How realistic is Google Earth's Flight Sim?

[paddyhasneeds]

In so much as in the F-16 at 20,000 feet and not that much power, about seven minutes after picking up flight over Birmingham, I can see Liverpool and the coast!

I guess doing the maths it does make sense, it certainly shows just what a tiny little island we're on.

[speedtwelve]

Distance covered-wise, my cousin Jock once did Leuchars (Fife) to Marham (Norfolk) in a Tornado GR1 in 25 mins take-off/touchdown. Mega tailwind, external tanks, big power-settings and resultant supersonic groundspeed helped.

When I used to co-pilot a corporate jet we'd sit over England northbound at 41000 feet. On a good night, just north of London, you could see the lights of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the distance, with Dublin on the left. It's a pretty small place from 8 miles high and 400+ knots.

Alternatively, mid-North Sea late at night, total blackness, save for orangey Stavanger over the shoulder, orangey Aberdeen in the distance, and Hades below the cloud deck underneath as we flew over the oilfields.

Google Earth FS is fun, but the 'jet' accelerates like the Millennium Falcon and seems to be devoid of drag.