The world of simulation isn’t just about racing cars. Aircraft pilots also train on simulators to gain experience on aircraft they already know or have not yet mastered well. In fact, spending hundreds of hours on a simulator is part of a pilot’s certification for one or more aircraft types.
The most famous flight sim titles are Microsoft Flight Simulator and DCS World. The former focuses on civil aviation, with hundreds of aircraft at your disposal. The latter takes a more diversified approach, with fighter jets available to fly, as well as helicopters, cargo planes and prototypes too.
Like sim-racing, flight simulation requires specific equipment in your setup. These include control sticks, throttles, pedals and instrument panels.
There are many players in the flight simulation market, just as there are in sim-racing. We have brands that are active in both markets, and the most famous is certainly Thrustmaster.
But as the flight simulation discipline begins to reach a much wider audience, new brands are appearing on the market, such as Moza Racing.
Whether you’re already passionate about flight simulation, or are just discovering this fast-growing discipline, having the right equipment is essential to getting the most out of the experience. Which brings us to today’s topic: the 3 best flight simulators for PC, solutions designed to enable you to pilot aircraft with precision and immersion, on both small and large screens.
A chassis that feels like an airplane cockpit
Just like in sim-racing, you need a flight-sim chassis to operate with a good level of realism. And of course, the list goes on and on, including brands that are active in both markets. Once again, as in sim-racing, flight-sim cockpits are plentiful, targeting pilots with different levels of piloting ability.
Next Level Racing offers several products in its catalog, and the Flight Stand Pro represents the mid-range for pilots who are plane fans. It’s a sim-racing-style stand, but this time specifically designed for sim-airplane piloting. It’s a perfect match for the discipline, combining versatility and affordability to give you the perfect start to your training in the skies. Price-wise, you’re looking at €550, and there’s a cheaper option in the form of a stand too, but much more basic. It’s the Flight Simulator Lite for €300, but you’ll be limited in terms of the number of peripherals that can be installed.
Flight simulation peripherals to master the beast
There are many flight simulation peripherals on the market, with products that can be specific to certain aircraft. For example, there are handles for airliners, fighter jets and even helicopters. And that’s just for joysticks, because let’s not forget that aircraft require other equipment, such as throttles and rudder pedals.
When it comes to handles, there are several options to suit your preferences. Thrustmaster offers many products for both airline and fighter pilots. One of the brand’s most popular combos is the T.16000M FCS, with throttle and joystick, ideal for amateur pilots who want good equipment for long-distance traverses, or engaging an enemy in a dogfight. This combo will set you back €150, and is PC-compatible.
And if you’re an airliner fan, Thrustmaster, in collaboration with Boeing, has the TCA Yoke in its catalog. This is a Yoke-shaped stick with several controls integrated into the peripheral, and also a throttle. Expect to pay €500 to install it on your setup and take full advantage of the American brand’s legendary airliners.
Of course, other products are available to suit your riding preferences. Moza Racing also offers equipment, including its AB9 FFB active base with 2 electric motors that provide resistance and feedback. This base can be fitted with the MH16 Flightstick to complete the setup, for a total of almost €800. It’s expensive, yes, but it’s also active, so fans certainly won’t be counting the cost.
The dynamic flight simulator to immerse you in the action
Let’s take a look at what is considered the Holy Grail for aircraft pilots, or even racing drivers, and that’s the dynamic simulator, commonly known as the “dynamic chassis”.
The principle of a dynamic cockpit is to combine mechanisms capable of reproducing aircraft movements with a chassis. This is achieved mainly by adding electro-hydraulic actuators to cockpits to produce the desired movements. This type of setup is very popular in sim-racing, with brands such as Next Level Racing offering options for both amateur pilots and the more seasoned of the lot.
For our list, this company is once again present with the FlightSim Pro. The Australian brand is very active on the global simulation market, with high-quality, competitive and, above all, immersive products, and this shows on its FlightSim Pro.
This chassis includes 3 of the brand’s products – Flight Simulator Pro, Motion V3 and Motion Plus – to create one of the best dynamic cockpits for flight simulation. What’s more, you have the option of adding a monitor mount, in either 1-screen or 3-screen configuration, to take simulation to the max.
Of course, such a setup has its price, and it’s clearly out of reach for a good proportion of virtual pilots, despite the fact that Next Level Racing is considered reasonably priced. The FlightSim Pro retails for €8195, and if you decide to take the monitor mounts, add another €350 or €500 depending on the screen configuration. It’s a hefty price, yes, but at the same time, being immersed in the action, with the plane moving in pursuit mode right behind an enemy so you can line it up and pull the trigger, and watching it disintegrate into smoke, all in your living room, is nothing short of epic.
Note that the FlightSim Pro is sold without flight simulation equipment, and you’ll need to purchase this separately, whether from Moza Racing, Thrustmaster or any other manufacturer offering quality products.
NLR Flight Sim Pro
The reference for total immersion
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