The cockpit is the command center for the aircraft. It contains all of the instruments and controls necessary for the pilot to fly the aircraft, whether it’s a heavy commercial aircraft or a combat fighter plane. Any given cockpit simulator might have a different set of controls depending on the aircraft your flight training simulator is presenting in the current mission.
Most flight training simulator cockpits are known as “simpits” and are usually very accurate recreations of the actual cockpit they are simulating. Typically most cockpit simulator programs include the functions, instruments, controls and radio systems that are present in the plane you are training on. Since many of these instruments are not strictly necessary for your flight simulation training some of the guages and dials on your cockpit dashboard may be just to give you the look and feel of a real cockpit.
A good flight training simulator program is often so detailed and life-like that most people’s first impression when they first see the cockpit simulator is one of confusion at all the instruments. They really do look just like the real thing. The realism of top rated flight simulator training software programs is one of the main reasons the aviation industry relies so heavily on flight simulators for training their pilots and flight crews. Initial training and familiarization can be accomplished with a flight simulator without any risk to people or aircraft and at much less expense than traditional flight training in a real aircracft.
Since simulator cockpits are almost exactly the same in function and look as the real thing they are an invaluable tool for training new pilots. Many flight simulator pilot training programs come fully equiped with an operational radio system that allows pilots to interact with flight control by following ground control commands as well as allowing flight instructors to offer help during the flight simulation training sessions.
While flight training simulators are a valuable tool for training professional pilots they are also a lot of fun for anyone who would like to feel the thrill of flying without the long hours and high cost of getting a pilots license.
Here are a couple of screenshots so you can see the detail included with the top flight simulator programs.
