Hardware

Dinosaur Sighting: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the IBM PC Jr.

By // January 20, 2012, 12:55 AM PST // markwkaelin

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  • Flight Plan

    One of the first "killer" game applications for what was then the nascent personal computer gaming market in 1983, was Microsoft Flight Simulator. While the graphics weren't spectacular by today's standards, they were graphics; which were a change from what had come before. With the IBM PC Jr. up and running, it turned out to be a good time to take a look at this dinosaur application.

    This gallery was originally published in August 2008.

  • One floppy to rule them all

    If there is one thing that emphasizes the difference between then and now it is how much storage media is needed to load a game. For this version of Microsoft Flight Simulator it is one low-density 5 1/4 floppy.

  • How to fly

    Before you can fly a simulated airplane you have learn how to fly.

  • Where to land

    You also have to know how to find an airport so you can land. This is a simulation - you can't just land anywhere.

  • Flight plan

    Notice the table of coordinates. You can input those into your instruments and fly on autopilot.

  • License to fly

    The box claims that Flight Simulator is so realistic I might just have to get a license. Funny, I have heard that Doom was so realistic that I might qualify as a mass-murderer.

    Just a note to the oblivious -- neither is correct.

  • Opening screen

    You put the Microsoft Flight Simulator into the floppy disk drive and turn on the IBM PC Jr. and this is what you see.

    Before you can fly you have to answer a few questions. RGB -- that's us.

  • Resolution

    One this old monitor, the high resolution, four color display looks the best.

  • Demo mode

    Since I was taking photos, I chose Demo Mode.

  • Chicklet treatment

    The chicklet IR keyboard that came standard with the IBM PC Jr. has to be compensated for.

  • That's right - 40 minutes

    The demo has you taking off from an airport in metropolitan New York (correction Chicago) to see the sights, including the game's representation of the World Trade Center.

  • Clear for takeoff

    This is our starting position. Give it throttle and down the runway we go.

  • Chocks away

    We are moving - get up to speed and pull back on the stick - gently!

  • Up, up and away

    We are off the ground looking back at the airfield.

  • Looking good

    We ascend into the sky, just crossing 1000 feet now.

  • World Trade Towers

    In the distance the John Hancock Building looms.

  • Closer

    As the demo flight approaches you notice that there seem to be no other buildings in Chicago -- this early version of Flight Simulator certainly had limitations. Not sure I can earn my license if I never actually see but one building.

  • Top view

    As part of the simulation you change your perspective while flying. This is the top down view. The coast line is lovely.

  • Around the tower

    The demo is taking us around the John Hancock Building. We are circling around heading east looking out the right side window.

  • The ocean

    Out the other window we see open ocean.

  • Banking

    Just like a real airplane, we bank when we turn.

  • Looking back

    We are heading more southerly now and you can see a few more Chicago buildings popping up looking out the right side of the plane. (Members say that is supposed to be the Sears Tower.)

  • More banking

    Note the red building out our right window. Is that the Sears Tower?

  • Heading back

    We have made our 180 degree turn around the John Hancock Building and are now heading back toward the airport.

  • Change it up

    Not only could you simulate flying, you can simulate weather conditions, time of day, and Europe 1917.

  • Red Baraon

    The 1917 dog fight scenario was one of my favorites. I had several strategies for surviving my infiltration into enemy territory.

  • Strange

    Strangely enough, the cockpit of a 1917 warplane is very similar to that of a modern day Cessna.

  • Machine guns - cool

    Not sure how well you can see it, but I just fired my machine guns - a hunting we will go...

  • Sights

    Now you can see some tracer rounds passing through the gun sights.

    I have fond memories of Microsoft Flight Simulator, but after a short time the simulation got repetitive. From here I graduated to military strategy games and started expanding my horizons for personal computer generated entertainment.

Flight Plan

One of the first "killer" game applications for what was then the nascent personal computer gaming market in 1983, was Microsoft Flight Simulator. While the graphics weren't spectacular by today's standards, they were graphics; which were a change from what had come before. With the IBM PC Jr. up and running, it turned out to be a good time to take a look at this dinosaur application.

This gallery was originally published in August 2008.

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By Mark Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.