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An Inside Look at Microsoft’s Newest Flight Simulator
EAA AirVenture ^ | Sep 30, 2019 | Hal Bryan

Posted on 10/06/2019 12:56:19 PM PDT by dayglored

There’s no way I can write about the return of Flight Simulator without sharing just a little bit of my own story for context,...

...

Like many of its predecessors, the new simulator models the entire planet, including something like 40,000 airports worldwide. I used to brag in presentations about FSX that we started with 2 terabytes of scenery data, and then compressed that to fit onto a couple of DVDs in a box. The world in the new version consists of 2 petabytes of data — yes, that’s one thousand times bigger. The scenery is built on Bing satellite and aerial imagery, augmented with cool buzzwordy stuff like photogrammetric 3D modeling and multiple other data sources, all of which is streamed via Microsoft’s Azure cloud service. Yes, the word streaming means you’ll need an internet connection, but you can download and pre-cache scenery areas for offline use, or even fly in a fully offline mode.

All of this data results in an environment that is often breathtakingly lifelike, and it means that the entire planet is effectively what we used to call a “high detail area,” only more realistic. For the tech-savvy, many of the scenery areas boast a resolution of 3 centimeters per pixel, while the default in FSX was about 1 meter per pixel. Throw in 1.5 trillion trees, individual blades of grass modeled in 3D, and a complete overhaul of lighting and shadows, and the result is an unprecedented level of detail for a flight simulator of any kind. True VFR flight, day or night, with real-world landmarks is now possible everywhere on the planet.

... [Lots more at the link]


(Excerpt) Read more at inspire.eaa.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: flightsimulator; microsoft; windows; windowspinglist
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To: dayglored

I agree, this is one thing I do miss, I enjoyed the flight simulator.

“3 centimeters per pixel”

Wonder what kind of GPU capability it would require?


21 posted on 10/06/2019 2:54:34 PM PDT by Openurmind
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To: deoetdoctrinae

Re: pricing

I’ll leave that to others not having any firsthand info myself.


22 posted on 10/06/2019 2:55:22 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

Lol, nope...


23 posted on 10/06/2019 2:55:36 PM PDT by Openurmind
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To: Openurmind

— Wonder what kind of GPU capability it would require?

Probably about 27 bazillion hyper-polygons per giga-parsec.


24 posted on 10/06/2019 3:19:18 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: null and void
"I wouldn’t mind “flying” over Area 51 and S-4 at 3 cm resolution..."

There is nothing to see flying over Area 51.
Only roofs of buildings, some runways and parked cars.
Anything interesting is under those roofs or on desktop
computer screens in offices.

There's nothing to see.
Move on, move on, move on ....move...

25 posted on 10/06/2019 3:19:36 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: dayglored

I gots to have me one of dim..!! :)


26 posted on 10/06/2019 3:23:36 PM PDT by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
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To: fso301
"Is it Win-XP compatible?"

:)

27 posted on 10/06/2019 3:28:36 PM PDT by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
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To: dayglored

I know... There are some decent GPUs out there, but that kind of graphic detail is just absolutely incredible! Probably have to water cool one from the swimming pool!

This has got to be targeted for serious gamers with the right equipment. The average user is more than likely not going to have the graphic capability to run this on the highest graphic rendering? Pretty cool work they did here though!

It’s a good question... lol


28 posted on 10/06/2019 3:32:51 PM PDT by Openurmind
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To: StormEye

Or Underground...


29 posted on 10/06/2019 3:34:07 PM PDT by Openurmind
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To: dayglored

Will I be able to afford it?


30 posted on 10/06/2019 3:35:46 PM PDT by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
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To: TangoLimaSierra
Wouldn't it be cool if MS programmed in people trying to shoot you down over those areas?

I thought the same thing. After having a couple F-18 try to warn you off, of course...

31 posted on 10/06/2019 3:37:06 PM PDT by null and void (Convicted spies are shot, traitors are hanged, saboteurs are subject to summary execution...)
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To: null and void

The original MS flight simulator had a MS approved add on disk with combat planes and missions. I had the best time with that, they even had the old Sopwith Camel and you could dog fight German planes of the same era.


32 posted on 10/06/2019 3:43:01 PM PDT by Openurmind
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To: outofsalt

— Will I be able to afford it?

If you have to ask...


33 posted on 10/06/2019 3:48:55 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: Redplum

Ditto.


34 posted on 10/06/2019 3:49:13 PM PDT by wally_bert (Hola. Me llamo Inspector Carlton Lassiter. Me gusta queso.)
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To: outofsalt

Cost.....That’s the biggest question. If they do a subscription thing, I’ll stick with Prepar3d 4.5. I already have plenty invested.


35 posted on 10/06/2019 4:02:38 PM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag (Congress is not made up of “leaders” however they are “representatives” of their voters.)
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To: dayglored

I was asking for a friend?) LOL


36 posted on 10/06/2019 4:59:47 PM PDT by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
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To: max americana

I’ve heard pilots say that if you can fly a plane in MSF, you can fly a real one. The only difference is the real ones don’t have a keyboard. MSF does a virtual cockpit with working controls, but the keyboard is easier. And a joystick works better than a mouse as the yoke.


37 posted on 10/06/2019 5:02:12 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: dayglored

Do they have Meigs Field? :-(


38 posted on 10/06/2019 6:10:32 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Who's the leader of the club that feeds on dead babies? M-O-L... O-C-H... M-O-U-S-E.)
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To: TangoLimaSierra

Even cooler if real black helos and SWAT teams arrived at your house just as you were breaching g A51 security.


39 posted on 10/06/2019 7:20:39 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: StormEye
Look for fakepropeller disguises attached after every flight.


40 posted on 10/06/2019 7:27:00 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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