Flight Sim

[hoddo]

Which is the best one out there? Does it need the worlds most powerful system and importantly can I land on the back of an aircraft carrier at night?

[-DeaDLocK-]

What sort? Simulation (ultra-realistic) or arcade? Modern craft or classic? Combat or cruise? Civ or military?

[Civpilot]

With a couple of free downloads from the interwebthingy you can night land on a carrier using "Microsoft Flightsim 2004: A century of flight" (and I would think "Microsoft flight sim X" too). There are some really good packs out there for Carrier's and carrier capable air craft.

Best overall Flightsim to play with combat (and carrier landings) is the Latest version of IL-2, correctly titled "IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946"
This has every add on including Pacific fighters, where you can take off and land on carrier decks.. all be it in WWII era machinery. The level of difficulty customisation in IL-2 is amazing too, so it can be as arcade like or real as you like (fancy being able to adjust mixtures and prop pitch angles whilst on the fly in the thick of the action?)

[AJLintern]

It's fun landing on carriers in IL2. I like how the arrester system is modelled - looks realistic

[Rob P]

What system have you got?

I upgraded from FS2004 to FS-X and was not too pleased with the performance. FS-X has nicer menus and a great deal of training material but for me I prefer smooth frame rates and lots of AI aircraft which I can get on FS2004

[nuclearsquash]

SP1 for FSX is apparently due in march with performance tweeks etc.

[wolves_wanderer]

Try finding a copy of Lock-on Modern Air Combat. It has a good range of (mainly russian) jet fighters and full carrier ops as well.