Tribute to Flight Simulator 5.x

Edit 2012: sorry for the music after the first song; it may be crappy to you.

*Flight Simulator 5.0 - Released in September, 1993.

With almost 5 years of making FS5, FS5 is the first version of the series to use textures. This allowed FS5 to achieve a much higher degree of realism than the previous flat-shaded simulators. This also made all add-on scenery and aircraft for the previous versions obsolete, as they would look out of place.

The bundled scenery was expanded (now including parts of Europe). Improvements were made to the included aircraft models, the weather system's realism and artificial intelligence. The coordinate system introduced in FS1 was revamped.

More noticeable improvements included the use of digital audio for sound effects, custom cockpits for each aircraft (previous versions had one cockpit that was slightly modified to fit various aircraft), and better graphics.

It took about a year for add-on developers to get grips with the new engine, but when they did they were not only able to release scenery but also tools like Flightshop that made it feasible for users to design new objects.

*Flight Simulator 5.1 - Released in April, 1995

In 1995, Flight Simulator 5.1 was introduced, adding the ability to handle scenery libraries including wide use of satellite imagery, faster performance and a barrage of weather effects: storms, 3D clouds and fog became true-to-life elements in the Flight Simulator world. This edition was also the first version that was released on CD-ROM and the last for DOS. This was released approx in June 1995.

In the fall of 1995 and the release of the Flightshop program nearly any aircraft could be built. The French program "Airport" was also available for free which allowed users to build airports (FS5.1 only had 250 World wide) and other designers were doing custom aircraft cockpit panels. This all made for a huge amount of "freeware" to be released to be downloaded and added to the FS5.1 simulator.

It was all finally coming together in late 1995 and into 1996--a much improved simulator with FS5.1,more powerful computers that were becoming affordable,the internet for uploading/downloading,programs which allowed users to share their "third party" aircraft and scenery with others and finally forums such as CompuServe, AVSIM and FlightSim.com to act as library's for the uploads and discussion.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Tribute
• to
• Flight
• Simulator
• 5.x

[javirouch]

WOW!!!

I used to play FS 5.1 on my 486 all day long!

It came with a real manual not like the newer versions, incluing charts and some maps! I still have it!!!

[FS2004ACoF]

Yeah, I think FS2002 screwed that up.

[BSSchumacher]

sometimes i like those old games more than games you can play today. these games are the right thing for real hardcore fans.

[FS2004ACoF]

I feel the same. It's like when I play DOOM 3, it's an awesome game, but I like to play much more The Ultimate DOOM, DOOM II, or Final DOOM.

[lindsaymobil22]

i cant believe people would consider this realistic back in the 1990's lol, nice tribute! it was a good milestone and marker for today's generation of fs

[FS2004ACoF]

Thank you very much! I never played this game until 2009. I consider it realistic even in 2010.

[P3rttiz]

thumps up if you miss good old computer times 

[aryoseno11]

never play it but love it.......fuck fs2002

[BDHH100]

Shit! Ive recived FSX Deluxe on Christmas and this graphic is... I remember playing this when I was young... :) OLD MEMORIES

[Evsy991]

The map is the same as 98

[estipi99]

EPIC  :)

This FS team that keeps on making these sims is great. I can't believe that they decided to drop it...... .