Google permanently introduces new functions to its virtual globe Google Earth. But the latest feature was included silently, namely a brand-new flight simulator mode!
First of all, in order to use the new flight simulator you have to install at least version 4.2 of Google Earth (it´s generally a good idea to keep the program up to date). Install the program and start it. If you look at the different menus and symbols showing up on the screen, you will be surprised to miss such a feature like a flight simulator mode. This is because the feature is a so called easter egg, meaning it´s kind of a hidden gimmick, that the people from Google have integrated into the software. To cut a long story short, simply hit Ctrl+Alt+A and the flight sim window will popup. If you restart GE, there will be a new menu entry under the tools section, so you don´t have to use a keyboard combination later on.
Getting started
When the flight sim window opens, you will be presented with some options before you can actually start flying. For the moment you can choose between only two planes, the jet fighter F16 and the propeller-driven aircraft SR22, which is much easier to fly for beginners. The next option is your starting location, you can fly from your current location or choose an airport in a drop-down list. There is also the possibility to fly with joystick support, simply plug in your controller and activate the option. If you don´t have a joystick, i recommend using your mouse instead of your keyboard, it´s much simpler.
Basic flight controls
My advice is to first start from an airport from the drop-down list. When you start the simulator you will be presented with a HUD showing you different informations about your controls. The horizontal lines in the middle of the screen are showing your elevation in degrees, positive values stand for upward, negative values for downward movement. On top of the HUD is the heading orientation. The left panel indicates your speed, the right one is for altitude. At the bottom left side you find a throttle display besides other informations like rudder or yoke. If you click in the 3D view, a cursor will appear.
First you´ll have to increase your throttle. Use PageUp to go faster. While on the ground you can control your moving direction with either left (comma key) or right (period key) wheel brakes. Once you reached a sufficient speed (for the F16 you have to go up to around 300) , move your mouse down to take off. Do this slowly and controlled. When your plane is in the air press G to retract your landing gear.
The best advice is to try it yourself. Once you are up in the air the actual flying isn´t that hard (as long as you do it slow and controlled). To fly a curve simply drag your mouse to on side while dragging it down slightly. For flying a straight line, keep your cursor around the middle of your HUD. The next big exercise would be landing the plane, but i´ll keep this for yourself.
For further informations regarding keyboard combinations you can go to the flight sim userguide or hit the help button on the main flight simulator window in Google Earth.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Hey, nice article! Shall try it out.
September 13th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Thanks Onflame. I think the whole thing is very fascinating. I hope the guys from Google will add some more features during the next time.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:51 am
I find it very fascinating too. You’re on Hot Content. Congrat!
September 14th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Thank you!
September 14th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Where do you get the program from?
September 16th, 2007 at 7:07 am
You can get Google Earth from here: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html
The flight simulator is integrated in the latest version of Google Earth. Start it with Ctrl+Alt+A.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Flying with GE-FS F-16 looks nice but that HUD looks like something out of a comic book. So I went and changed some here and there. Looks a lot more like an F16 now! I cant get the compass to show heading every 10 degrees. Can anyone help??
Copy this into generic.ini (C:Program FilesGoogleGoogle Earthresflightsimhud):
% Generic Head Up Display Config
AirSpeedX = -0.4
AirSpeedFactor = 0.194384 % 1/kt
AirSpeedY0 = -0.2
AirSpeedY1 = 0.1
AirSpeedRange = 16
AirSpeedDV = 1
AirSpeedSmallInLarge = 5
AirSpeedLargeX0 = -0.05
AirSpeedLargeX1 = 0
AirSpeedSmallX0 = -0.03
AirSpeedSmallX1 = 0
AirSpeedValueX = -0.06
AirSpeedValueTextFlags = [left middle]
AirSpeedPointerX = 0.005
AirSpeedPointerAngle = 3.14159265
AirSpeedPointerLength = 0.015
AltitudeX = 0.4
AltitudeFactor = 0.0328084 % 1/ft
AltitudeY0 = -0.2
AltitudeY1 = 0.1
AltitudeRange = 16
AltitudeDV = 1
AltitudeSmallInLarge = 5
AltitudeLargeX0 = 0
AltitudeLargeX1 = 0.05
AltitudeSmallX0 = 0
AltitudeSmallX1 = 0.03
AltitudeValueX = 0.06
AltitudeValueTextFlags = [right middle]
AltitudePointerX = -0.005
AltitudePointerAngle = 0
AltitudePointerLength = 0.015
VerticalSpeedFactor = 196.85 % min/ft
VerticalSpeedRound = 10.0
VerticalSpeedX = 0.4
VerticalSpeedY = -0.25
VerticalSpeedTextParams = [center middle]
VelocityMark =
[
-.01 .00 .00 .01
.01 .00 .00 .01
-.01 .00 .00 -.01
.01 .00 .00 -.01
-.03 .00 -.01 .00
.01 .00 .03 .00
.00 .02 .00 .01
]
VelocityMinSpeed = 0
CompassSmallInLarge = 2
CompassLargeInHuge = 3
CompassTextParams = [center bottom]
CompassSmallY0 = -0.310
CompassSmallY1 = -0.295
CompassLargeY0 = -0.325
CompassLargeY1 = -0.295
CompassHugeY0 = -0.330
CompassHugeY1 = -0.295
CompassTextY = -0.331
CompassRange = 20
CompassX0 = -0.15
CompassX1 = 0.15
RollScaleHalfAngle = 60
RollScaleR = 0.2
RollScaleCenterX = 0
RollScaleCenterY = 0
RollScaleLarge = [30 60]
RollScaleSmall = [10 20 45]
RollScaleLargeR0 = 0
RollScaleLargeR1 = 0.025
RollScaleSmallR0 = 0
RollScaleSmallR1 = 0.0125
RollScaleTextR = 0.07
RollScaleTextParams = [center bottom]
RollScaleSegments = 10
RollScalePointerR = 0.005
RollScalePointerL = 0.02
SkidIndicatorMark =
[
-.01 .005 .01 .005
.01 .005 .01 -.005
.01 -.005 -.01 -.005
-.01 -.005 -.01 .005
]
SkidIndicatorY = 0.17
SkidIndicatorX0 = -0.1
SkidIndicatorX1 = 0.1
SkidIndicatorMin = -2.5
SkidIndicatorMax = 2.5
PlaneMark =
[
-.01 .04 .01 .04
.00 .05 -.00 .03
]
PitchLadderDV = 5
PitchLadderSmallInLarge = 2
PitchLadderSmallMark =
[
-0.08 0.0 -0.04 0.0
0.08 0.0 0.04 0.0
]
PitchLadderLargeMark =
[
-0.13 0.0 -0.04 0.0
0.13 0.0 0.04 0.0
]
PitchLadderY0 = -0.35
PitchLadderY1 = 0.35
PitchLadderXOffset = 0
PitchLadderLetterOffset = 7000
HUDColor = 65280
StallColor = 255
StallX = 0.7
StallY = -0.65
StallText = STALL
StallMinSpeed = 6
StallTextParams = [center bottom]
GearX = -0.85
GearY = -0.65
GearText = GEAR
GearTextParams = [center bottom]
FlapsX = -0.7
FlapsY = -0.65
FlapsText = FLAPS
FlapsTextParams = [center bottom]
HUDLineWidth = 1.3
HUDLineSmooth = true
ThrottleIndicatorX = -0.95
ThrottleIndicatorY0 = -0.8
ThrottleIndicatorY1 = -0.8
ThrottleIndicatorWidth = 0.00
ElevatorIndicatorX = -0.7
ElevatorIndicatorY0 = -0.5
ElevatorIndicatorY1 = -0.5
ElevatorIndicatorWidth = -0.0
AileronIndicatorY = -0.5
AileronIndicatorX0 = -0.8
AileronIndicatorX1 = -0.8
AileronIndicatorWidth = 0.0
RudderIndicatorY = -0.6
RudderIndicatorX0 = -0.8
RudderIndicatorX1 = -0.8
RudderIndicatorWidth = 0.0
April 14th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I’m using Google Earth on macintosh, and there’s no heading indicator. Everything else looks the same but…???????