Article Summary
- Google Earth has released its popular ‘Flight Simulator’ feature, previously limited to its desktop application, directly in web browsers for the first time.
- This allows users worldwide to virtually fly across the skies without the need for cumbersome software downloads, using only an internet-enabled browser.
- The web version of Google Earth also introduces new features such as an ‘Elevation Profile’ tool to measure terrain height and additional map data layers.
June 18, Kathmandu – A once-overlooked but entertaining feature within Google Earth, the ‘Flight Simulator,’ is now available to users worldwide directly through an internet browser.
From now on, there’s no need to download complicated software to explore the virtual skies—any device with an internet browser will suffice.
Google Earth has enhanced its website by adding this flight simulator feature along with several professional-level tools to strengthen the platform.
Alongside, an ‘Elevation Profile’ tool to measure land height and additional useful data layers for mapping professionals have also been added. While the flight simulator is purely for entertainment, the added tools benefit specialists working with geographical data.
The flight simulator feature, which has existed within Google Earth’s desktop application since 2007, is now being made available on the web for the first time.
How to use it?
First, visit the Google Earth website and click the ‘Explore Earth’ button located at the top right corner. Then, in the search bar, enter the location where you want to pilot the aircraft.
Once you find your destination, click on the ‘Tools’ menu at the top, and you’ll see the ‘Flight Simulator’ option at the very bottom.
When the flight starts, no on-screen controls are displayed for piloting the aircraft, but the controls are simple to use. You can tilt the plane left or right or move it up and down using the mouse or the arrow keys on your keyboard. To increase speed, press the Page Up key; to slow down, press Page Down.
However, the aircraft’s balance can be easy to lose, which may cause the computer screen to spin or tilt disorientingly. If you crash into the ground, the flight ends.
This game is not as complex or immersive as major commercial video games like ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ or ‘Ace Combat.’ Its unique advantage, however, is its integration with Google Earth’s global map, enabling users to visit and view famous places anywhere in the world virtually.
There are no missions to complete, points to score, or levels to clear—simply a fun, open experience.
So, if you have ever dreamed of flying your plane under the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States, now you can realize that fantasy by opening your browser and giving it a try.
