Discussion
Browsed through a mag when in the WHS Library, and felt the urge to get into flight sim again after many years away
Some of parameters
Doesnt cost the earth
Doesnt need multiple monitors
Can use a joystick for better control
Not into shoot em up scenarios
more into Commercial than light aircraft
Good range of airports
Reasonable graphics ( add ons acceptable downloads?
Thanks
Oh waht joystick would be a reasonable choice
So any suggestions
Some of parameters
Doesnt cost the earth
Doesnt need multiple monitors
Can use a joystick for better control
Not into shoot em up scenarios
more into Commercial than light aircraft
Good range of airports
Reasonable graphics ( add ons acceptable downloads?
Thanks
Oh waht joystick would be a reasonable choice
So any suggestions
Civvy aviation - FSX, P3D
Combat - DCS
Those are your hardcore stuff anyway. FSX is pretty cheap these days but dated, although there's a lot of aircraft, addons and texture packs you can pretty it up with. P3D is pricey but has modern graphics, physics etc. DCS is free for the base game (you get two planes and the basic map) but you can buy some impressive aircraft and maps to go with it.
Links:
FSX - https://store.steampowered.com/app/314160/Microsof...
P3D - https://www.prepar3d.com/
DCS - https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/products...
Combat - DCS
Those are your hardcore stuff anyway. FSX is pretty cheap these days but dated, although there's a lot of aircraft, addons and texture packs you can pretty it up with. P3D is pricey but has modern graphics, physics etc. DCS is free for the base game (you get two planes and the basic map) but you can buy some impressive aircraft and maps to go with it.
Links:
FSX - https://store.steampowered.com/app/314160/Microsof...
P3D - https://www.prepar3d.com/
DCS - https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/products...
What hardware are you running? A lot of modern flight sims require pretty beefy set-ups to get the best from them.
X-Plane 11 is the best feeling flight sim. I.e. if you want the sensation of air across the wings, then XP is the best out there. For small general aviation type aircraft I think it is the most realistic option available. XP11 is also available as a full-functioning demo which is a great way to test out your computer first! It also allows sub orbital space flight which is interesting.
Prepar3D V4 is the best for the procedural stuff. i.e. if you want to fly airliners which are on autopilot for the majority of the time. P3D is produced by Lockheed-Martin, who bought the Microsoft Flight Simulator code and continue to develop it.
Both of the above can be enhanced with add-on scenery, photo realistic terrain, aircraft, weather, traffic etc. It just depends on what you want to achieve (and how much you want to spend). Both of the above map the whole world and have pretty much every airport you will ever want or need from massive international hubs to small grass strips, and all real-world navaids. Personally I fly XP11 at the moment, but have a long history with MSFS/P3D going back to the mid 1990s.
For control inputs - do you want a stick or yoke? It is possible to use an x-box controller if you want which is a much cheaper option if you are starting and allows rudder inputs from the same device, whereas a 'proper' stick, throttle and pedals setup can cost hundreds of pounds.
DCS is an amazing modern military flight simulator - but does offer some civvy aircraft, if you are happy doing aeros in a Yak-52 over the Vegas strip then look no further. However it only covers a small part of the world (currently Nevada, the Black Sea/Caucuses, and the Gulf of Hormuz), and civvy aircraft choices are very limited.
X-Plane 11 is the best feeling flight sim. I.e. if you want the sensation of air across the wings, then XP is the best out there. For small general aviation type aircraft I think it is the most realistic option available. XP11 is also available as a full-functioning demo which is a great way to test out your computer first! It also allows sub orbital space flight which is interesting.
Prepar3D V4 is the best for the procedural stuff. i.e. if you want to fly airliners which are on autopilot for the majority of the time. P3D is produced by Lockheed-Martin, who bought the Microsoft Flight Simulator code and continue to develop it.
Both of the above can be enhanced with add-on scenery, photo realistic terrain, aircraft, weather, traffic etc. It just depends on what you want to achieve (and how much you want to spend). Both of the above map the whole world and have pretty much every airport you will ever want or need from massive international hubs to small grass strips, and all real-world navaids. Personally I fly XP11 at the moment, but have a long history with MSFS/P3D going back to the mid 1990s.
For control inputs - do you want a stick or yoke? It is possible to use an x-box controller if you want which is a much cheaper option if you are starting and allows rudder inputs from the same device, whereas a 'proper' stick, throttle and pedals setup can cost hundreds of pounds.
DCS is an amazing modern military flight simulator - but does offer some civvy aircraft, if you are happy doing aeros in a Yak-52 over the Vegas strip then look no further. However it only covers a small part of the world (currently Nevada, the Black Sea/Caucuses, and the Gulf of Hormuz), and civvy aircraft choices are very limited.
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