The Best Flight Simulators for All Budgets and Tastes

Flight simulators consistently rank among the most popular reality-based computer games on the market today. With so many available with prices ranging from free to well over $20,000, a flight enthusiast can easily find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. The following are four very different flight simulators for four very different types of users:

1. Free
(http://www.techmixer.com/flight-gear-free-flight-simulator-game/)
Flight Gear is the most commonly downloaded free simulator on the web today. Although it is designed to mimic Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, the flying experience is somewhat limited. Plane handling and other aspects of the simulation don’t change very much when you change planes. There are over 20,000 airports to choose from, all of which have been modeled off of existent airports. It will load onto a variety of OS’s including Linux and Mac OS X.

For the gamer with a casual interest in aviation or a tight budget, Flight Gear isn’t a bad option.

2. Combat
(http://www.microsoft.com/games/combatfs3/)
There is an almost unlimited supply of combat computer games, but one or two stand out from the crowd. Microsoft’s Combat Flight Simulator 3 allows the user to fly combat missions over 1943 Europe. The controls are designed to give the gamer a feel for flying different types of aircraft. Better still, the game has an open-ended outcome. Your level of success determines what will happen.

This game is best suited for someone who wants an interactive video game with an ongoing storyline.

3. Affordably Priced
(http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/flightsimulatorx.aspx)
Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X Deluxe offers great scenery, amazing graphics, and a very realistic flight experience. It retails for around $40.00. An add-on can be purchased that allows the user to fly combat planes. The only downside is that it is only designed to run on a Windows platform.

This is probably the best value for your money if you’re looking for a straightforward, no frills flight simulator.

4. Advanced/High Cost
(http://www.therealcockpit.com/)
Professional-grade flight simulators occupy this final category. Due to their prohibitive cost, these flight simulators are usually only found at flight schools. These are primarily used by pilots who want to keep their skills sharp, or for pilots in training. Every year, flight schools are relying more on simulators for training prospective pilots. While they may not be accessible to the average enthusiast, high-end flight simulators will continue to lead the market in both the military and private sector.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online college degrees. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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