Man has always been drawn to the sky. However, the dream of flying like birds began to turn into reality just a little over a century ago. Since then, it has become easier to climb into the sky on your own, but the helm of the winged car is still inaccessible to billions of people. All this huge audience of potential computer users seemed to be waiting for game developers. As soon as PCs learned to reproduce a graphic image on the monitor, programs immediately appeared that made it possible to make a virtual flight in the electronic sky.
As with any type of computer program, there are good flight simulators, there are wonderful ones, and there are those that cannot be taken seriously. Although what exactly is meant by the definition of “good” in this case is another problem. Disputes are still ongoing, but a definite answer has not yet been found.
It all started, of course, in 1979 with the bar that the very first Microsoft Flight Simulator set. Evolution began immediately, and it went along two paths. The first is with a focus on the realistic component. Here, the indisputable leaders are the already mentioned MFS (since 2012 it’s already just MF) and X-Plane. Simulators are distinguished by the flight physics as close as possible to real physics, identical controls (a helm with an engine control stick), realistic data on the landscape, major airports of the world, weather conditions and traffic, excellent graphics (prepare powerful hardware). A complete set of features that good flight simulators should have, isn't it?
For those who wish not to study at a school for civilian pilots (and both of the above simulators can be used for educational purposes), and to quickly throw a combat vehicle into the sky, so that only fluff and feathers remain from the enemy, good flight simulators fly in an impressive squadron arcade orientation. Here the main emphasis is placed on three episodes from the history of the 20th century: the First World War, the Second World War and modern everyday life of combat jet aircraft.
Rise of Flight: Iron Cross Edition will be enough to fly on airplanes that were born just a decade after the world's first Kitty Hawk flight. The best flight simulator of the last (so be it!) World war from the first year of the 21st century and to this day is the Il-2 Sturmovik. Together with all of its additions, as well as separately released “Winged Predators” and “Battle for Britain,” you can take part in almost all the significant air battles of World War II on a variety of makes and types of aircraft. LockOn: Flaming Cliffs, DCS: A-10C Warthog and DCS Ka-50: Black Shark will give a complete picture of the knights of today. The latest simulator is dedicated to the famous Russian Black Shark combat helicopter .
It is believed that good flight simulators should maintain a reasonable balance between realism and the arcade. But this is a theory, and practice dispassionately testifies: for one simulator of civil aviation there are nine dedicated to military aviation. Now give the adrenaline to the pilots, but where can you get it on a transcontinental flight of an Airbus?
So the best flight simulators on PC 2013 remain combat. And they are slowly parting to the side, making way for a completely stunning online air battle - World of Warplanes! Even before its release, the project gained incredible popularity, comparable only to its half-brother - World of Tanks. As on earth, in the sky, everything will be decided by teamwork, networking, tactical ideas. And let the aircraft models be limited to the first fighter jets. When did this stop the avid virtual flyers ?!