Microsoft X09-519450503 Distance and Terrain, Crossing the Atlantic, Flying Geography Lesson

After a night dodging storms over the Atlantic Ocean, Charles Lindbergh crossed the coast of Ireland just 3 miles off course.

Of Distance and Terrain

The first pilots spent much of their time flying precariously at exhibitions and in aerial circuses. But it wasn’t long before they attempted long-distance travel. In 1911, the first aircraft flew across the entire United States when Calbraith Rodgers piloted his “Vin Fiz” Wright EX biplane from New York to Long Beach, California. During the 49-day journey, Rodgers spent more than 82 hours in the air and crashed 69 times.

In the spring of 1927, aviators lined up for another challenge: flying nonstop from New York to Paris. Many had already failed when Charles Lindbergh tried a new and daring approach—simplicity— using a single-engine plane flown by a single pilot. Lindbergh bounced down the muddy runway at Roosevelt Field in the cloudy dawn of May 20, and the world held its breath for more than 33 hours as Lindbergh’s airplane was sighted at various points en route. At long last, the buzz of an engine was heard over Paris and the small silver airplane

The Spirit of St. Louis circles above Paris in

Crossing the Atlantic

For more than 15 years after the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, no airplane had flown nonstop across an ocean. Over land, pilots could often

circled, landed, and rolled to a stop. Suddenly, Paris and New York were closer to each other, and pilots gained a new perspective on distance and terrain.

Flight Simulator.

Charles Lindbergh with the Spirit of St. Louis

Corbis

remedy emergencies by landing for repairs. Over open water, however, any malfunctions, mechanical failures, or mistakes turned all the more critical.

In 1919, the transatlantic crossing became reality. John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown piloted a Vickers Vimy from Newfoundland to Ireland in just under 16 hours.

A Flying Geography Lesson

In Flight Simulator, pilots don’t just fly above the realistic terrain of an artificial world. They fly above the terrain of this world, to and from highly detailed cities and more than 23,000 airports, complete with taxiway and runway signs. True-to-life aircraft soar above realistic ground textures that replicate actual geographic features. Enhanced three-dimensional landmarks, including the lighted signs of Las Vegas and the familiar iron arches of the Eiffel Tower, combine with stunning natural landmarks like Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Everest to make Flight Simulator a unique tool for exploring the planet.

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F L I G H T S I M U L AT O R 2 0 0 4 A C E N T U R Y O F F L I G H T

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