Flight simulator software

shown73

Just a little word of caution. I used to have loads of fun with MS flightsim, combat flightsim, and the excellent Ubisoft simulators, then I bought a Widows Vista pc. Crashing halt. Hardly anything works, and even when it does its rubbish. That said, I think FlightsimX is ok, I just got too frustrated with the others and gave up. Windows 98, and XP were no problem, had great fun. Now have a shelf full of useless flight sims. grrrr!

Stooby2

then I bought a Widows Vista pc

PC's have advanced a bit in the last ten years. Modern PC's can cope. The one I'm on is a few years old now running Windows 7 and handles MS Flightsim with ease.

interstellaflyer

I used Microsoft Flight Sim 2004 with Vista, no problem at all.

ossie

Here is a free Simulator Online....

http://www.gefs-online.com/

Click on the word "FLY" to start simulator.

RobTang

It costs a bit but X-Plane comes highly recommended.

http://www.x-plane.com/desktop/home/

sickparrot

ladymarmalade222 wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

So can all these add on's be purchased at a later date once I get the Microsoft Flight Simulator X disc. I have been advised to get Gold Edition. Are all add on's compatible with this program?

As you can tell, this is all very new to me. I am hoping if I get him a decent joystick (I have been looking at Saitek X52) and the software it will feed his enthusiasm for quite a while.

Thanks again.

xxx

Yeah there are literally hundreds of add-ons, some compatible with FS2004, some with FSX and some both, have a look at a specialist seller such as Just Flight to see what is available.

He should get plenty of mileage out of the basic package before the hunger for add-ons takes hold. I've always used an old Saitek Cyborg USB joystick which has been sterling I assume the newer ones are as good.

Incidentally, I have both FS2004 and FSX running on my Vista computer, they both work fine. I use FSX for 'visual' fun flying because the graphics are nicer, but I use FS2004 for 'procedural' flying because it runs faster and I have all the add-ons for it.

paddyrg

Flight sims often have all kinds of auto modes, so you can get up and flying pretty easily, then you can turn those off and have a more and more realistic/difficult experience as you go along!

No PC flight sim is even going to come close to the reality of hopping in a plane (I speak as a hobbyist ex-pilot), but they can actually be rather useful educationally and the better the flight sim, the more realistic and useful it becomes!

If you also want to give your boy a head start in aviation, you could also start him on ground school - you need to pass half a dozen theory tests to get a basic license in areas like 'human factors', 'meteorology', 'navigation and flight planning', 'aircaft tech knowledge', 'radio'. These are all timeless and generic, so you can buy study books for these exams, or maybe find some info online, and give him a real headstart! Your local aero club (there will be one at your local small airport somewhere!) will be able to advise - you can probably also go on a trial flight/scenic at the same time! Best birthday present ever.