flight simulators
A History of flight simulators
The first flight simulator was built very soon after the first actual flight was taken by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. We are not talking Microsoft flight simulatorhere, but nonetheless in less than a decade there were devices being used to train pilots in safety.
For example the 1910 "Sanders Teacher" was an aircraft mounted on a universal joint allowing it to be 'flown' on the ground.
1916 a flight simulator was being used by the newly formed RAF to help train pilots.
In the 1930s the link trainer was the most popular flight simulator and was used extensively in training pilots in world war two.
As electronics improved, accurate digital flight cockpit displays could be rendered. These allowed the trainer to offer different types of conditions and incidents to the student pilot. here is a very early 1980s flight sim.
Microsoft have been the leader in leisure flight simulators. Their flight simulator 2004 was a stunning advance in the degree of realisim available to anyone with a PC.
There are flight simulators that people can download off the internet, but
many are designed for gameplay rather than avionic verisimilitude.
Looking for a free flight simulator download?
Microsoft flight
simulator x is the world's best selling flight sim.
combat flight simulator
is Microsofts game version of the flight simulator.
We liked the Royal Air Forces online
flight simulator
Do look out for helicopter as well as fixed wing simulators.
There is a big difference between a flight simulator such as microsofts flight simulator and a computer game such as Blazing Angels: Squadrons of World War II.
The former really does try to simulate as exactly as possible the experience of piloting an aircraft, while the latter values excitement about verity.