As the world prepares to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of powered flight, Microsoft announces that
"Microsoft® Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight" is in
development and cleared for takeoff this July.
With "Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight," the next
milestone in the award-winning "Flight Simulator" franchise,
Microsoft celebrates 20 years of developing and perfecting computer
flight simulation. "A Century of Flight" allows aviation
enthusiasts to experience history at the controls of historic
aircraft, such as Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP "Spirit of St.
Louis," the Douglas DC-3 and the world's first successful powered
aircraft, the Wright Flyer.
New engaging features such as interactive multimedia provide a
wealth of historical information on the planes that shaped aviation
history and the pilots who flew them. Informed and insightful
articles explain all there is to know about Microsoft's "Flight
Simulator" and the 24 aircraft included in the software. "Microsoft
Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight" also introduces an updated,
dynamic weather system, enhanced automatically generated scenery
(AutoGen) and detailed visual effects, improved Air Traffic Control
functions, and 3-D interactive cockpits, as well as 15 modern
aircraft, including the Boeing 777, the Beechcraft Baron and the
Robinson R22 helicopter.
"Launching 'A Century of Flight' in conjunction with a
historical milestone as monumental as the invention of powered
flight is an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of
us on the 'Flight Simulator' team," said Bruce Williams, product
planner at Microsoft Aces Studios. "There are a lot of
organizations celebrating the centennial of flight, but 'Century of
Flight' empowers people to get into the cockpit of legendary
aircraft such as the Wright Flyer and the 'Spirit of St. Louis' to
feel what it was like to actually fly those planes."
When "Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of
Flight" launches this July, Microsoft will mark flight's 100th
anniversary by participating with the Experimental Aviation
Association (EAA) in a yearlong celebration, Countdown to Kitty
Hawk. A touring pavilion honoring aviation heroes and innovations
will land in cities across the country. The pavilion will house a
virtual 1903 Wright Flyer with which guests can experience the new
"Flight Simulator" software, stepping back in time and recapturing
the feeling of the first flight of Wilbur and Orville Wright on the
sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, N.C. Would-be pilots operate the
"aircraft" from a horizontal hip cradle, using hand levers and a
shifting hip mechanism to control virtual takeoffs and landings in
front of a giant panoramic projection screen.
["Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight" will be
available on PC at leading retailers nationwide including Best Buy,
Electronics Boutique and Circuit City Stores Inc. in July 2003 for
an estimated retail price of $54.95 (U.S.) and is rated
"Teen."]