Flightsim.com
Encyclopedia
Flightsim.com is a flight simulation review and resource website
that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator
. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Avsim.com
and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of video games.
discussion groups for flight simulation dating back as far as 1985 and was one of the earliest flight simulator sites on the internet. The existing library of files dates back prior to the website in its current format, with some existing files originating from when the website was run on the BBS provider Xevious BBS, which was established by the Flightsim.com creator Nels Anderson in 1983 and still runs as part of the site today.
The website partnered with UGO Networks in 1999 with the aim of providing all content free of charge, and gaining its revenue through an advertising model. Throughout the early 1990s and into the new millennium, the website gained increasing popularity on the back of increasing interest and sales of the Microsoft Flight Simulator
series of products. As of 2006 the website no longer appeared to be partnered with UGO Networks and gets revenue from its own sale of banner advertisement space in addition to membership subscriptions.
community consistently rate the website as a "must visit" among fans of the genre, along with the similar website Avsim.com. The website has also received coverage in a number of publications over the years when the media require comment on issues relating to flight simulation. While the website has continued to gain popularity the basic format and provision of services has changed little since it became commercially oriented in 1996. The website is commonly referenced in literature as a source for downloading aircraft files for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator
further increasing the websites popularity among the community.
. Additionally the website provides users with reviews of commercial content created for use with a flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator
. Full commercial reviews are covered as special features listed on the websites main page. Guides on how to operate the simulator and other aspects of flight simulation are collected in articles, information, and how-to sections of the website aiming to provide resources to those interested in flight simulation.
Much of this content is created by freeware developers and offered to the community without charge. Occasionally, payware commercial developers will release products free on the site to generate interest in their other products. A section of the website provides background and information on development of additional content for flight simulators, including a list of prominent developers and members of the community. The website also offers a developers award and excellence program aiming to highlight both commercial and non-commercial successes within the boutique industry of flight simulation content development.
s within the community. Community forums are provided for both the website community and the flight simulation community in general, with many of the early virtual airline
s having forums and websites hosted by the site. Both X-Plane
and Microsoft Flight Simulator
forums are featured on the website. Another site, Train-sim.com, is also owned by Flightsim.com and similarly serves the train simulator
community.
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Avsim.com
Avsim.com
Avsim.com is a flight simulation review and resource website that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Flightsim.com and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of games...
and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of video games.
History
The website sources its origins to Bulletin Board SystemBulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
discussion groups for flight simulation dating back as far as 1985 and was one of the earliest flight simulator sites on the internet. The existing library of files dates back prior to the website in its current format, with some existing files originating from when the website was run on the BBS provider Xevious BBS, which was established by the Flightsim.com creator Nels Anderson in 1983 and still runs as part of the site today.
The website partnered with UGO Networks in 1999 with the aim of providing all content free of charge, and gaining its revenue through an advertising model. Throughout the early 1990s and into the new millennium, the website gained increasing popularity on the back of increasing interest and sales of the Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
series of products. As of 2006 the website no longer appeared to be partnered with UGO Networks and gets revenue from its own sale of banner advertisement space in addition to membership subscriptions.
Popularity
The website is popular within the video game genre of flight simulation. Commentators within the flight simulation and aviationAviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
community consistently rate the website as a "must visit" among fans of the genre, along with the similar website Avsim.com. The website has also received coverage in a number of publications over the years when the media require comment on issues relating to flight simulation. While the website has continued to gain popularity the basic format and provision of services has changed little since it became commercially oriented in 1996. The website is commonly referenced in literature as a source for downloading aircraft files for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
further increasing the websites popularity among the community.
Services
The main focus of the website is providing additional content that users can use within a Flight SimulatorFlight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
. Additionally the website provides users with reviews of commercial content created for use with a flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
. Full commercial reviews are covered as special features listed on the websites main page. Guides on how to operate the simulator and other aspects of flight simulation are collected in articles, information, and how-to sections of the website aiming to provide resources to those interested in flight simulation.
Downloadable Content
The following additional content is commonly indexed by the website and available for download:- Aircraft
- Scenery
- Utilities
- Sounds
- Missions
Much of this content is created by freeware developers and offered to the community without charge. Occasionally, payware commercial developers will release products free on the site to generate interest in their other products. A section of the website provides background and information on development of additional content for flight simulators, including a list of prominent developers and members of the community. The website also offers a developers award and excellence program aiming to highlight both commercial and non-commercial successes within the boutique industry of flight simulation content development.
Community
Along with community websites such as Avsim.com, the website has been identified as a key component in bringing community members together to discuss the topic of flight simulation, with real world meetings and events of website community members common. The website also provides a news service that covers both commercial releases and important announcements from developers and virtual airlineVirtual airline
A virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline...
s within the community. Community forums are provided for both the website community and the flight simulation community in general, with many of the early virtual airline
Virtual airline
A virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline...
s having forums and websites hosted by the site. Both X-Plane
X-Plane
X-Plane is a flight simulator, designed for Mac OS X, but also available for Windows and Linux produced by Laminar Research. X-Plane is packaged with several commercial, military and other aircraft as well as basic global scenery which covers most of the earth. X-Plane also comes with other...
and Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
forums are featured on the website. Another site, Train-sim.com, is also owned by Flightsim.com and similarly serves the train simulator
Train simulator
A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport operations.-Industrial train simulations:Like flight simulators, train simulators have been produced for railway training purposes...
community.
Subscription
Users must subscribe to the website to access file downloads. While the base level subscription is free and provides access to all areas, there is some limitation on download speed. First-class memberships are offered that feature unrestricted downloading and higher speeds.See also
- Avsim.comAvsim.comAvsim.com is a flight simulation review and resource website that focuses heavily on Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is one of the main flight simulation websites along with Flightsim.com and provides users access to information and addons for the flight simulator series of games...
- Flight Simulation
- Microsoft Flight SimulatorMicrosoft Flight SimulatorMicrosoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
- X-PlaneX-PlaneX-Plane is a flight simulator, designed for Mac OS X, but also available for Windows and Linux produced by Laminar Research. X-Plane is packaged with several commercial, military and other aircraft as well as basic global scenery which covers most of the earth. X-Plane also comes with other...
- Virtual airlineVirtual airlineA virtual airline is a dedicated hobby organization that uses flight simulation to model the operations of an airline. Virtual airlines generally have a presence on the Internet, similar to a real airline...