Flight simulator

A flight simulator is a system that tries to replicate the experience of flying an aeroplane as closely and realistically as possible.

There are various different types of flight simulator, ranging from home entertainment software packages, right up to fullsize cockpit replicas mounted on hydraulic rams, controlled by state of the art computer technology.

Flight simulators are extensively used by the aviation industry and the military for pilot training and disaster simulation.

These days, even home entertainment flight simulators are so realistic that after the tragedies of September the 11th 2001, some journalists and experts speculated that the hijackers might have gained enough knowledge to steer a passenger airliner from packages such as Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Flight simulation software

• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• FlightGear flight simulator, a simulator released under the GNU General Public License