#24 – Microsoft Flight Simulator

Who doesn\’t dream of the extraordinary feeling of taking to the air like a bird?

While that sensation can only be simulated in this life, we are fortunate to live in a time where air travel is commonplace.

But even though people CAN fly, I think it is safe to say that I will never pilot an aircraft. I am forever relegated to passenger status.

However, one of the earliest computer games I ever played put me behind the controls in the cockpit. For many years, I was hooked on flight simulator games.

The earliest was simply called \”Flight Simulator\” and it was created by a company called subLOGIC.

Incredibly primitive by today\’s standards, the game was played on my TRS-80 Model I computer.

Little more than an 8 x 8 grid of black and white lines with a rudimentary runway and makeshift mountain range on one side, I would by lying if I said there wasn\’t a thrill in my first simulated flying experience.

And over the years I have been amazed at how the detail and functionality of the game continues to improve.

The controls and experience have become so realistic that many flight schools use the program to train wanna-be pilots.

There\’s nothing like the thrill of starting the engines, releasing the brakes and taking off from the runway of your choice.

For some people, it\’s all about the attention to detail in the cockpit. They love how the controls are accurately based on real airplanes. They love the challenge of landing the aircraft. And many will partake in real-time flights, marveling at the entire experience.

As for me, I prefer to take off and enjoy the scenery. I love to hop on a runway in any major metropolitan area and circle about the landmarks. Using the keypad, I can easily look left, right, behind, or in front of me.

Whether its a flyby of The Statue of Liberty, The Eiffel Tower, The Great Pyramids of Egypt or The Washington Monument, I\’m always amazed at the attention to detail that is put in this game.

You really need to have a high-end processor and graphics card to truly appreciate its beauty.

Still, I have a teeny-tiny confession to make.

I can\’t land a plane to save my life.

And you know what? I don\’t care.

With Flight Simulator, you can crash your plane and take off again without a scratch.

I\’ve now got every release of Microsoft Flight Simulator in my collection. I don\’t fly as much as I used to, but from time-to-time I still take the controls, enjoy the scenery and wonder why I still can\’t land the plane.

But for me, it\’s not about the landing. It\’s about flying.

Steve Miller once said it best. \”I want to fly like an eagle… to the sea\”.

For those who want more info, Wikipedia has a page detailing the History of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

And just as I finished writing this entry, I discovered that Microsoft will be coming out with a new version in the future. They have retitled it to simply be called \”Flight\”.

Are you a flight sim fan?