Replicating a Simulated 'Queen of the Skies'

Flying the classic Boeing 747 feels ‘totally real’ on either popular gaming platform.

Peter James

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 05:39 PM ET

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The 747 Classic for the XP11 features blueprint accuracy. [Image courtesy of Peter James]

Key Takeaways:

The author shares a deep, nostalgic connection to the Boeing 747, stemming from childhood experiences and movies, contrasting the past's accessibility to aviation with current security restrictions and impersonal airport designs.
The MSFS2020 default 747-8i is praised for its photorealistic visuals and recent systems realism upgrades, though its flight model is critiqued as too lightweight and its default sound set is poor.
The X-Plane SSG 747-8i offers a heavier, more realistic flight feel and good systems modeling compared to the MSFS2020 version, but its visuals are less detailed due to platform limitations.
The X-Plane 747-200 Classic (Felis) is highlighted as the most exceptional 747 simulation, providing unparalleled realism in flight physics, detailed systems, and immersive visuals that capture the true essence of flying the "Queen of the Skies."

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Ever since I was a small child, my eyes and imagination were filled with one airplane: the Boeing 747. I believe it all started when I saw Airport 1975 on the big screen. That movie forever made a permanent impression on me and was responsible for my daydreaming, doodling, and not doing very well in school.

A real American Airlines 747-100 was used for the movie. Many of the flying scenes were real as well. After watching the movie, I knew I wanted to be an airline pilot when I grew up. That was the era of actually being able to go to any airport and see big, loud, powerful airliners up close and personal. My dad would often take me to Ontario, California (KONT), east of the San Fernando Valley where I grew up, to gawk, listen, and even climb onto jetliners in between flights.