PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements: 486DX/66mhz; 8B RAM; 100MB hard disk space; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; Windows 95; SVGA. £39.99
With more than 10 million copies sold world-wide, the Microsoft Flight Simulator series is undoubtedly one of the best-selling software applications of all time. Long before games where a big thing on the PC, Microsoft was selling Flight Simulator to hoards of would be pilots. For some of those pioneers, Flight Simulator was a way to learn to fly: more bought it purely for fun - with the lack of games for the PC back then, it was an obvious way to lighten up the "boring" PC.
But a lot has changed since Microsoft wheeled out its maiden Flight Simulator and now the PC is awash with games of all shapes and sizes. And while you can take up challenges and adventures and even fly with other pilots via the internet, unless you are serious about your flying you won't really be extracting much from Flight Simulator 98.
That means knowing your ADFs, OBIs, ailerons, pitch, yaw and the like. Of course, if you are keen to take up the challenge the extensive training mode included should put the wind beneath your wings. New features in Flight Simulator 98 include three new aircraft. These are the latest Cessna Skylane 182S, the Learjet 45 and - most surprising - a helicopter, the Bell 206B JetRanger III. Instrument panels have been improved - they were developed from photographs of actual cockpits. There are now more than 3,000 airports (including Dublin) to take off from - 10 times more than in previous versions.
Although it only requires a 486DX, Flight Simulator 98 really needs a high spec Pentium, preferably with a 3-D video accelerator and MMX technology, to really show off its advanced graphics. And if you really want to "feel" the thrill, then you should get your hands on a Force Feedback joystick. With such a joystick you will feel your wheels rolling down the runway, the stick will shake in a stall, and you will be able to sense trim forces as you change speeds and power settings. If you have a suitably equipped PC, then Flight Simulator is worth getting just for the fun of it but if you are a budding pilot then its simply a must.
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