Gleim is touching down in Dallas, Texas for the FlightSimCon 2018! Hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Saturday, June 23, & Sunday, June 24, FlightSimCon 2018 is the 6th annual aviation and flight simulation conference. The event is open to pilots and aviation enthusiasts of all ages and provides the opportunity for recreational and professional pilots and flight simulator enthusiasts to connect with each other. FlightSimCon is all about introducing pilots and hobbyists to the world of flight simulation and bringing the community members together to socialize and learn from each other.
Though the conference focuses primarily on desktop simulation, flight simulation has been around in some form or another for almost a century, starting with World War I pilots using simulators to practice firing at moving targets. In the late 1920s, Edward Link invented the Link Trainer, essentially a metal frame that moves according to the pilot’s actions and displays associated readings on the instrument displays. Even though it was originally designed to train pilots, most of the early sales went to amusement parks. Use of the Link Trainer for pilot training didn’t take off until the Army Air Corps recognized a desperate need for pilots that could fly air mail by instrument at night or in inclement weather. They were sold when Link flew to his meeting with the Army Air Corps in a fog that was considered unflyable, solely because of his instrument training. The Link Trainer was a key training tool for World War II pilots.
In the 1980s, flight simulators came into the home when desktop software alleviated the need for large replica cockpits, vacuums, and motors like the Link Trainer needed. Today, people who want to get behind the yoke just need a powerful enough computer and simulation software like X-Plane to take to the virtual skies. One of the coolest things about FlightSimCon is that some simulation enthusiasts, lovingly referred to as “simmers,” bring in their own rigs to show off awesome computer setup designs and features. They also share tips with curious beginners who want to build their own custom simulators, known as “sim pits.”
The event features a number of presentations from pilots and simulation experts who seek to bridge the gap between flying a simulator and becoming a full-fledged pilot. Sam Johnson, Public Relations Coordinator for the International Virtual Aviation Organization’s (IVAO) North American Region, will review the benefits of flying on an aviation network like VATSIM or IVAO. For people more technically involved with their simulators, Matt Bailey, an aviation enthusiast and pilot, covers how to modify various real-world aviation instruments to connect them to a PC. The President of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), Rick Todd, will present an in-depth look at how he became a professional pilot and flight instructor and discuss how supplementing skills with simulation can make better pilots. There are plenty of other topics being discussed throughout the conference, and each is aimed at demonstrating how flight simulation can improve and maintain your real-world flying skills.
FlightSimCon’s exhibitors take things to the next level, combining the technology of simulation with a love for historic aircraft. Enthusiasts demonstrate their beautiful simulator cockpits, some of which are built using the restored cockpits of iconic fighter jets like the MiG-21 and the F-16. There will also be several work-in-progress cockpit simulators on display.
Gleim Aviation is the Premier Class Sponsor for FlightSimCon 2018. Everyone entering the event will even receive some Gleim swag! Make sure you stop by our booth in the exhibit hall to try out the Gleim Virtual Cockpit™ Ultimate Set. The Gleim Virtual Cockpit is a great way to jump into flight simulation, even if you’re not computer savvy. It comes with a custom X-Force PC, three 27” monitors, flight controls, and state-of-the-art hardware that creates an immersive flight simulator experience. Partner that with the Gleim X-Plane Flight Training Course, and you’ll have everything you need to get started toward being a safe, competent, and confident pilot.
Join us and simmers from around the world at FlightSimCon 2018 as we celebrate flight simulation and share tips on how to create the perfect simulator to elevate your dreams of flight to reality.
Learn more about FlightSimCon 2018.
About Gleim Aviation
Since 1980, the Gleim Aviation team of pilots, instructors, writers, designers, and programmers has helped aviators pass millions of FAA knowledge and practical tests using the unique Gleim Knowledge Transfer System. Gleim is an environmentally-friendly company headquartered in Gainesville, FL.