Google Earth Flight Simulator

insidedesign writes "Blogger Marco has recently discovered that the newest version of Google Earth includes a flight simulator. Though simple in comparison to full-blown simulators, Google Earth's is fun and addictive. To get started, press Ctrl+Alt+A for the initial dialog (on OS X, Command+Option+A). Then choose your plane (F16 or SR22) and initial airport. Joysticks are supported; it has even been reported that force feedback works. The game's controls are sensitive so it takes some getting used to. Here are all the available controls. For a quick overview, check out this YouTube video."

Re:Wise Guys!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes and it SUCKS it no longer exists. I used to be able to fly into Chicago for lunch, get out of the plane and WALK to several decent resturants. But no, they decided it was much more important to have it available for Rich assholes to live on waterfront $1,000,000 condos are far more important.

Destruction of Meigs Airport is solid proof that nobody cares about general aviation anymore.

Re:Might I be the first to say...

[bigstrat2003]

That doesn't make it not awesome, just not as awesome as it could be.

Re:Might I be the first to say...

[Anonymous Coward]

Now it makes sense why Google is doing their Street View program. They are also going to make a racing game!

Thank you Google

[halo8]

Thanks to everyone at google, this is so amazing.

THIS
THIS is the flight sim i have wanted to fly all my life!

Web Version

[Doc Ruby]

When Google's map webpages [google.com] are speedy and interactive enough to offer a flight simulator, with even the most rudimentary features, Google will finally have arrived at a "Web platform" that competes with desktop platforms. And when all its functions are available as an API (including downloadable scripts and objects) for anyone to bundle, they'll actually have the beginnings of a "Web OS".

Of course the test is whether it can run games like a flight sim. But as a truly native network platform, the games should be even more interesting, whether P2P, client/server, or whether we can't even tell the difference.

Re:Might I be the first to say...

[thatskinnyguy]

Dude! You're taking this way too seriously! As a guy who had a pilot's license at one time, I know that not even the most sophisticated PC-based flight sims can compare to the real thing. You just have to look at it for what it is: a cool toy.