For decades I have tried to master (imperfectly) all aspects of flight simulation. This past weekend I took part in a planned exchange of information, demonstration and mutual knowledge transfer between the greater flight simulation and the professional flight training educational communities in eastern Canada. It involved experts in VATSIM, computer flight hardware, FSX programming, flight control integration, flight training executives, airline pilots, professional flight simulation owners, operators and instructors along with invited flight students.The talent and experience in the room was incredible, and as far as I know one of the only encounters of its kind to date. The executive director of a large flight college that is training students for airlines from around the world stated in his opening remarks that the line between private "for fun" flight simulation and the real thing is now so blurred that it is nearly invisible. The excitement and interest level of all concerned was right off the charts as the exchange and transfer of this kind of knowledge was new to everyone.It was entertaining to see an airline pilot fascinated with FSX, and to have some of us fly in the left seat of a real million dollar plus simulator and perform greaser after greaser touch and goes during a snowstorm and low visibility setup (yes, me too). We sat in real airplanes looking at stuff we would normally be separated from by fences, locked doors and alarm systems. But all that, as great as it was, was overshadowed for myself by a couple of realizations.First, the executive was right, the line between flight play and flight real is so blurred as it is almost invisible, to the point that experienced flight simulation pilots can, and do, operate advanced flight simulators every bit as good as the guys that practise from thousands of feet high and not just at their desk. This was not only my assessment, but those of a very surprised and impressed primary instructor and simulation engineer. In other words, as convincingly demonstrated, thousands of hours in front of a large screen state of the art computer simulation with Track IR is more or less equal to the same in real life, perhaps not in an hour to hour 1:1 ratio, but darn close.Second, It's about trained mind over matter. When your mind and imagination, based on a realistic simulated representation of reality, is intelligently and persistently practiced and perfected, the lines are indeed nearly invisible. The advanced flight simulation we can now enjoy program wise, hardware wise, system and procedure wise, once integrated, along with an appropriate level of graphical portrayal, produce a reality like experience that truly is as real as it gets.Also apparent to me, a FLIGHT beta tester (no, I am not breaking my NDA), is how close Microsoft has taken the dynamics of nature and flight engineering and are melding them into an even more realistic representation of how it feels, looks and enables imagination to become a realization of dreams that come true. The future looks really good for us whose minds escape the surly bonds of earth.Kind regards,

For decades I have tried to master (imperfectly) all aspects of flight simulation. This past weekend I took part in a planned exchange of information, demonstration and mutual knowledge transfer between the greater flight simulation and the professional flight training educational communities in eastern Canada. It involved experts in VATSIM, computer flight hardware, FSX programming, flight control integration, flight training executives, airline pilots, professional flight simulation owners, operators and instructors along with invited flight students.The talent and experience in the room was incredible, and as far as I know one of the only encounters of its kind to date. The executive director of a large flight college that is training students for airlines from around the world stated in his opening remarks that the line between private "for fun" flight simulation and the real thing is now so blurred that it is nearly invisible. The excitement and interest level of all concerned was right off the charts as the exchange and transfer of this kind of knowledge was new to everyone.It was entertaining to see an airline pilot fascinated with FSX, and to have some of us fly in the left seat of a real million dollar plus simulator and perform greaser after greaser touch and goes during a snowstorm and low visibility setup (yes, me too). We sat in real airplanes looking at stuff we would normally be separated from by fences, locked doors and alarm systems. But all that, as great as it was, was overshadowed for myself by a couple of realizations.First, the executive was right, the line between flight play and flight real is so blurred as it is almost invisible, to the point that experienced flight simulation pilots can, and do, operate advanced flight simulators every bit as good as the guys that practise from thousands of feet high and not just at their desk. This was not only my assessment, but those of a very surprised and impressed primary instructor and simulation engineer. In other words, as convincingly demonstrated, thousands of hours in front of a large screen state of the art computer simulation with Track IR is more or less equal to the same in real life, perhaps not in an hour to hour 1:1 ratio, but darn close.Second, It's about trained mind over matter. When your mind and imagination, based on a realistic simulated representation of reality, is intelligently and persistently practiced and perfected, the lines are indeed nearly invisible. The advanced flight simulation we can now enjoy program wise, hardware wise, system and procedure wise, once integrated, along with an appropriate level of graphical portrayal, produce a reality like experience that truly is as real as it gets.Also apparent to me, a FLIGHT beta tester (no, I am not breaking my NDA), is how close Microsoft has taken the dynamics of nature and flight engineering and are melding them into an even more realistic representation of how it feels, looks and enables imagination to become a realization of dreams that come true. The future looks really good for us whose minds escape the surly bonds of earth.Kind regards,

Very interesting commentary. Thanks for sharing your experience. The flight sim envirnoment has taken great leaps forward over the last few years. With the changes in computer technology and it's availability to the normal simmer, even greater experiences are ahead.

As a professional corporate pilot with close to 15000 hrs of total time of which nearly 8000 hrs are in corporate jets, I can support most of the perceptions of SpiritFlyer. I've been a FS flyer and contributer since the FS4 days. Yes, on occasion, offerings were hokey. Today's technology offers levels of realism approaching the level of reality that is impressive. I am an instructor at a major training organization giving simulator training on the Lear 45. A multi-million dollar sim representing state of the art. It has the realistic cockpit muscle memory tools, full motion and the sensations that go with it. Visuals are at par with FSX. Systems simulation are at PAR with PMDG. We are blessed to have such tools available to us.On more than one occasion, I have used FSX to hone my instrument scan during periods on inactivity. Realistic, debatable. Of value in maintaining ones currency, priceless!Now if I just understood all the tools I want to use to develop scenery as a casual developer.

Well now, that sounds like a plus for Flight the way I read it. We shall soon find out !

Now if I just understood all the tools I want to use to develop scenery as a casual developer.

If someone can learn to program a FMC, they should have the apptitude to learn the beginnings (and beyond) of scenery development, IMO.Of course, I don't know how to setup a FMC, as it seems more daunting than writing some of the code I want/need to do my work.Inquireies from those who want to learn scenery design are always welcome in the Scenery Design forum. But there is a difference in someone who wants to learn and those who just want a detailed, step-by-step process. I'll try to assist the former, but cannot allocate time to those that fall into the latter catagory.