How Accurate Are Flight Simulator Games?

One of the very first flight simulator games we’ve ever tried was the old Flight Simulator back in the early ’80s.

Of course, the graphics clearly look so dated now, but at the time, Microsoft’s very first Flight Simulator was actually quite groundbreaking. Today, with much better computing power, as well as advances in gaming technology, the latest crop of flight simulator games are giant leaps forward in realism that makes them as close to real-life as they can get.

Just how accurate can flight simulator games get?

Quite accurate, apparently. There are many flight simulator games out there, and possibly the most realistic one out there is X-Plane from Laminar Research. A close second is Microsoft’s Flight Simulator.

Just How Realistic is X-Plane 11?

First released in 1995, X-Plane is now in its 11th iteration, features a 3D cockpit, some very realistic landscapes (the basic global scenery covers most of the Earth), and even the ability to build your own plane and design your own airport. The latest release of X-Plane is version 11.41 which came out in December 2019.

Available for both desktop and mobile gaming setups, X-Plane differentiates itself from other flight simulator games in that its game engine uses blade element theory, an improvement that takes into account the forces and moments on an aircraft, allowing for even more realistic gameplay.

Just How Realistic is the New MS Flight Simulator?

Sam Machkovech, the writer for Ars Technica, was at a promotional event of the latest MS Flight Simulator (MSFS 2020) last September 2019.

Held at a hangar just outside Seattle, the world-premiere reveal event of MSFS had flight simulator kiosks (with all the bells and whistles that can make the experience as real as possible) that had a pre-loaded virtual flight for those in attendance to try.

Those same attendees would then fly the exact same scenario in real life, in a real Cessna 172, as the pilot.

“My time testing MSFS did a remarkable job of preparing me for the exact touch and execution needed to fly comfortably and reliably in the skies above Renton,” said Machkovech, who hardly had any hours of flight time needed to qualify as a licensed pilot.

“I was also astonished by how much my real flight felt like the MSFS version I’d played an hour earlier when I encountered the mild turbulence of flying through wind and clouds.”

Machkovech’s 30-minute flight took him from Renton to Snoqualmie Falls and from Microsoft’s Bellevue headquarters to the north end of Seattle itself.

“The game version didn’t look exactly as gray-yet-clear as my real flight, but my need to adjust my bearing 5-10 degrees to account for regular wind did. I certainly exclaimed in mild panic when this happened in real life, but I was glad to have been prepared for it.”

(Read more about Machkovech’s experience with the new MS Flight Simulator and his real-life flight in a Cessna 172 here.)

Other Great Flight Simulator Games

Aside from the X-Plane series and the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, some other flight simulator games worth checking out include the following:

• Take On Helicopters (2011)
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (2019)
• IL-2 Sturmovik (2001)
• Lock On: Modern Air Combat (2003)
• B-17 Flying Fortress (1992)
• Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War (2009)
• Kerbal Space Program (2011)
• Flightgear Flight Simulator (1997)
• Digital Combat Simulator (2008)
• Airport City (2011)

You have a good variety of games on this list. Some are combat flight simulators, while others have a city-building or some other strategic component. Especially if you’re a flight enthusiast, these games are definitely worth your while (if you haven’t had a chance to give them a whirl).

A Final Word on Flight Simulator Games

With gaming technology the way it is now, we’ve come to a point where readily available flight simulator games, coupled with the right gaming equipment, can now provide a more highly immersive and more realistic gaming experience.

Can these games teach you to fly? To an extent, yes. The more realistic flight simulators can certainly be as close to the real world as you can possibly get (when you’re in front of your gaming computer). It shouldn’t, however, be a substitute for real-world flying in an actual airplane.

While there are simulators that are certified and cleared for actual training purposes, PC flight simulator games should be treated as that: just games. It’s cool if you pick up a new skill or two, or be a bit more familiar with operating an aircraft, but really, it’s all about having a bit of fun.