Google Earth Flight Simulator

[Beirut]

I wasn't sure where to put this. The Arena might be a propo, but it's also a very cool online software program.

Anyway...

If you DL the new Google Earth 4.2 Beta, which includes Google Sky which is very cool (Outer Space, man ) you also get a free flightsim program built into Google Earth.

Hit Crtl+Alt+A and a small screen will pop up giving you the choice between and F-16 and a single prop plane. All you see on screen is the same generic HUD (Heads Up Display), but one plane flies faster than the other. You get a 3D view starting on your choice of runways and you fly it like any other flightsim. You're best to have a fast net connection to avoid the blurries, and flying slow will help as well, but it's quite a treat to fly over photoreal scenery of the Earth. Especially for free. Works with a flightstick, too.

I can see this being expanded on by Google and it will be a very, very interesting program to fool around with. There are already ways to integrate Microsoft FSX flightsim with Google earth, but this is much simpler, does not require FSX, and did I mention it's free and photoreal?

Check it out. Lots of fun.

[Husar]

Very cool, but since I have no joystick here, the controls are awkward.
If they improve that a bit, put in some sound etc, it could become even better.

[shlin28]

Interesting, but too hard! They should have on-screen instructions for noobs like me

[Beirut]

Just hit Crtl + H and the instructions will pop up. It's very simple to fly.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

It doesn't work with my flightstick for some reason.