Flight Simulation

Key.Aero is home to PC Pilot, the world’s favourite flight simulation magazine which brings sense and expert opinion to the exciting and often daunting world of flight simulation. Contributors include many real-world pilots and aviation professionals to ensure what you read is as real as it gets. Articles cater for those interested in both civilian and military aircraft and include news on the latest standalone and add-on software products, news and reviews of flight sim hardware, tutorials, features and interviews.

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Felis Boeing 747-200 Classic review

With the release of X-Plane 12, developers have scrambled to get their products compatible and into a market eager for some quality aircraft add-ons. In this review, we take the Felis Boeing 747-200 Classic for a spin and see how it measures up.

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​AKD Studio's GLF550 v2 review

In this review, we fly the fully upgraded version 2 of the Gulfstream GLF550 from AKD Studio.

Microsoft Flight Simulator lands in Boeing Field

Drzewiecki Design has announced KBFI Boeing Field for Microsoft Flight Simulator is out now.

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Black Square’s TBM 850 review

Black Square Simulations arrived on the flight sim scene with a bang. It broke new ground with its Analog Steam Gauge Overhaul series, upgrading the default Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft with highly realistic interiors and systems. This time, we look at its first aircraft developed from the ground up, the mighty TBM 850.

City Update V: European Cities released

Microsoft, in partnership with Bing Maps and Vexcel, has released European Cities I for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Breezer Sport takes flight in MSFS

Aerosoft and PixelPlanes have released the Breezer Sport ultralight aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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Flight Simulator Training – Part 5

In this lesson, we will discuss the hydraulic system in the Boeing 737-800NG and simulate a hydraulic failure during a training flight from Las Vegas to Bob Hope Burbank Airport.

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Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XV: Nordics & Greenland review

In this review, we explore the Nordics and discover what the latest World Update from Microsoft has to offer.

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport V2 out now

Orbx has announced LIEO Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport V2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available.

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Local Legends 12:Dornier Do X review

In 1932, the Dornier company built the most ambitious, heaviest and luxurious flying boat to date, the Dornier Do X. In this review, we take Microsoft’s rendition of this iconic aircraft for a spin.

All the latest news and updates from the world’s favourite Flight Simulators

Whilst flight simulators have been around for over a century in one form or another, it is only since the advent of the home computer that hobbyists and home users have been able to get a taster of what it’s like to fly the real thing.

Since before World War One, military commanders have been using land-based facilities to train their pilots, these mechanical simulators are now seen as the precursors for modern computer simulators. In the late 1970s, the very first flight simulators using 3-D graphics were launched and they’ve been a staple of the home PC market ever since.

With more than 4 decades of advancements in computer processing power, the flight simulators of today are almost unrecognisable compared to those early versions, but the principles remain the same. Modern flight sims bring photo-realistic graphics, realistic weather conditions and faithful recreations of an enormous range of aircraft including civilian, military and historic aircraft.

Key Aero is the only place you need to go to find out all the latest news, updates and big new releases from the world’s most popular flight simulators including Microsoft, X-Plane and Aerofly FS 2.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator has been around since the early 1980s with multiple versions, making it a popular choice amongst home and pro users. The latest version of the famous flight sim has taken the whole industry to another level, faithfully recreating the entire planet down to an accuracy of a centimetre and delivering this level of data via an online streaming connection. Serving data via a streaming service also opens up more avenues including real-time weather conditions and up-to-date maps and locations.

Discover great articles about all the latest updates and releases from Microsoft Flight Simulator.

X-Plane

Since the mid-90s, X-Plane has separated itself from the competition thanks to its use of real-world physics. This implementation has made it one of the most realistic simulators in terms of weather conditions, aerodynamics and user experience. However, the same algorithms that have made it possible to recreate the physics of the real world also enable users to create their own hypothetical aircraft and environments. In fact, X-Plane has even aided in the design and development of aircraft in the real world.

Read more about X-Plane.

Aerofly FS 2

Aerofly FS 2 has delivered some truly stunning, photo-realistic scenery as well as incredibly detailed cockpits and controls. As a result, the user experience is second to none. Aerofly have also built-in support for Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, allowing the user to fully immerse themselves into the virtual world.

Browse our flight simulation articles to find all the latest news from Aerofly, including new releases, software updates and forthcoming releases.

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