New software looks back on a century of flight--and also takes a look at the aircraft as secret weapon.

This article focuses on the software Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, requires a 450Mhz processor, Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, 128MB RAM, 1.8GB hard drive continues introducing improvements to the oldest flight simulation product on the PC. It also takes special notice of aviation's storied history. The incremental technical improvements include the expected minor upgrades to the graphics, and if your computer can handle it, fine sights await you. Flight Simulator 2004 models the globe and more than 24,000 of its airports, plus weather and daylight conditions. As with the title's previous edition, Flight Simulator 2002, the new version serves up a virtual buffet of features and options that give the user power to simulate a flight nearly anywhere in the world in a variety of aircraft. Flight Simulator continues to feature instructional material by flight instructors Rod Machado and John and Martha King, but the new interface brings the videos and documents to the front by identifying them in a menu section dedicated to learning about flight and about Flight Simulator operation.