Try It It's FREE

[eolesen]

The graphics are incredible...

I know a lot of people who really enjoy Prepar3d from Lockheed-Martin. Since it's backward compatible with FSX and there's an active developer community, there's very little you won't find available for it.

But it's not free.

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

The graphics are incredible...

I know a lot of people who really enjoy Prepar3d from Lockheed-Martin. Since it's backward compatible with FSX and there's an active developer community, there's very little you won't find available for it.

But it's not free.

As incredible as these look they are actually upgrading the graphics. They are working on a new graphics engine called EDGE (Eagle Dynamics Graphics Engine) that is supposed to leave the current one in the dust. 

 

[777 fixer]

Would you be interested in other F aircraft, like an F-15 for instance?

 
If I can't land it on the boat then no.  

 

[777 fixer]

This video shows just how detailed DCS is.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep-I6L1a7jI

 
About half way through that is when the AMRAAM would be hitting you in the face.  

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

If I can't land it on the boat then no.  

They are coming out with A LOT of airframes. If I remember correctly they are working on the F15 and F16. Those are 2 I can think of off the top of my head. I am sure even if IRIS does not finish the F14 somebody will pick it up.
 
DCS DOES support naval operations. It does have aircraft carriers. I can't really go into a lot of detail about the fixed wing side of it because I mostly fly helicopters. They are coming out with a Harrier as well, I guess those can land just about anywhere as well.
 
 

About half way through that is when the AMRAAM would be hitting you in the face.  

Most people put those functions on a flight stick. My stick has 36 functions not counting trim wheels and rotator wheels. I can also have many modifiers (which allows buttons to have several functions). I could literally have hundreds of functions on my flight stick. Not to mention some people even have voice control, not exactly authentic but some people don't have so many buttons either. Back when I was using a Microsoft Force Feedback 2 I actually used voice command for lights and landing gear. It actually worked really well.
 
This guy is also moving slowly because the video is tutorial in nature.
 
You should download DCS World and check it out. The Su25T is a Flaming Cliffs level aircraft (meaning alot easier to play and fairly automated) and the TF-51D is DCS level. Jump in there and see what you think.
 
If you don't like it you can always delete it. 
 
There is nothing to lose. You might even shoot me out of the sky one day. AMRAAM for the win.

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

TrackIR Explained
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AO0F5sLdVM

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

The following are all from the XPlane series.
 
The HIGH END model
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvBUbQbHdOI
 
The REALLY HIGH END model.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJw0UG1rXy0
 
Probably built using parts from http://www.opencockpits.com/index.php/en/
 
XPlane 9 actually has a version that has been approved by the FAA to log flight hours (provided the simulator meets certain criteria)
http://www.x-plane.com/store/pro-use/
 
XPlane is pretty fun. I usually fly the Helicopters.
 
XPlane is BIG. With all the scenery installed it takes 60 GB (see it on the box?) of hard drive space.
 

 
Note that now XPlane 10 is available.
 

 
.

 

[777 fixer]

The following are all from the XPlane series.
 
The HIGH END model
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvBUbQbHdOI
 
The REALLY HIGH END model.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJw0UG1rXy0
 
Probably built using parts from http://www.opencockpits.com/index.php/en/
 
 

 
For someone who has way too much time and money on their hands.

 

[delldude]

 
If I can't land it on the boat then no.  

 
Forty lashes swabbie.....

 

[777 fixer]

 
Forty lashes swabbie.....

 
That's what every brown shoe, current or former, calls an aircraft carrier.  Just ask MCI transplant.  

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Here is a comparison.
 
This is a screenshot of DCS Blackshark and the Alphasim Blackshark (Ka-50) made for Microsoft FSX.
 
Notice the difference in graphics.

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Carrier Landing ( though not an American aircraft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EehWS8i31BY
 
Aerial Refueling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xaH0jGD31I

 

[777 fixer]

Carrier Landing ( though not an American aircraft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EehWS8i31BY
 

 
Not bad.  The stop appears to be a bit too instantaneous but the graphics are awesome. 

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Not bad.  The stop appears to be a bit too instantaneous but the graphics are awesome. 

They are working to transfer that that specific aircraft (and other Flaming Cliffs level aircraft, all DCS level use the AFM)) from what they call the SFM (Simplified Flight Model) to the much more realistic AFM (Advanced Flight Model) which would make the landings much more realistic. The flight models also affects landings. The SFM kind of "sticks" to the runway during landings whereas the AFM landings are much more realistic.
 
This sim is constantly evolving. 

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Here is a comparison.
 
This is a screenshot of DCS Blackshark and the Alphasim Blackshark (Ka-50) made for Microsoft FSX.
 
Notice the difference in graphics.

I forgot to mention the physics are a lot different to. DCS is realistic and is actually used by military pilots to train.