History

"Hey... who needs texture mapping? Who needs colour, come to that!"

Michael Woodley reported: ""In 1984, I was hired as the 4th engineer at subLOGIC Bruce Artwick, Dave Denhart, Charles Guy and myself were the entire engineering department there. I was hired specifically to develop scenery for all the Flight Simulators. | READ ON

The most popular operating system on home compters. Most flight sims resisted running inside windows until the late 1990's, but it soon became the norm. For developers and users alike WIndows obviated the need to deal with custom device drivers.

But in the 1990's it was a revolutionary step and activating it placed huge demands on the graphics hardware and specifically the CPU's of the day.

A great overview of the first 20 years in home computer flight sims, by one of the best writers in the genre.

A great overview of the first 20 years in home computer flight sims, by one of the best writers in the genre.

A great overview of the first 20 years in home computer flight sims, by one of the best writers in the genre.

A great overview of the first 20 years in home computer flight sims, by one of the best writers in the genre.

Charles H. Cook flew a B-24D named "Cookie" with the 90th Bombardment Group in the southwest Pacific in 1942-1943. At that time, Allied forces were greatly outnumbered, and Japanese invasion of New Guinea and Australia was a very real threat. Bruce Irving has interviewed Charlie Cook and composed this valuable record of his aviation career. The entire article is also available for free download.

What is it about? | Timeline | Data | Resources

This 2003 book is a sort of "oral history" of the BoB, little on the strategy/politics and hardware, mostly personal stories based on conversations, old letters, diaries, etc. of the fighter boys themselves. Plenty of flying and action, but focused on the personal stuff.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a detailed treatment (626 pages!) of the air war in the Pacific.

The dream of flight seems fundamental to the human condition. From the legend of Icarus to the notion of astral projection it seems to be present in all cultures. On a personal level, surely most of us have had "flying dream" where, escaping the clutches of gravity we seem to be able to float away from our wordly cares. However in years of civilisation it is only in the past (not quite) 100 years that sustained, powered flight has become a reality. And it is only in the past 20 years that the masses have been able to spread their wings in virtual flight.Join me on a humorous reminiscence of some of the high points in 20 Years of flight simming!