How to Take a Trip in a Flight Simulator

You may never have the opportunity to climb into the pilot's seat of an aircraft and take off into flight. However, if you want to see what this experience feels like, then you'll probably enjoy taking a trip in a flight simulator.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find a location that has flight simulators open to the public for use. Air and space museums such as the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., have flight simulators.

2. Choose between a ride flight simulator and an interactive simulator. With a ride simulator, you sit back and enjoy the feel of riding in a jet plane. During an interactive simulator, you can control the action that takes place during the ride.

3. Pay the admission rate and climb aboard. Museums charge extra for the use of their flight simulators. Due to the popularity of the attraction, you may want to make reservations. For the National Air and Space Museum's simulators, get ticketing information on their Web site (see Resources below).

4. Allow the sensation of flight to take over. Once the ride commences, the flight simulator will start vibrating and moving to simulate takeoff, fighter action and landing.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase a flight simulator video game as well to experience the feel of flying a jet airplane. Try Flight Simulator by Microsoft.
• Not everyone should take a trip in a flight simulator. If you have any back, neck or heart problems, a flight simulator ride can worsen the condition.

Resources

• Get flight simulator info from the National Air and Space Museum