If you've been reading my blog, you'll know how I love to put in some lovely pictures ;)! I also have to tell you that these pictures are screen grabs in-game (without even pausing the flight - and yet the detail as you can see is really impressive).
The above shows the very well depicted instrument panel in the cockpit. The shadows are dynamic in flight and really makes it very realistic indeed.
The mission I was doing here was carrying passengers and cargo between the Hawaiian Islands (destined for Lanai island). The beauty of the compromise between beginners and hard-core simmers is that for the beginners, a green destination marker will point you in the direction of your destination.
But for the hard-core simmers like myself who know how to use the navigation instruments, I actually have navigated to my destination by planning carefully my routes on the map, and flying using VOR. It's also important to note that MS Flight gives you the full ability to use VOR, DME, ADF and even make those all important ILS landings when visibility is poor.
Flying in MS Flight not only is a great tool to practice IFR (Instrument flight rules) using the navigational instruments and radios, but whilst you are doing this you also get an amazing view. Now, for those of you that may be saying "Who cares about the view, FSX is better for simulation bla bla..." (I mean no offense with the bla bla part, honestly!) the truth is that flying IS about the view. Most people want to fly because they want to see the world from above in all its beauty.
MS Flight has captured that dream and enables us to actually enjoy the view while we fly - something we can do without the need for expensive graphics cards. MS Flight has been designed so well, that what you get out of the box is simply perfection.
In FSX, to get those amazing views, you have to most likely purchase an expensive add-on (but the point is that you won't get this sort of graphics in FSX with the default package).
Another great thing about Flight is the user interface, making learning how to fly a really and truly simple process. The above image shows one of the many checklists (in this case its the Approach and Landing checklist I used just before I make that steep left turn to the runway). The checklists, you can use, in either manual or automated fashion. In other words, if I'm a beginner and I want to use the checklist but not confident enough to carry out the procedures, I can ask the checklist to automate and it will make the necessary adjustments (it's really cool to see the mixture, throttle and prop levers move on its own). Personally, I do the procedures manually, and each box in the check list waits for me to make the necessary adjustment. And to be quite honest with you, I have learned ALOT about operating the aircraft because of this. Again, another argument for MS Flight being even more realistic in that sense - giving you the ability to actually learn the proper operation of the aircraft.
This is why I sometimes think it is absurd that people claim FSX is better for learning. I mean, I'm not saying they are wrong. But my argument is that MS Flight is a better learning tool as it allows you to learn easily and confidently, thereby helping you to remember the things you learn and keep up the practice. Using FSX, the user interface isn't great at all and often times put people off unless they know what they're doing.
All in all, Flight is great for those who want to learn and perfect their skills.
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