The World of Flight at Your Desktop
Pros:
A wonderful way to learn to fly and meet pilots from all over the world
Cons:
Hmmm... we all want more realism, but it takes time
The Bottom Line:
What are you waiting for - buy software - buy a good headset - and start flying around the world!!!
|
|
Overall Rating:
|
 |
|
Author's Review
Features
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight is the 20th anniversary release in the Microsoft Flight Simulator Series. Released in a hinged tin box, A Century of Flight includes an additional 2,000 functioning airports and nine new aircraft, including Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the Douglas DC-3, and the Wright Flyer (the first successful airplane). A collection of articles provides information on the history of flight, the Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the featured airplanes. New features include enhanced scenery and 3D interactive cockpits.
As with previous versions, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 contains sections on creating or selecting flights, expanding the experience by downloading add-on packs of scenery and aircraft, and a detailed on-CD manual. Additional aircraft featured in the 2004 edition include the Curtiss JN-4D (Jenny), Vickers F.B.27A (Vimy), Ford 4-AT Tri-Motor, Model 5B and 5C Vega, de Haviland DH-88 "Comet," Piper J-3 Cub, Robinson R22 Beta II, Schweizer SGS 2-32, Extra 300S, Cessna Skyhawk SP Model 172, Cessna Skylane Model 182S, Cessna Grand Caravan C208B, Cessna Caravan C208 Amphibian, Mooney M20M "Bravo," Beechcraft Baron 58, Beechcraft King Air 350, Bell 206B JefRanger III, Bombardier Learjet 45, Boeing 737-400, 747-400, and 777-300.
My Experience with Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 - CFS3
Let me say that I am a long time user of the Microsoft Flight Simulator (I go back to the pre Microsoft days when I used it on an Commodore 64) and this is by far the best version yet. The planes are detailed and accurate. The flight experience is allows you to experience true to life situations in a virtual cockpit. A with past versions, you can control everything from weather conditions to time of day.
The cool thing that many people do not realize is that there are organizations such as VATSIM (virtual air traffic simulation network) that allow you communicate with live personnel manning control towers as you fly around the world. These organizations have real life pilots who volunteer and help new pilots learn the ropes. You can talk and fly with pilots from all over the world!!! I just recently found out about all of this side of the Flight Simulator world. Robert, a pilot from Austria who I met online, filled me in on all the details and offered to teach me all the intricacies of real life flight in the virtual world. There are large numbers of great volunteer enthusiast like him online waiting to help you.
My children love the fact that you can add additional aircraft to the program – many are available for free online. Personally, I still am waiting to take Robert up on his offer. But every minute I have spent using this software thus far has been wonderful.
