Welcome!
Are you new to flight simulation? Wondering what it’s like to sit in the captain’s seat of a magnificent aircraft as you accelerate down the runway and lift off into the wide open skies? Or have you mastered the basics of flight simulation and are now looking to start taking your sim setup to the next level? Either way, the Flight Sim Pilot Shop can help you experience the thrill of flight with more realism than you ever thought possible. We’re the official store of FlightSim.com, the leading flight simulation website that has been around for over 10 years and we want to make your dreams of flight a reality.  

Getting Started
We offer a wide variety of software and hardware products intended to increase the level of realism that your flight simulator provides. To get started, you will first need the actual flight simulator program. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series is the industry standard and by far the most popular and practical. Virtually all products offered on our site are specifically made for Flight Simulator. The Flight Simulator franchise started a number of years ago, but the vast majority of users are using FS2004 (also called Century of Flight and FS9) or the latest version, FSX.  If you are new to flight simming, you can start with either version. However, FSX offers a number of enhancements over FS2004 and is the most current version. Microsoft has also officially discontinued the sale of FS2004, making it harder to find. In either case, we recommend making sure you have a fairly recent and powerful computer to take advantage of all the features and realism that these simulators have to offer. Preferable computer specifications might include a dual-core processor, at least 2 GB of RAM, at least 10 GB of available hard drive space, as well as a high performance video card.

 Add-Ons to Flight Simulator
While Flight Simulator comes with a variety of aircraft and scenery that you can fly, a number of software developers have created what are known as “add-ons” that provide an additional level of detail or content specific to certain aspects of the simulator. For example, you can purchase extra aircraft not already included in Flight Simulator. When installed, you are able to fly them just like any other aircraft, often complete with interactive virtual cockpits and realistic flight characteristics. There are a wide variety of add-on aircraft available, including small private aircraft, helicopters, gliders, commercial aircraft and even fighter jets.

 You are also able to purchase scenery that enhances the default scenery included in flight simulator or allows you to visit new regions not already included. There are even utilities that can enhance certain aspects of the Flight Simulator itself, including such features as weather, Air Traffic Control (ATC), night lighting, ILS approaches, and more.  These paid add-ons are developed with much attention to detail typically by experienced developers. Most will install automatically so you do not have to be especially computer savvy.

 FSX also includes a mode of gameplay called “adventures” that allows you to face a specific set of tasks that you attempt to achieve. Add-ons are available that present new challenges or missions. Additionally, Microsoft has recently released their first official expansion pack for FSX called Acceleration which provides additional aircraft, new features and many new adventures.

 Downloads and Boxed Products
The Flight Sim Pilot Shop offers these add-ons as downloadable content or boxed products. Many developers choose only to produce software that is downloadable, whereas others package their software in boxes similar to what you would find on a store shelf. As a service for our customers, any product that is by default a download can be burned onto a CD ROM and mailed to you for a small additional charge.  Downloads usually come as .zip files which are more compact and easier to download.

You can unzip files using common programs such as Winzip. Add-ons typically include basic installation instructions. For additional information on installing these files, we have included some tutorials in the Help section of our website. 

Hardware
In addition to software products, there are a substantial number of hardware products that have been developed to make your flight simulation experience more realistic. There are no keyboards and mice in a real plane, so a real flight simmer will want to get an actual yoke and pedals. These are the primary controls and likely to be the first items to consider purchasing, as the keyboard can become overwhelming even to flight sim experts. The yoke is the steering device for general aviation aircraft and many include several buttons to access other control functions, such as electric trim or as a “push to talk” switch for radio communications. To taxi or stop an airplane on the ground, or to maintain coordinated flight in the air, you need the precise rudder and braking control of pedals. If you prefer to perform aerobatic maneuvers, fly helicopters, crop dusters, WWII aircraft, or fighters, we also offer a variety of specialized joysticks. You will also want a headset to take advantage of voice operated controls, the online air traffic control, or the other interactive features of FSX. Additionally this avoids waking the entire household when practicing during those “red-eye” flights. As you get more advanced, there are a number of other items to consider at a variety of price points. These range from more advanced throttles to complete cockpit panel and radio systems. There are products that rumble your chair when you hit turbulence and others that provide a surround simulation experience on multiple monitors using a single video card. We can accommodate any individual needs and budgets. 

Learning More
We also offer a variety of books, guides, and movies that are both educational and fun to view. These cover actual aircraft as well as Flight Simulator itself. There are even guides that help real-world pilots learn to train with Flight Simulator and vice versa. Sim-pilots can prepare for real-world flight examinations or learn to fly a variety of aircraft before ever entering an actual cockpit at a fraction of the cost! 

 Finding What You Are Looking For
Please use the search box near the top right of our website to seek out the products you are looking for. As an added feature, FSPilotShop.com has developed our exclusive advanced software search feature. This helps you both narrow down your search from our large number of products as well as help you find a product based on a number of search parameters, even if you don’t quite know exactly what you’re looking for. 

 It is important to understand exactly what you are purchasing to ensure proper compatibility with your system. For example, you will want to check that the software supports the version of Flight Simulator that you have installed. Additionally if you prefer items on CD rather than as downloads, be sure to select that option when offered. For more details on how to tell the difference between the various types of products we offer, please refer to our Help page. Virtually all questions will be answered here including details on shipping, payment, file installation and more.

 Your Free Pilot Shop Account
When you place an order, you automatically create an account. This way, all of your previous purchases will be tracked in one convenient location. Additionally we back up your instant download purchases free for 1 year, so if you ever reformat, get a new computer, or just need to reinstall a program, you can easily retrieve it. We also reward you with points on every purchase you make which can be redeemed at a later time for discounts on future purchases. We ship worldwide and we generally keep all items in stock and ready for immediate shipment.  You can always check your order status by logging in to your account.

 We Are Here to Help
Can’t find the answers you are looking for or want to learn more about specific products? FSPilotShop.com has trained specialists standing by that are more than happy to answer any questions you have.  Flight Simming is our passion, too, so we look forward to offering you the most up to date information along with outstanding service.