e've
been getting a lot of email lately from flight simmers
disillusioned with the realism of their flight simulation programs. Some
say they're using Microsoft, others are using ProPilot and some are
using Flight Unlimited. It really doesn't matter which program they are
using. They're all disappointed that their flight simulation aircraft
don't behave exactly as real aircraft do in real world flying. Some of
them have expressed deep disgust with programmers and publishers.More pragmatism is needed. The realism of today's flight simulation programs is very good considering the nature of aerodynamics, technology and cost.
No PC flight simulation program is going to be absolutely realistic in every aspect, no matter how hard and long the programmers work at improving their realism. Aerodynamics is very complicated. Millions of things happen in innumerable combinations and sequences. Some aerodynamics aren't fully understood by scientists, even after years of wind tunnel tests, computer modeling and actual flight tests. Stalling is a good example of this problem.
Today's PC flight simulation programs are pushing the technology envelope. To use a new release, we need more powerful computers, too. Those of us who go back a few years to the early two-dimensional flight sim programs can appreciate the rapid advancement of flight simulation programs. Sure, there's still a lot of room and need for our imaginations. After all, it's simulation, not real flight.
And we're talking about products that don't cost much. The leading flight-simulation programs cost less than US $100, which is a bargain compared to the leading word-processing and graphics programs and a pittance compared to commercial flight simulators.
On an airline flight last summer, I enjoyed a pleasant and enlightening conversation with a traveling airline pilot seated next to me. He said commercial flight simulators used for training by real airline pilots are not fully realistic, either. So it's unreasonable to expect full realism from a personal computer program that retails for less than US $100.
Flight simmers will enjoy their hobby a lot more by being pragmatic in their expectations and accepting flight simulation for what it really is--simulation and fun.
Bill Stack
Training Associates
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
http://www.topskills.com/flitsim.htm
fsbooks@topskills.com
