The Art of Simulated Long-Haul Flying

New aircraft add-ons make these journeys both realistic and reliable.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 02:49 PM ET

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LatinVFR's newly released A340-300 is a lot of fun—seen climbing out of the Pacific Northwest. HiFly paint is a real rendition of the private charter company that operates these to exotic locations, such as Antarctica ice runways. [Courtesy: Peter James]

Key Takeaways:

The author adheres to a strict "flight simmers code of conduct," demanding real-time, uninterrupted long-haul flights to foster deep immersion and a sense of genuine global travel.
Modern Microsoft Flight Simulator, supported by current hardware, now reliably handles extended flights without performance degradation, making realistic long-haul journeys enjoyable.
The article highlights several add-on aircraft (e.g., A340-300, 787-8, PMDG 737NG BBJ) that significantly enhance realism and immersion through detailed flight models, fully modeled cabins, dynamic lighting, and advanced weather effects like vapor trails.

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Ever since I was in my 20s, when flight simulation started incorporating airliners capable of flying massive distances, uninterrupted on autopilot, with little risk of disaster, I felt safe taking round-the-world trips.

I remember buying sets of highly decorated various airliners with probably just 2D cockpits. We could get everything back then in the mid 1990s, when airlines around the world were still flying everything from 727s and DC-8s to 747 Classics.