Flight simulator

The other day, when you were with your friend, you had a lot of fun with that nice flight simulator installed on his PC. Once back home, you then decided to replicate the experience using your computer but with great regret you were unable to find the same game.Aaaaargh !

Don’t despair though. In fact, there are many videogames of planes that are as entertaining as they are spectacular from a graphic point of view that will not make you regret what you have already played with in any way. Some of them are even free. How do you say? This seems to be interesting and would you like me to recommend someone to you? No sooner said than done.

Whether you own a Windows PC, a Mac or a Linux-based computer, online or offline, on a tablet or mobile phone, there’s something for you. In fact, you will find listed below those that in my opinion represent the best solutions in the category. So continue reading this tutorial to find out more. I am sure that in the end you will be able to tell yourself very happy and satisfied with what you have learned. What do you say, we bet?

Index

• FlightGear (Windows / Mac / Linux)
• X-Plane (Windows / Mac / Linux)
• YSFlight (Windows / Mac / Linux)
• GeoFS (Online)
• Flight Pilot simulator 3D (Android / iOS)
• Fly Plane (Android / iOS)

FlightGear (Windows / Mac / Linux)

Let’s start with FlightGear , an excellent free and open source flight simulator available for all major operating systems (Window, Mac and Linux). The game is made by an international group of fans and can count on extremely accurate 3D graphics, as well as on a wide range of scenarios and planes that can be downloaded separately from the Internet. I suggest you put it to the test immediately.

To download FlightGear on your computer, connect to its official website and click on the Download FlightGear 2018.2.1 for Windows link   (if you are using Windows) or on the Download FlightGear 2018.2.1 for MacOSX  (if you are using a Mac) link that you find in Match  Download FlightGear 2018.2.1 , on the left. On the page that opens, click on the Download Latest Version button at the top.

When the download is complete, start the game installation package by double clicking on the .exe file obtained, and first click on Run and then on  Yes . Then accept the conditions of use of the software by selecting the item  I accept the agreement and clicking on Next  for six consecutive times and then complete the setup by clicking on Install ,  OK and  Finish . Then start FlightGear by double clicking on its icon on the desktop.

If, on the other hand, what you are using is a Mac, open the .dmg package obtained, drag the game icon in it to the Applications folder of macOS and then double-click on it to immediately start playing with FlightGear.

Now, regardless of the operating system, select one of the aircraft available in the Aircraft section  . Then go to the Location section   and select one of the available airports. Then adjust the rest of the game settings (eg resolution, seasons) by first clicking on the  Environement and Setting items and start your game by clicking on the Fly button ! .

If you want to download more game scenarios, link to this page of the FlightGear website and click on an area of ​​the map. On this other page you will find the additional planes available for free for download. To install planes and scenarios downloaded from the Internet in FlightGear, extract them into folders of your choice and add their paths to the FG_AIRCRAFT (aircraft) and FG_SCENERY (scenarios) fields of the game’s initial wizard (on the first screen). If you need more details on what to do, you can refer to this information page .

X-Plane (Windows / Mac / Linux)

X-Plane undoubtedly competes for the title of best flight simulator on the square. The highlight of this game is the highly realistic representation of the environments and aircraft. In fact, a “physical” model is used that takes into account weather conditions and other parameters to change the behavior of the aircraft. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux but unfortunately it is not free, the game costs $ 59.99. Anyway, it is possible to download a demo at no cost (as I did to write this step).

To download X-Plane on your computer, connect to the simulator’s website and click on the Download the X-Plane 1 Installer Now button located in the center of the displayed page. Once this is done, the download of the demo of the program will start automatically. Otherwise, you can “force” the thing by pressing the download button that you find in the new page displayed.

When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, extract the ZIP archive obtained in any location and double-click on the .exe file inside it. In the window that appears on the desktop, check that there is a check mark next to English  and click on Accept  and  Continue . Then check the box corresponding to the item  I Agree to the terms of the EULA , deselect the Send diagnostic and usage data to Laminar Research  option  to not send simulator usage statistics to the software house and click Continue  twice in a row .

Then wait for all the files necessary for the game to work to be downloaded to the PC and for the installation procedure to be completed, then click on Play X-Plane now to start using X-Plane.

If, on the other hand, you are using a Mac, extract the compressed archive obtained in any macOS location, double-click on the file inside it, press Open in response to the warning you see on the screen, press the Demo installation button of X-Plane in the window that appeared on the desktop and follow the guided installation procedure that is proposed to you. Once setup is complete, you can start playing by calling X-Plane from the Launchpad .

YSFlight (Windows / Mac / Linux)

And if your computer is not exactly recent and is therefore unable to properly run the flight simulators I told you about in the previous lines, I suggest you try  YSFlight . It is in fact a 3D flight simulator for Windows, Mac and Linux that does not have a particularly elaborate graphic interface (but no less attractive than the others) and, consequently, it can also be used on older machines. .

To download YSFlight on your computer, connect to the game’s website and click on the YSFlight on YSUpload Download Now button   in the center of the displayed page. Then press on the logo of the operating system in use on your computer and the download will start immediately.

Once the download is complete, if you are using Windows, extract the ZIP file obtained in a location of your choice and launch the .exe file inside it. Then click  Yes Yes  twice in a row and  OK four times to complete the setup. Then start the game by double clicking on its shortcut that has been added to the desktop.

If, on the other hand, what you are using is a Mac, extract the compressed archive obtained in any macOS location, drag the game icon to the Applications folder on your computer, right-click on it and press Open twice in order to start the simulator, however, going around the limitations imposed by Apple in the comfort of unauthorized developers.

Now, regardless of the operating system, start the game and click  Close twice to access the main YSFlight screen. If you are asked to delete a plugin related to the Japanese language, accept by clicking on  Yes, delete it . Then press the Create new flight button  , select the plane you want to fly and the scenario you prefer and press  Fly now! to start having fun.

GeoFS (Online)

You can also find less complex (but equally fun) flight simulations that work completely online. One of the best is GeoFS  which features 3D graphics that are not exactly exciting but still satisfying and quite simple commands. The scenarios are based on Google Earth, you can select various aircraft to fly and play simultaneously with other players around the globe. It is free but possibly also available in a paid variant with HD images.

To start using the flight simulator, connect to its website and select the aircraft you want to fly from the list on the right. By doing so, you will immediately find yourself in front of the main game screen.

To fly the chosen aircraft you can use the mouse, keyboard or a joystick connected to the computer. To discover the available commands and to configure the ones you prefer, click on the gear symbol that knows below and expand the Controls menu .

If you want to change the location you are in, click on the Location item at the bottom of the screen and select the one you prefer from the list that appears. By pressing on the Camera item you can select a different view, while by clicking on Nav you can view the area in which you are and the other nearby aircraft on the map.

Flight Pilot Simulator 3D (Android / iOS)

Are you looking for a flight simulator for your smartphone or tablet? If so, the best suggestion I can give you is definitely to put Flight Pilot Simulator 3D to the test . It is a downloadable and playable title for free (but offers in-app purchases to unlock additional planes and extra content) both on Android and on iOS thanks to which it is possible to delight in piloting over 20 different types of aircraft, all being able to count on variegated and breathtaking scenarios characterized by well-kept three-dimensional graphics. In short, not trying it would be a real shame!

To download Flitght Pilot Simulator 3D Android, connected to the section of the Play Store dedicated and step on the button Install , then click the  Accept  the displayed screen. If, on the other hand, you are using an iPhone or an iPad, connected to the section of the App Store relating to the game and presses the Get button, then confirm the installation by pressing the Install button , using Touch ID or Face ID (depending on the device in use and the functions enabled).

Once the download and installation procedure is complete, start the flight simulator by tapping on its icon that has been added to the device screen where the other apps are also present and immediately start flying with the selected aircraft by pressing the Fly button , bottom right. Once you have completed the initial tutorial, you will be able to access the further selection of available aircraft and fly the one you prefer.

Fly Plane (Android / iOS)

Another nice flight simulator, always at no cost, available for both Android and iOS is Fly Plane . Even in the case, it is a title with a rather accurate three-dimensional graphics with more than 15 aircraft of various types to choose from and highly credible scenarios. You can fly the planes in free mode or complete the objectives that are set, all for free (although it offers in-app purchases to unlock additional content)

To download Fly Plane on Android, connected to the section of the Play Store dedicated and step on the button Install , then click the Accept in the appearing screen. If, on the other hand, you are using an iOS device, connected to the section of the App Store relating to the game and presses the Get button, then confirm the installation by pressing the Install button , using Touch ID or Face ID (depending on the device in use and the functions enabled ).

Once the download and installation procedure is complete, open Fly Plane by tapping on its icon that has been added to the device screen where the others are also present and start piloting your aero by pressing the Play button shown on the display. Therefore, adjust any game settings by pressing the button with the gear at the bottom, select the plane you prefer to fly by pressing the arrows on the right and left of the screen and stop on Play to immediately start having fun.