 |
| |
|
|
|
|
On behalf of myself
and all of you, FS-friends, who visit my website, I like
to thank Miguel Blaufuks, director of simFlight.
He kindly offered to house the FS History website and
take the burden of all the needed disk space and
traffic. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Your webmaster |
| |
The last Dutch FlightsIm Weekend on 5/6
November 2005 in the Dutch Aviation Museum (or Theme Park)
Aviodrome at Lelystad was again a huge success. Not in
the least because of all the work by our great organiser
Frans Broekhuijsen.
And yes, like in 2004 FS
History was also present with a small booth. For an
impression look here:
With more participants and
more visitors then ever before in this fantastic venue this
probably deserves the title Biggest FS Event in the World".
The next FS-Weekend will take
place at the same venuein November 2006, hopefully with FS-X.
See you?
For a report by Rob de Vries
take a look at the website:
http://www.FSweekend.com |
|
|
|
Latest revision:
16-11-07 |
|
| |
Flight Simulator Timeline
Below you will find a chronological
overview of how Flight Simulator developed over time.
The version history for the first decade is a bit
confusing because of the different numbering by the two
concurrent distributors subLOGIC and Microsoft. That’s
part of the reason why I prefer to talk about “generations”
in stead of versions. With generation I mean a collection
of all versions with the same features. This is however
not new, because for some reason or another both
subLOGIC and Microsoft use the same term internally in the
introductory chapters of their manuals as well as in the file-numbering!
Some people maintain that Flight
Simulator History started in 1982 with the release of FS 1.0
for the IBM PC; at least Microsoft does. A this was the
first version with a more or less “complete” panel and
with scenery replicating real places and airports, one could
agree this. However, because this version of FS is built by the same developer (Bruce Artwick) on the
concepts of the earlier version 1 for the Apple II and
TRS-80 one could as well argue that the history of FS starts in 1980.
Taking the latter view:
in 2005 we
celebrate the 25th birthday of Flight Simulator
After all these years
of research I am quite convinced that most of the data on this website are correct.
But because of contradictions between my original sources I can't guarantee it.
So if you have reason to believe that some of the data below are wrong, please let me know, if
possible with that reason. Additional information and material is also very welcome. You can find my address on the
"Contacts" page.
|
1975 |
"FS-0"
- engineering thesis by Bruce Artwick: 3D-graphics demo of the simulation of flight on the Apple-II
. |
|
1978 |
Bruce Artwick and Stu Moment
start subLOGIC to market graphics and systems software for microcomputers, amongst which
the once famous "Night Mission Pinball" and the even
more famous "Flight Simulator". |
|
Jan
1980 |
First
Generation:
FS1 for the Apple II, 4 color/monochrome, with a 2-gauge panel
(airspeed, altitude), on cassette tape. |
|
Mar 1980 |
first release of
FS1
for the Tandy TRS-80 (16 Kb), monochrome, without
panel, on cassette tape. |
|
1980/81 |
new releases of FS 1 for the
Apple II, with altitude-counter, enhanced terrain
lay-out, "3D"-mountains and other structures . On 5¼”
floppy disk. |
|
1982 |
new release
of FS1 for the TRS-80 with enhancements, on 5¼”
floppy |
|
Nov 1982 |
Second
Generation: Microsoft releases
FS
1.0 (created by subLOGIC) for the IBM-PC: 4 color (+
dithering), panel with 8 gauges, new co-ordinate
system, 4 scenery areas (20 airports) , 2 COM radios
and DME (no ADF), 9 view directions, weather, slew,
simulated aircraft is a Cessna 182. |
|
1983 |
first
release of
FS
II for the Apple II by SubLOGIC, comparable to PC-version,
but 6-color, solid filled, 4 areas, now with 80
airports, more roads, rivers, mountains, buildings,
bridges, ADF, simulated aircraft is a Piper Archer.
Nice manuals. |
|
1984 |
new releases of
FS
II (8-color) for the Commodore 64 and Atari-800.
Several new releases with some added functionality for
all processors follow. |
|
1984 |
several
new releases by MS of FS 2.1x for the IBM PC with the
same functionality as FS II, including a special
version for Tandy computers. The manuals for these
and subsequent versions were first class. |
|
Mar 1986 |
Microsoft releases FS 1.0
for Apple Macintosh. Monochrome 320x240 display (the first Mac did not have a colour monitor!) Despite the version
number the first release of the Third
Generation: an enhanced co-ordinate system and expanded and enhanced (buildings,
bridges) scenery with 5 areas including120 airports; new menu system,
multiple (detachable) windows and multiple views (including spot view)
and Autopilot. The aircraft: the trusted Cessna
182RG and a new Learjet 25. |
|
June1986 |
subLOGIC releases
FS
II (or as I call it
FS III) for the Amiga and Atari-ST (built on the same processor as the Apple
Macintosh). Functionally the same as the Mac version, except for the 16-color, 320x240 display and the non-detachable windows. The same expanded scenery
and aircraft. Also comparable to FS 3.0
for the PC (1988), all together considered the Third Generation. Most important extra: the multiplayer option. |
|
1986 |
first
add-on sceneries by subLOGIC, gradually covering the
whole of the USA, compatible with both Microsoft and
subLOGIC FS versions. |
|
1987 |
first
non-USA add-on scenery (Western European Tour, with
special Paris, London and Munich scenery) by subLOGIC |
|
1988 |
Bruce
Artwick leaves subLOGIC and founds BAO Ltd (Bruce
Artwick Organisation). He retains the copyright to
Flight Simulator. subLOGIC goes its own way with the
development of ATP (Airline Transport Pilot). |
|
Jun 1988 |
FS
3.0 (part of Third Generation), created by BAO but released by
Microsoft for the PC only: 16-color EGA (640x350), new
panel, new high resolution scenery structure, better
weather/time of day features, flight
recording/analysis, multiplayer. Mediocre flight
model. Comparable to FS II for Amiga and Atari ST. |
|
Sep 1989 |
Fourth
Generation:
FS
4.0, an improved FS 3: much better flight models, improved
scenery, random weather, dynamic scenery, approach
lighting systems, "aircraft design"
(experimental aircraft), Schweitzer 2-32 sailplane. |
|
Jan 1990 |
FS 4.0b - much needed bug fix
release (nothing new under the sun). After this
release is a huge time-gap to the next version,
leaving room for third parties to enter the FS scene
with their own add-on developments. |
|
1990 |
A&SD
(Aircraft and Scenery Designer), programmed by BAO,
released by Microsoft, features Boeing 747 with first “glass
panel”. |
|
1991 |
version
of MS FS 4.0 for the Macintosh: same functionality,
superior but monochrome graphics, freely movable
windows, compatible with add-on sceneries, no
multiplayer. |
|
1991 |
SGA (Sound,
Graphics and Aircraft Update) by Mallard, features the
first Concorde and an enhanced panel for the Boeing
747 (800x600 resolution)! |
|
1991 |
SEE (Scenery Enhancement
Editor), by Laemming Wheeler (Kikiware) |
|
1991 |
new
series of add-on sceneries for USA, Europe, Japan and
elsewhere by subLOGIC, Mallard and other firms. |
|
1992 |
AAF (Aircraft and Adventure
Factory) by Mallard: including first "real"
ATC. |
|
Sep 1993 |
Fifth
Generation:
FS
5.0: 640x400, 256-color, new "true" world
co-ordinate system, better mountains, buildings,
aircraft, weather, sounds etc. First real textures,
including photo real Meigs. Many bugs. |
|
Feb 1994 |
FS 5.0a serious bug fix
release |
|
1994 |
first
version of Europe-1 scenery, created by the (Dutch)
Alting brothers for BAO. Featuring incredible detail
and dynamic scenery objects. |
|
Apr 1995 |
FS
5.1 first version on CD-rom, many improvements, like: 32 x
increased resolution, better coastlines, textures,
night lighting and haze in the distance. |
|
Oct 1995 |
FlightShop (Aircraft-factory
and Adventure programming with ATC ) released by
BAO, including Boeing 747, DC-3 and an ultralight. |
|
Jan 1996 |
BAO and FS-copyright acquired
by Microsoft, Artwick stays on as consultant.
Apollo buys rights to FlightShop and Europe-1 scenery.
|
|
Jan 1996 |
SubLOGIC taken over by Sierra
to produce ProPilot. |
|
Aug 1996 |
Sixth Generation:
FSW95
(FS 6.0): first Windows version, 640x480, easy
installation, 50% higher frame rate, better haze,
completely textured, new planes (Extra 300S), etc. |
|
Aug 1997 |
FS98
(FS 6.1): 15 year milestone, higher resolution
(1280x1024, 16 bit color), first true helicopter
simulation (Bell JetRanger 206B) |
|
Nov 1998 |
Microsoft releases the first version of
Combat Flight Simulator,
a military flight simulator, based on the techniques and standards
used in Flight Simulator. |
|
Sep 1999 |
Seventh Generation:
FS2000
(FS 7.0): 3D-elevation terrain, better textures, all
world airports and navaids database (Jeppesen), Boeing
737-400, Mooney, King Air and Concorde. But no shadows
and many other bugs. |
|
Mar 2000 |
2000b update for FS2000: most
problems fixed, aircraft and ground scenery shadows
are back, better and smoother performance. |
|
Nov 2000 |
Release of
CFS
2 (Pacific Theatre), a
new version of Microsoft
Combat Flight Simulator.
Many small improvements. |
|
Oct 2001 |
Eighth Generation:
FS
2002 (FS 8.0), embellished
version, in which many of the then existing wishes
were fulfilled. Improved 3D-elevation (mesh-scenery),
AutoGen buildings, trees, virtual cockpit with working
instruments, AI aircraft at airports and in the air,
"live" ATC. Smooth performance. |
|
Oct 2002 |
Microsoft releases
CFS
3 (Battle for Europe),
the next version of
Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator.
New graphic engine, virtual cockpits. |
|
Jul
2003 |
Ninth
Generation:
FS
2004 (FS 9.0) - “A Century of Flight”. More or
less the FS 2002 as we would have liked it. Great
weather and clouds. Improved mesh and autogen, much
better AI aircraft and ATC. Nice old planes in keeping
with the theme, better aircraft in general. Very
smooth performance. |
|
Oct
2004 |
(FS 9.1) - Patch to version 9.1 by Microsoft, solving a number of problems, including fixes for crashes, Autogen and multiplayer support, improved mesh support and re-installment of missing bridges. New problems with existing add-on programs. |
|
Latest revision:
03-09-05 16:22 
| |
 |
|
November 15, 2007
Last week at the AVSIM
2007 Conference I received a Reader's Choice Award.
I would like to thank
my friend Frans Broekhuijsen, great organiser of the
Dutch Flight Simulator Events in the Aviodrome at
Lelystad for his nomination and all the AVSIM visitors
for voting on me. I feel very honoured and will most
certainly continue with this website. Please come back
for a major update before the end of the year.
May 12, 2005
Added nice overview of
the web statistics, based on the
NEDSTAT counter and statistics.
Go to the Miscellaneous Page
or follow this
direct link.
April 25, 2005
Renewed the
Introduction page and repaired some broken links.
Added a link to
Milehigh Productions.
Just as most other
leading FS organizations in The Netherlands
FS History
was present at the recent Dutch
National FS Event on April 16&17 at the
Aviodrome. Look here for a
small
impression.
March 30, 2005
Small facelift,
including a new logo, consistent with that of
The Old FS Vault.
Some small textual
corrections and aditions. New FlipAlbum "Manual-covers"
at the Gallery page.
February 20, 2005
Correction of the birth year of
Flight Simulator. From the old information I
was (mis)lead to believe that the first release of FS1
for the Apple II was in October 1979. However all
evidence now point to January 1980 for that first
release. So untill I receive real proof otherwise I will
take 1980 as the birth year of
FS. So I feel like I owe you an apology!
February 9, 2005
Update of Wanted List
and Reactions Pages. Most wanted: volumes 1 and 2 of
MicroWINGS Magazine.
November 25, 2004
This date marks the
start of a big upgrade of the total website. The first
changes can be found on the introductory page and the
news page. Look for the links to some visual additions.
The first is a draft
of a new
video
(in cooperation with Josef Havlik and based on an idea
by Marcus Thompson) about the development of Flight
Simulator over the years containing video-clips of all
relevant old versions. You will probably need a high
speed connection for the 95 Mb download. The second is a
copy of the
poster-session,
created for the Dutch FS weekend in the Aviodrome in
October 2004.
Then there is
interesting news about the ever so often requested
downloads of old FS versions, for which a new companion
site has been created: "The
Old FS Vault".
Look out for more
changes and updates before the end of the year. For more
information and other news see the
NEWS
page.
December 13, 2003
A complete revision of
the
Timeline,
introducing the concept of "generations" and adding
FS2004 (FS9). |
|
|
 |
|
The content of the
central STORY has also been reworked as
introductory chapter of the "Good
Flight Simmer's Guide", release 2002 by Mike
Clark, published by PC Aviator.
For more information,
click on the cover above. |
|
| |
|
|
