One of the hidden features of the Google Earth desktop app is a fun little flight simulator that lets you fly around the Earth using maps generated by the app. And Google just announced that the flight simulator is also now available in your web browser of choice for everyone to enjoy.
The addition of the game is part of a broader initiative by Google to add pro-level features to the website’s interface, so you can skip installing the desktop app. Some of these features include altitude profiles, new import types, additional data layers, and the flight simulator.
Most of the above features are intended for professional and amateur use, but the flight simulator is just for fun. It is exists since 2007 in the desktop app, and Friday marks its first appearance in the web version of Google Earth.
It’s not as in-depth as other flight sims, but you can’t argue with the breadth of places you can fly.
Google EarthHow to play flight simulator in Google Earth
It doesn’t take much effort to get into the game. Start by following this link to the Google Earth website and clicking the Explore Earth button in the upper right corner. Use the search bar to load the point on Earth where you want to fly. Finally, click on Tools, and Flight Simulator is the last option on the list.
The controls are not shown in the game, but you can find them on the Google Developers website. You can choose to use the mouse or arrow keys to control the pitch and roll of the plane. The Page Up and Page Down buttons increase and decrease thrust respectively. But be careful: it’s quite easy to lose control of the plane, leading to a topsy-turvy browser screen. The game ends if you crash the plane, but Google lets you try again as often as you want.
Its gameplay isn’t as in-depth as something like Microsoft Flight Simulator or the Ace Combat series. However, Google Earth Flight Simulator has access to the entire Google Earth database, so you can fly almost anywhere on Earth and discover various landmarks.
There are no missions, achievements, or other notable advancements you can make, but if you ever wanted to fly a plane under the Golden Gate Bridge, now’s your chance.