had read. Let me just say that the first reviews I read were wrong. FS 2004 is a major improvement over FS 2002, and it stands as a all-time gret product for aviation buffs like me.

Improvements:

1. Weather: for the first time, flying on FS2004 simulates almost perfectly the experience of actually flying. Clouds have the mist look when you fly through them. The weather systems seem to generate randomly, just as in the non-virtual world. Also, I like the weather themes that can generate snow conditions, thunderstorms, and fair weather with high altitude stratocumulus clouds. In short, the weather is a fantastic approximation of reality. FS 2004 truly represents a quantum leap in simulations. (although IL-2 still has the best clouds).

2. ATC: FS2002 had the feel of real ATC but with some stupid problems. For example, if you fly using IFR (insturment flight rules), and you failed to reach your assigned altitude, the ATC would terminate their services (what the heck is that about?). If you wanted to fly at a different altitude you couldn't. Also, you couldn't change you IFR route, or change from VFR (visual) to IFR in flight. FS2004 makes those changes. For the first time you can change your altitude, you can change your route, and you can switch between IFR and VFR. Yea!.
Another big improvement is the ATC feel itself. For the first time, I actually feel as though I am flying in a populated world. Lots of traffic at big airports, just like in reality. Fly into San Francisco International, and you may just see airplanes lined up to land. This is a big improvement.

3. GPS: In FS2002, the GPS was very basic and frustratingly difficult to use. It was based on a second generation handheld, and consequently, there were few features. The GPS in FS2004 ahs lots of features, is far easier to use because of a new interface window that you can access in flight (see above), and you can switch to terrain features and in-flight messages. It is a more realistic approximation of a GPS device you would use in flight.

4. The World: FS2004 adds signs at airport runways so you can see where your going! It also adds more features to the world around you, such as construction cranes, and different buildings not seen in previous models of FS. Although I have noticed a new "Chick-fil-a" looking restaurant, I can state definitively that no such place exists in San Diego, CA next to the Lindbergh field runway. However, the scenery looks a lot better than FS2002. Little details really add up and make flying in FS2004 much better. The airports really look great. Denver Int'l looks very realistic now, as does Seattle-Tacoma. ( I would rate more but I just havent had the chance to fly all over to world yet!)

5. Computer: For some reason, FS2004 sees to run better on my machine than did FS2002. No "slide shows" (bad framerate) that I have found yet, and the computer seems to run better with FS2002. I like this very much. I haven't added to many third-party add-ons with FS2004 yet, but it just seems to function better than does FS2002, so perhaps FS2002 had some unresolved framerate problems.

6. Open architecture: In general, MSFS has open architecture which allows aviation geeks like me to add-on scenery, and hundreds of planes, general, military and specific airlines as well. Most of the products and downloads I have found are excellent and work well with FS2004.

Complaints:
Given how I feel about this product, I have very few complaints.
I wish the ground textures were better. However, you can either download or purchase products that have photo-realistic scenery, so you can really fly though England of Southern California and really recognize the ground.

Also, I wish the aiports had more realistic aircraft in them. Sometimes flying through LAX, I realize that Cessna would probably not be at that airport. I have even taken off from major airports with DC-3's lined up for takeoff - what is this the 1940's?
However, these are minor problems, and overall Microsoft FS2004 is an excellent product and is well worth a purchase.

The new state-of-the-art flight sim for PC

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 257 / 265
Date: March 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My qualifications: More than 3000 hrs of real world flight time, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine and Flight Instructor certificates, and an incalculable amount of my life spent "flying" every major flight sim ever made for the PC, starting with the original MS Flight Simulator on an Apple IIe in 1983. For whatever it's worth, folks, I'm an expert on this subject.

FS-2004 Century of Flight is the new state of the art, the new gold standard. By itself, this software is worth going out and buying a new, hot PC just so you can fly it.

If this is your first flight sim experience, you'll have fun just doing loops and looking at the pretty scenery.

But here's the truth: the more aviation experience you have, the more you will appreciate this sim. Quite frankly, I can't think of a single significant element of the real-world flying experience that isn't precisely modeled and simulated in FS-2004.

Want to climb in the 172 and practice NDB approaches down to minimums in rain and a stiff crosswind? No problem, you can do that here. Want to captain the 747 from San Francisco to Honolulu by moonlight? Consider it done. Want to fly neck-straining aerobatics "in the box" over the runway at Oshkosh in Patty Wagstaff's Extra 300? Start the engine and go. Want to load up the DC-3 and fly "The Hump" to gain an appreciation of true aviation heroism? Yep, you can do that too. With or without the snowstorms and turbulence.

Quite frankly, if you can come up with a non-combat flying scenario of any kind, you can almost certainly experience something very close to it in FS-2004. This sim isn't just fun, or accurate - it's realistic training and practice for the IFR pilot.

Words simply can't express the depth, thoroughness, accuracy and variety to be found in this sim. Everything happens in real time and it's so accurate on my PC that I can get out my E6-B whizwheel and do time, fuel and distance calculations while I'm "flying" and have them work out almost exactly.

The more of a pilot you are, the more this sim will give you. And no matter how many hours you have, there is no pilot alive who won't benefit from the incredibly realistic practice and training that this sim provides. If you rent a 172 now and then, you'll be so much sharper in the real cockpit because of this sim. And if you own your own airplane, you can practice things like non-precision approaches, holding pattern entries, missed approach procedures and engine failures to landing, all without burning a drop of gas or putting your own airplane in jeopardy.

Here's what it boils down to: In general aviation today, you either train and practice with this sim, or you're behind the times and selling yourself short. Get it.

hoped Microsoft would do better with 2004 version

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 253 / 275
Date: August 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

As I headed to the store for fresh copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight, I was hoping for the very best experience and couldn't wait to launch it when I got back home... unfortunately, the game is somehow disappointing.

It can be certainly very impressive piece of software to those without any previous experience with MSFS series, or to those who flew it in the days of MSFS version 98 or earlier. This version is really just polished up MSFS2002 (which isn't so bad thing overall), but many annoyances of previous version persist.

I have the program since release day (7-29-2003) and flew a few trips in Skyhawk, DC-3 (new) and Ford 3-motor (new), but experience is similar to FS2002.

The low-res textured virtual cockpit is ugly, the regular cockpit is the same as in the days of FS2000 (no option to illuminate the instrument gauges only - either the whole panel or nothing as always), the overall graphics are fine but with occasional clipping (?) problems where sky or clouds touch the ground, unrealistic sudden atmosphere changes when you cross certain altitudes (should be a bit more fluid in order to call it "as real as it gets" - I travel (as a passenger) in the real aircraft fairly often and know how it should look to call it "real" ) , the clouds which MS claimed to be the most realistic experience ever can look so-so at times.... The terrain looks great from the higher altitude, but again pretty sub-average at close distance, particularly the low-textures on buildings or tree sprites.

I use moderately fast (or call it slow, whatever) P2.4GHz/Asus P4T533-C fine-tuned homebuilt (Win2kPro), with gigabyte of PC-1066 and Radeon9500Pro; running at 1600*1200*32-bit with high detail (like 75-100%) on most things; the game plays smoothly (30+FPS), but cannot max-out the settings on "all" sliders to the full right really anymore, doing so results in the slideshow in the dense areas or in the thick clouds. Also, got to take it easy with AA settings in ATI control panel, and leave it on default 2x.

I ran into the ugly problem (which is clearly not my system specific only) with screen flicker/switching and garbled kneeboard panels in full screen mode (all OK if windowed); since Microsoft and ATI are the leaders in both worlds (sw&hw), one would think that they could prevent this to happen. I don't blame neither, but the game shouldn't be released before this was fixed, since about every second gamer owns ATI9700/9500 series accelerator.

This version claims dynamic weather system and enhanced ATC, better approaches and more, also new historical aircraft; well these things are really just polished a bit here and there, few new things added here and there, but the old "ugly" stuff from the previous versions of MSFS was carried over as well. This version should be sold as add-on to MSFS2002, not as a new game.

Final recommendation: buy it if you must always have the latest MSFS release, or if you don't own MSFS2002. If you have the previous version (2002), you may want to stick with it until Microsoft will create something really new instead of polishing the old stuff over and over again... I thought to give it 4 stars out of 5, but when looking at what I wrote I'll give it just 3, that's what it deserves. It's still much better then their CFS3, which is straightforward bad... I don't think I'll buy any more of MS game releases in the future unless I'll read 100% positive ratings first. Doing so would save me many bucks just on these two games I bought recently (MSFS2004 and CFS3).

Awesome flight simulator ý Highly Recommended...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 60 / 62
Date: December 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've owned every version of MS Flight Simulator, since years before Microsoft bought Sublogic's Flight Simulator and made it the basis for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

I've spend many entertaining hours playing Microsoft Flight Simulator, and for the most part, they've added new and very, appealing and worth-while features in each new release. This is also the case in Flight Simulator 2004. I upgraded the day FS 2004 was released, and I've never looked back.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 is a highly entertaining, very realistic looking, and quite realistic acting flight simulator. Overall, I consider it the best Flight Simulator out there. Some people will argue that X-Plane has more realistic flight models and they're probably right. MS FS however, is a close second, and when it comes to the overall gaming experience and look and feel of everything - the MS FS is a clear winner!

IF YOU'RE UPGRADING FROM FS 2002:
* Greatly improved dynamic weather system - You can now have the system automatically update itself in the background with real weather conditions as often as every 15 minutes. The clouds look a lot more realistic than in FS 2002.
* New weather themes - Gives you both static and dynamic weather themes such as a brewing thunderstorm etc.
* Enhanced ATC (Air Traffic Control) - Altitude changes in flight, ATC at all airports, request new flight plan en-route (especially useful if your current one gets cancelled).
* Better 3D virtual cockpits
* Some scenery enhancements, such as signs on taxiways. Most scenery changes are quite subtle.
* Old GPS system has finally been scrapped, and instead replaced by two real life looking Garmin GPS's (slightly stripped down versions, but quite impressive still - Color and all).
* The rain has been improved - Looks more realistic.
* New planes of course - all of them are historic aircraft such as Douglas DC-3, the "Kitty Hawk", the "Spirit of St. Louis", Piper Cub etc.

IF YOU'RE NEW TO MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR, OR YOU HAVEN'T UPGRADED IN A WHILE:
* Real-World weather - with dynamic updates and dynamic weather changes. Multiple cloud layers. Plain and simple, the clouds look fantastic!!! The rain and snow need some improvement, but is still very good.
* Worldwide scenery with accurate 3D terrain.
* Scenery Auto-Generation - Buildings are generated on the fly based on what type of area you're flying over.
* More than 24000 worldwide airports - a lot of them very realistic looking.

* 2D and 3D cockpits.
* Various types of planes - Boeing 737, 747, 777, Learjet, Cessna 172 and 182, Extra 300, a couple of more propeller planes, a sailplane, a helicopter, and of course all the historic planes that are new to this version.
* Jeppeson NavData database - ILS, VORs, NDB data etc.
* Landmarks all over the world - Eiffel tower, Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz, Empire State Building, USS Nimitz, the Red Square/Kremlin in Moscow etc.
* Multiplayer capability - Can play over network or internet (MSN Zone).

I still miss the World Trade Center Towers, and the Concorde, but realistically enough, they're both gone from this version. *sniff*

Conclusion: I highly recommend this game, both as an upgrade or if you're buying MS FS for the first time... FIVE STARS!!!

Good Sim, But Remember the "Sim" Part!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 31 / 34
Date: December 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have been using flight simulators since MS Flight Simulator 4.0, and have more diverse experience than only Microsoft's offering to call upon. While any simulator can be made quite realistic with the latest hardware and enough money, it is important to note that Microsoft's offering is no different - you cannot, as they say, make a silk purse out of a pig's ear. This means that if you're running an underpowered system, you will not be able to run the simulation optimally.

Published system requirements:
* Pentium 450 or greater processor
* 64 MB RAM for 98/Me, 128 MB RAM for 2000/XP
* 8 MB/3-D with DirectX 7.0 or later videocard
* 1.8 GB hard drive space

My recommendation:
* P4 2.x GHz processor; the faster, the better
* 512MB RAM, with ideally 1GB under the hood
* 128MB / 256MB AGP video card that pushes TONS of pixels - the more, the better
* At least 5GB free hard drive space - You'll want to do a full install, and that comes in just under 3GB (2.88GB, I think)

I run on:
* P4 3.0GHz processor
* 1GB RAM
* Windows XP PRO (SP1)
* 256MB 8xAGP GeForce 5700 series NVidia video card
* Sidewinder joystick (soon to go, thanks to some pedals and a yoke I ordered!)
* On-board surround sound processor

The software itself is practically infinitely extendable, with software and hardware add-ons supported. A quick look around in the flightsim community will support my assertion that the software is CHEAP compared to what can be done to augment it. Add-on packages are available to augment FS2004's admitidedly weak "ground mesh" mapping - flying through Norway's waterways and coasts with the default scenery is nothing next to the real thing, and pales in comparison to some of the add-on packages (both for photo-texturing and mesh-building) out there. But of course, these things cost money (sometimes), as does building and maintaining a system that can fully take advantage of the software.

This is a SIMULATOR, remember - a dozen years ago something like this with a set of pedals and yoke would have been a BIG deal and far out of the reach of the home consumer. Now, as the bar of admission lowers, it is important to realize just how MANY numbers are being crunched every second (most of those in graphics routines), and spec a system appropriately. It might not be a multi-million dollar prospect to own any longer, but to adaquately run the simulator and get something "real" out of it, it is certainly not unheard of to run multi-head (throwing many monitors onto a machine) for a partial panoramic view - but, of course, realism comes at its price.

(same text as is found in my review on the "tin box" version of FS2004)

Big Improvement from FS2002. Excellent.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 22 / 22
Date: May 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I am in love with avaiation, and therefore FS has become a part of my computing experience. I purchased FS 1998, and though it was a tolerable product, I in no way felt that it was a great simulation of flight. It just didn't have the look and feel of flight. However, I was blown away by the progress made in FS 2002. Though the clouds were not always realistic (modeling gave them a two-dimension look that was disconcerting to say the least), I thought that the overall experience was pretty good.

I saw FS 2004, and I thought it was probably mot much of an improvement based on reviews I had read. Let me just say that the first reviews I read were wrong. FS 2004 is a major improvement over FS 2002, and it stands as a all-time gret product for aviation buffs like me.

Improvements:

1. Weather: for the first time, flying on FS2004 simulates almost perfectly the experience of actually flying. Clouds have the mist look when you fly through them. The weather systems seem to generate randomly, just as in the non-virtual world. Also, I like the weather themes that can generate snow conditions, thunderstorms, and fair weather with high altitude stratocumulus clouds. In short, the weather is a fantastic approximation of reality. FS 2004 truly represents a quantum leap in simulations. (although IL-2 still has the best clouds).

2. ATC: FS2002 had the feel of real ATC but with some stupid problems. For example, if you fly using IFR (insturment flight rules), and you failed to reach your assigned altitude, the ATC would terminate their services (what the heck is that about?). If you wanted to fly at a different altitude you couldn't. Also, you couldn't change you IFR route, or change from VFR (visual) to IFR in flight. FS2004 makes those changes. For the first time you can change your altitude, you can change your route, and you can switch between IFR and VFR. Yea!.
Another big improvement is the ATC feel itself. For the first time, I actually feel as though I am flying in a populated world. Lots of traffic at big airports, just like in reality. Fly into San Francisco International, and you may just see airplanes lined up to land. This is a big improvement.

3. GPS: In FS2002, the GPS was very basic and frustratingly difficult to use. It was based on a second generation handheld, and consequently, there were few features. The GPS in FS2004 ahs lots of features, is far easier to use because of a new interface window that you can access in flight (see above), and you can switch to terrain features and in-flight messages. It is a more realistic approximation of a GPS device you would use in flight.

4. The World: FS2004 adds signs at airport runways so you can see where your going! It lso adds more features to the world around you, such as construction cranes, and different buildings not seen in previous models of FS. Although I have noticed a new "Chick-fil-a" looking restaurant, I can state definitively that no such place exists in San Diego, CA next to the Lindbergh field runway. However, the scenery looks a lot better than FS2002. Little details really add up and make flying in FS2004 much better. The airports really look great. Denver Int'l looks very realistic now, as does Seattle-Tacoma. ( I would rate more but I just havent had the chance to fly all over to world yet!)

5. Computer: For some reason, FS2004 sees to run better on my machine than did FS2002. No "slide shows" (bad framerate) that I have found yet, and the computer seems to run better with FS2002. I like this very much. I haven't added to many third-party add-ons with FS2004 yet, but it just seems to function better than does FS2002, so perhaps FS2002 had some unresolved framerate problems.

6. Open architecture: In general, MSFS has open architecture which allows aviation geeks like me to ad-on scenery, and hundreds of planes, general, military and specific airlines as well. Most of the products and downloads I have found are excellent and work well with FS2004.

Complaints:
Given how I feel about this product, I have very few complaints.
I wish the ground textures were better. However, you can either download or purchase products that have photo-realistic scenery, so you can really fly though England of Souhern California and really recognize the ground.
Also, I wish the aiports had more realistic aircraft in them. Sometimes flying through LAX, I realize that Cessna would probably not be at that airport.
However, these are minor probelems, and overall Microsoft FS2004 is an excellent product and is well worth a purchase.

top of the class

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 21 / 21
Date: August 31, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have not played the game much as yet,but what I have used so far is tops. I am nearly 64 and suffer PPH and am on O2 24/7 so I need a game that does not require lightning reflexes,which I no longer possess. I had to give up piloting due to health problems years ago. Now I can get my weekly fix from ground level at home and without endangering anyone. Top marks from me.
Rod Leveridge

Once again, a truly magnificent game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 25
Date: July 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Fligh Simulator 2004: A century of Flight was anticapated ever since Microsoft anounced the game's release date. The game has yet to be known as the most well improved Flight Simulator ever since FS5. Speaking of FS5, it was the first game i played. FS5 had improved much more than its prodeccesor. Its prodeccesor (FS4)had only two colours included in the game. Blue (for sky) and green (for land) and its series was highly improved. And the same thing goes for us right here. What is the new feature(s) in this game? Is it just an addition of one or two planes, plus highly improved graphics? well, the asnwer is no. After reading forums, checking out sites such as fsgateway.net or fs2004.com, i realised that the game has more than just 2 features. Try 5 new improvments discluding the graphics design. So what else is there in the improvments section...well theres: 1.Enchanced Weather Systems: finally, weather is not a stable issue. Throught time to time, the weather changes. Ofcourse, you can always keep it stable or be more realistic and start off with a clear sky at take-off and end with a terrible storm while approaching the airport of your destination. You have a variety of different weather effects, from storm, to clear sky, to cloudy overcast, and remember, they all change naturally. They move, they bond with other clouds to form rain, all which you can expect. Ok, we finished with weather improvments, and more are yet to come. 2.Virtual Cockpit: though appeared in fs2002, it wasnt accessible. Well, now it is, and not only that but now you have a full view of the cockpit so you can see everything but not only the instruments panel above the throttle. You can turn your plane by moving the throttle using your mouse, you can even change the virtual cockpit view. I dont mean different angles, i mean changing the view as if turning your head around. Which means you have free movement; smooth movement. Not like before in which all you had was a front, front left and front right buttons to pick from. Now you can move the camera in any angle using your mouse. So that is another major feature of fs2k4. 3.Improved AI and GPS modes: unlike before, GPS will be very helpful this time. It'll give you different view modes of the map. Instead of the boring black back-ground, you can change into the virtual satellite image and see rivers, mountains and more in the GPS screen. The GPS nowadays are easier to use plus can prepare you a very easy approach. It can help you navigate your way even without having it activated in the screen. Red markers, arrows or metric units can tell you where the destination is, which direction, how fast you should go and how far away it is from you. As for AI aircrafts, they respond better and quicker. Now a days, AI planes wont land in the same runway as to which you're cleared to land in. Well they can if there's time. But it was alwaysa problem before, so you can now select your runway you want to approach towards by confirming it with the AI tower. If you're flying a robinson however, you can also land in helipads or before preparing the flight, can choose to start off at the heli pad instead of a gate lol. 4.Additional Airports: the biggest complaint lead Mircosoft into adding more airports. Here's another thing you should know about the airports in fs2k4. Theyre more improved than before. Number one, the addition of taxi signs made it easier to navigate without purple tracks for you to taxi to the runway or to the gate! Number two, the green taxi lights appear for the first time. These lights help you find the centre of the taxi way, also helps you in knowing when to turn or when the next available turn is coming to you. Before, many people taxied off the path 'casue it was hard in knowing when the turn was without the green lights. Now, there's nothing to worry about no more. 5.Nine historical planes: will allow you to experience the best historical planes and how hard they were to fly. From the wrightbrother's planes to the Spirit of St. Louis and all the way to the not so modern DC-3 (the first official passenger airplane) With the new special features such as virtual cockpit, you'll enjoy your time even more now. So these were the features, and last of all, we have two other features which are known as minor features but can also change your perspective view towards this game: 1. Graphics: more improved, plus all those new water effects including the new weather feature which will make graphics even better for clouds, rain/snow effects etc. etc. 2. AutoGen: now has been extended to its second level which means that there are no more odd-ball buildings. This means, there's a huge variety of buildings. Nowadays, towns in islamic nations can also have mosques. Some places have churches, in others you'll also be able to find gas stations etc. so do expect alot from this year's game. Now onto the sound effects. Really, not much of an improvment but do expect the engine noise better than before. Do expect to hear strong sounds from take-off and landing, it's going to be much much better, i guarantee. Lastly, i would like to recommend this game for anyone interested in flights, aviation, simulations and any kinds of mass transportations ;) it's a very excellent game, and i know you'll love it. If you're just a beginner, check out the training section and the manual book. Also be sure to check the resources centre where you can check the information on all historical planes, and modern ones too ;) good luck, i hope this review was helpful to you

Truely "As Real As It Gets"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: August 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am a private pilot and granted no simulator (under a million dollars) will truly simulate flying, Microsoft at least gives good practice on various skills on REAL WORLD airports. I truly enjoy what Microsoft has done with their Flight Simulator series.

I am impressed on the details at even the smallest airports, generally speaking, even the hangars are in close proximity to where they truly are. Rivers are in the right place, and most highways are running the right way as well! The scenery is close enough that I can manage to use pilotage and dead reckoning to find places and airports without the use of a map or GPS. In my mind that is impressive for software that costs under $50!!!

Although nothing can replace the experience you get in a real aircraft, flying on MSFS can certainly help you with familiarizing with various approaches. With weather settings you can easily bring visibility down to 0 until 10 feet off the runway! I prefer the true to life clouds as opposed to just a white or gray screen that some professional simulators use.

The variety of aircraft is impressive, from GA aircraft all the way up to Airliners and everything in-between, whatever your pleasure is, you can be quite sure that you'll find it. I also have been able to download many of the aircraft I have flown as a pilot. Although they do handle differently on a simulator (as should be expected) I still enjoy the detail that has been put into each and every one of them to make me feel as if I am right in the cockpit, without paying the fuel prices!!!

Learn to fly any class of plane for about $20.00

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 17
Date: November 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

But you should spend another $20 on a good joystick also. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 will teach you how to fly a number of real planes. Let me put it to you this way - if you are on a plane and the airhostess asks suddenly over the intercom "Can anyone fly a plane?" and if the answer is - "No one here can", then your next best bet is to go with whoever has the most flight time with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004... and its all thanks to John and Martha King of King's Air school and Rod Machado, your flight instructor who feature in a couple of hours worth of scripted tutorial videos that play in the games menu and describe everything that could ever possibly want to learn about flying a plane. When you are done with that then you can start reading the couple of thousand pages of documentation that range anywhere from using digital GPS tracking systems to flying with damaged equipment. Let us be clear here for a moment - if you get into it, then you are in it for the long term and will almost certainly save yourself tens of thousands of dollars in real flight lessons because when you go up for real you will know nearly all of it except for actually doing it.

For $20 you are on your way to joining the best and cheapest flight school there is and really the tutorials are the Gem of the box, not to mention the fact that a round the world trip is possible with this simulator, including real-time weather events. I have the latest 256mb Radeon Graphics card and even it has trouble rendering everything on full detail so this game will certainly last a very long time. The 512mb card generation should be able to cope with everything.

As a note there are classic trips you can take like missions - for example the Wright Brothers first flight. There are also plenty of mods and addons for it if you search the internet.

This is a great and educational Simulator. If you like flying then what are you waiting for? It is massive improvement on previous versions of this sim (it has a couple of thousand airports to choose from). There is nothing else even remotely like it.

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