Microsoft Flight Simulator X

Realism, attention to detail, and absolute authenticity are at the heart of any top-notch flight simulation experience. Whether it is how authentic the planes themselves look, or the attention to detail on the many famous airports that are themselves household names around the world, it is arguable that the real journey of flight simulation begins once one begins to explore the abundance of extra choices available.

Part of what makes virtual flight joyful is the reality and authenticity of the scenery and surroundings. Whether it is the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis-type cities below, or the wide-open plains of the countryside or mountain regions, after the flight and authenticity of the aircraft itself, it is important to make the “outside”, the scenery, equally authentic so as to achieve as realistic a flight as possible.

Every year, the simulation community manages to create new and improved aircraft and scenery for many locations around the virtual globe. From top quality designs that perfectly portrays some of the most important airports in the world, to lesser-known aircraft that you may never have heard of, many mods exist.

Created by Carenado, the 390 Premier IA is an aircraft that offers a rather comfortable flight experience. This take on the aircraft – compatible with FSX & P3D – gives a close account of what the cockpit would feel like.

For those who are familiar with civil aviation, the Cropduster is likely a brand of aircraft you’ll know. Used to help make domestic farming life easier and quicker, these aircraft have been a part of popular culture for decades. This latest release from Lorby-SI, then, takes a new approach to the world of crop-dusting. Put into an open and dynamic world, you’ll engage in a sandbox world where you can take on various challenges.

The Lovell Field Airport, better perhaps known as the Chattanooga Metropolitan, is a public airport based in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Like many airports of a regional level of importance, Lovell Field suffers from a lack of love and charisma in most flight simulators. For locals or completionists, this add-on gives you an easy way to help plaster up the local area and make it look far more like it does in real life.

While flight simulation allows us to partake in the position of being an airline pilot, sometimes people want more. With Firefighter X from Lorby-SI, you can throw yourself into the face of danger and take on the world. If you are looking for a procedurally generated firefighting experience away from static missions, then this offers something that might fit the bill.

The Lockheed A-12 looks more like something from X-Men than FSX, with a very sleek, modern profile. The latest release from Glowingheat, then, offers the chance for you to hop into a cockpit of an aircraft that looks new but isn’t. The A-12 Cygnus, actually, was released in 1959!

Should you be interested in hopping into the cockpit of an F-86F Sabre, you can easily do so courtesy of Milviz. The team has created a new version of the Sabre, helping to mimic the old need for constant innovation. The aircraft itself had to keep evolving to maintain a pedigree in the air, and this latest rendition helps to show how the F-86F changed.

The British Isles have long been one of the crown jewels of Britain. With deeply impressive scenery found on just about every island that makes up the British Isles, you can now enjoy a more realistic take on one of the powerhouses of Europe.

Sometimes, flying in a simulation can feel like it’s a bit more effort than we can be bothered with. Alternatively, with the help of Lorby-SI’ new AI Tracker, you can simply track and follow the flight of another AI aircraft. This means you can sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

The F-100D Super Sabre, as a piece of aviation history, has long been seen as one of the most impressive military creations of its era. Incredible fast and exceptionally powerful, this take by Milviz offers a refreshing take on this exceptional piece of military hardware.

In the late 1940s, the world was in need of an aircraft that was fast, sturdy, reliable and versatile. Eventually, the call was heard in the form of the DHC-2 Beaver. A truly diverse aircraft, the Beaver seen over 1,600 of its model created in a 20-year span, and in that time it established itself as one of the dominant aircraft of its kind.

CameraPosition X is a rather excellent tool for all FSX and P3D users. It helps you to define, edit and set camera positions that otherwise would not be possible. it’s a great way to help you get better shots, more interpretative angles and just take control in general. It’s a great solution for making sure you can maximize and change your chosen camera angles, too.

As the latest release from Virtualcol, this CRJ Series brings to life a massive selection of liveries. Given this is the most recent release from the team and has been in the making for some time, this offers a significant selection of new liveries to get used to and enjoy flying around in.

For any simulation fans, one of the most important things you can have is a bit of variety. Thanks to companies like Sky Simulations, we can have even more variety than ever before. A new release from Sky Simulations introduces the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 military editions. Strong, sturdy, impressive and more than capable, this offers an ideal glimpse into these outstanding pieces of hardware and how they generally operate.

As we all know, the importance of realism in flight simulation should never be denied. When we use a simulator, it’s supposed to be an authentic take on the world that we inhabit. However, for many people, pertinent and prominent nations get left behind. Japan, for example, holds nothing like the same level of authenticity that it should.

One of the major complaints over the years about flight simulation has been the lack of quality ground service teams that you see operating and working around the place. This has always been a major gripe for many simulation fans – it really does ruin the overall atmosphere. To help get around that problem, though, you need only consider the importance of using FSDreamTeams’ Ground Service X feature. Now, with a new 1.9.11 version released, you can enjoy a much more comprehensive experience than you were able to in the past.

An aircraft that many people have a deep love and affection for, the PA46 500TP Malibu Meridian G1000 is worth owning. Released by the excellent Carenado, this takes an authentic and engaging style of aircraft and makes it stand out. Known for their excellent attention to detail and informative stance when it comes to adding detail to any model, this latest take is exceptional. If you have ever been in the cockpit of a G1000 before, then try this out!

When talking about proper simulation, one of the most important parts of realism. Airports are a major factor in what makes using a simulator so much fun, so if you are looking for added authenticity you can find it with this new Salt Lake City International Airport add-on.