Flight Simulation Key Terms

Stay pointed in the right direction with these flight simulation key terms

By Cathy Salustri

Flight simulation training provides a less expensive alternative to renting a plane. Student pilots will still have to spend time inside a real airplane, but time spent in a simulator prepares student pilots for real-life experience. Before selecting flight simulators for practice, it's important to understand a little about simulators. Learning the language spoken in the flight simulator industry is a good first step in that direction. Familiarize yourself with these key terms, and they will give you building blocks for future learning.

Flight sim

Flight sim is another phrase for flight simulator. A flight simulator is a computer program, video game or enclosed module in which a student pilot sits.
Try: Bruce Air discusses how flight sims are used in the training process.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X

Microsoft makes one of the most popular flight simulator programs on the market, called Flight Simulator X.
Try: Visit Microsoft to learn more about the Flight Simulator X.

X-Plane

X-Plane is another of the two most popular flight sims. It also allows users to simulate flying in a variety of situations.
Try: Laminar Research allows you to learn more about the features of this flight sim.

Panel and instruments

In any flight simulator program the pilot will see a panel of instruments in front of him. Many programs allow the student pilot to customize the panel depending on the sort of aircraft he will simulate flying.
Try: Because flight sims replicate real cockpits, it's important to know the terminology used with real planes. Learn the names of the instruments on an aircraft's panel at Silent Giants, from Ronald H. Gruner.

Control surfaces

When you're using a flight sim you'll need to know the names of your aircraft's control surfaces, where they are located, and how they control the plane in flight.
Try: To learn what the control surfaces of an airplane are, read the definitions and look at the diagram provided by the Aviation History Online Museum.

Fuselage and propeller

The fuselage, propeller and other parts of an airplane will also come into play as you use a flight sim, so before you start logging time on a flight simulator program you need to understand what these parts are and how they affect a plane in flight.
Try: The Allstar Network has a labeled diagram with corresponding definitions that can help you identify the different parts of an airplane.