This post is the sixth and last of a short series on how to develop your home flight simulator. It’s for the complete beginner, keeping things simple, not meant to be a comprehensive guide, though this final post is perhaps the most complex.
If you have done what I discussed in the previous posts in this series, then I assume you have your simulator up and running, you have some hardware flight controls (yoke or stick, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals), and maybe you added some hardware instruments to make the simulated flying experience more realistic. You know how to take off, fly around, land, and maybe you’re learning about navigating, communicating, and how to use your autopilot. The more you learn, the more questions you’ll have, and the more you’ll become aware of the myriad of enhancements and add-ons that are available for flight simulators. There are so many that I won’t even try to make a list of individual products. Instead, I’ll paint a picture in broad strokes.
Whatever flight simulator software you use, be it MSFS, X-Plane, or any other, it will come bundled with several airplane models that you can “fly” on your simulator. You’ll probably have a few single-engine pistons, a twin-engine piston or two, maybe a turboprop, perhaps a seaplane, small jets and large jet airliners, a fighter jet or two, a helicopter, and maybe some exotic flying machines like an ultralight, VTOL, or a spaceship. That might sound like a lot, but you almost certainly will want to have more, perhaps a specific, favorite airplane to add to your fleet of sim models. You are certainly not restricted to just the few that came packaged with your basic sim software. Do internet searches to find the major sites that sell add-on airplanes for your specific flight simulator. The typical cost for good airplane model software, expertly programmed to closely match the flight characteristics of their real-life counterparts, is about $20-50, more or less. As an example, here is the official X-Plane store: https://store.x-plane.org. Many other sites like this sell flight simulator add-ons.
I’m sure you noticed that they sell not only airplanes, but other things such as airports, scenery, and a plethora of utilities. Your basic flight sim software will already have a comprehensive representation of real-life scenery and airports, but the add-ons will have more detail and higher resolution, all to become more and more realistic. And the utilities cover every aspect of flying, from pre-flight to engine shutdown. You will find that the world of flight simulator enhancements is extensive and creative.
Of course, there are specialty shops that focus on one specific thing. Again as an example, here is a company that focuses on scenery: https://simheaven.com, though they are certainly not the only company to focus on this. There are other ways of enhancing scenery detail and resolution.
Some enhancements will open up your simulator experience to include other flight sim enthusiasts and service providers on the interwebs, such as live ATC (Air Traffic Control), with companies like PilotEdge and VATSIM.
And for those of you who use ForeFlight on an iPad, it will integrate with the flight simulator so you can use the power of this comprehensive electronic flight bag right along with the simulator, just like you would do in real life.
After decades of evolution, the world of flight simulation is now rich with options, resulting in a simulated flight experience that is coming closer and closer to real life. If you are an actual real-life student pilot or certificated pilot, we are certainly at a point where flight simulation activities can positively contribute to your education and proficiency in real-life flying.
If you are curious about flight simulation, I hope these six articles have answered some of your questions and hopefully piqued your interest.
Wishing you tailwinds and blue skies!