microsoft flight simulator x

[richard4u2]

just wondering if anyone has used the microsoft flight simulator ??
or is there any other software just as good ?
its only for fun on the home pc
thanks

[Frenchie]

Hi Richard,

Flight Sim is one of my hobbies. I've always been a wannabe pilot. Have had a few lessons (including in a helicopter :cool: ) and the RAAF let me have a go in some of their fast pointy ones but something has always got in the way, usually either time or finances. So I recently decided that instead of paying $10-$15k for a PPL that I would rarely use I decided to spend some dosh on a Flightsim set-up. Sorry I'm rambling this isn't answering your question......

There are two main players on the market MS FSX and X-Plane. Some people prefer X-Plane which was originally developed for the Mac but I reckon FSX is the go as there are a lot more aftermarket add-ons available and in terms of what you want to fly and where, the sky is the limit! You can get photoreal scenery for a lot of places which is close to flying over the real thing.

You do need a decent system though. I have an i7-930, 6GB RAM, HD5870 video card. This seems to work pretty well, not perfect but you would have to be pretty fussy to complain.

If you have an older system then you could use FS2004 which is still very good (in fact lots of people still prefer it to FSX).

Also it's better if you have proper controls rather than just mouse and keyboard. Cheapest way is a joystick with twist rudder control and a throttle lever. I also have a yoke and pedals which are great (though expensive). Some people go to ridiculous lengths, you can actually buy a 737 cockpit shell and all the bits to go in it which would cost upwards of $20k :eek:

Let me know if you need more details. I know some good places to buy stuff. Be warned, it can become addictive, hardly a week goes by when I don't buy another add-on :angel:

[richard4u2]

thanks for that , i have the asus k52f, win7 pro and attack 3 joy , i was leaning also to ms- fsx in the mean time i have been playing with google earth flight simulator, it only has i air port in aus and that is sydney , so i take off at the air port then get lost trying to find it again :D

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I had a go in a real (commercial) 737-800 sim on Friday. That was pretty cool :)