How do the Microsoft Flight Simulator series games compare to the real thing?

I run FS2004How do the Microsoft Flight Simulator series games compare to the real thing?
Interesting question. I'm an avid gamer and fly 747's for a living. The last two jobs I got, I used Flight Simulator to help me become more familiar with the cockpits before I went to the new ground school and simulators. It's especially helpful if you're learning how to use some new types of equipment, such as the autopilots on a 747-400 series.



That said, there are tons of equipment on the actual aircraft that just isn't represented in the game at all. It won't help you prepare for the complexities involved programming a flight management system, or how to effectively use a Terrain Warning Alert System, or a Traffic Conflict Advisory System, to name just a few.



The performance characteristics seem to be okay on most of the airplanes. The planes in the game seem to perform better than most of the ones in real life. I guess age and real world performance aren't ever quite like what the books say it will do.



The actual handling characteristics seem pretty good, but it's hard to translate the feel of turning an 800,000 lb. airplane with a yoke into a small plastic joystick. Nothing (yet) in computers can replace just the simple feel of acceleration or the bumps of some light turbulence. A lot of your sensations such as cockpit wind noise, the sound of the jet engines, etc., all go into what you see and use on the instrument panel to help you fly the plane. In many ways, flying the actual airplanes is probably easier than the computer.



Hope this helps.
It can help with knowing systems and procedures, but you cant say its anywhere near the real thing. You have no pressure, you cant feel the wind or turbulance, you dont have the crowded airspace and fast talking controllers, and most of all, you can't fly "by the seat of your pants" which can become necessary in busy airspace.How do the Microsoft Flight Simulator series games compare to the real thing?
well you can't compare to te real thing I mean ther are a lot of factors one includin that one mistake may cause you your life I mean there is nothing like the real plane the default cessna 172 is nthing like the real one I must sa but good question the only true way you can see what its like to fly a real planeis to try it





Cheers
I've been using flight simulator for more than twenty years. when i started the entire game fit on 5.4" floppy disk (or two). I also have a PPL for 10 years.



before i started ground school, FS was just a game i used to express an interest in flying. Once you begin to learn the theory or practical aspect everything changes. Its very good for reinforcing procedures. Its possible that FS training has even saved my life by reinforcing my ability to detect the onset of a stall earlier. FS is truly more difficult to fly than the real thing when it comes to some maneuvers, since you have less stimuli to tell you what is happening to the plane. I still haven't been able to get my FS2004 pilots license, despite having a REAL one.



Note that a key to being able to use FS constructively and realistically is FORMAL TRAINING. It makes all the difference.How do the Microsoft Flight Simulator series games compare to the real thing?
They compare almost exactly precise to the real thing. One factor is the scenery. Another is, the bumpy runway (you don't see the airplane going up and down because of the bumps) and braking on airplanes are much more powerful than the ones on the real ones.
I fly real Cessna 172,182s and Pipers. I also have been using MSFS 2004 and X with a force feedback joystick (no have not invested in the Yoke) when I cant fly the real one. With three split screens on the computer and two side screens as side windows (L %26amp; R), the software is fairly accurate. There is no substitute for the real depth perception. However, with this advance software, compared to expensive simmulators at flight schools, FS is a good to brush up.



You will not be able to learn to fly using this software and start making perfect landings on the first day but definately would help you get there.