Fun with Google Earth
Flight Simulator
A neat tool provided on Google Earth when downloaded is the Google Earth Flight Simulator. As you know, Google Earth combines numerous images and satellite imagery together. However with the Flight Simulator, you are virtually given a new way to view the imagery, as though you were flying an airplane. The controls are very much like that of a plane, and it takes a lot of practice to really understand it. The basic controls: Left arrow, tilts the plane left; Right arrow, tilts the plane right; Up arrow: Tilts plane down; and Down arrow: Tilts plane up. Additionally, the flight simulator provides your current altitude to give you an idea of the scale at which you are viewing these compiled images. It takes a lot of practice to stay afloat for several minutes. After making that leap, you can then proceed to learn how to take off from an airbase, and even trickier, learn to dismount. It takes practice to really understand the intricate controls. Now you can have a slight idea of the training that pilots undergo. Try it out now!
Geocaching
There is another activity available that is available outside of Google Earth. This activity is geocaching, which is a “high-tech treasure hunt” played with GPS devices (Groundspeak Inc., 2010) By traveling around the world, these “treasure hunters” document and share their experiences with others. There are currently over one million ‘geocaches’ available on the main website for geocaching, http://www.geocaching.com. With Google Earth, there is a KML that displays up to five hundred geocaches on the virtual globe, the particular geocaches varying based on the scale at which you are viewing the imagery. This allows people to view the general location of the geocaches.
Sources
Flight Simulator
http://earth.google.com/intl/en/userguide/v4/flightsim/index.html (the entire control scheme, including the more detailed controls).
Geocaching
http://www.geocaching.com (the official website for geocaching)
http://www.geocaching.com/about/google.aspx (provides instructions for how to use the Geocaching KML on Google Earth)
Great article! To truly enhance your flying experience you can also use flight sim controls such as a yoke or rudder pedals which really give you realistic flying.
Flight Sim said this on December 5, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Nowadays not many of the flight sim games provide realistic flying experience with Google Earth maps. Those that do were too advanced for beginners. I would say Google Earth Flight Simulator is a great choice for beginner till intermediate level players while having the realistic experience of flying above Google Earth.
Pro Flight Simulator said this on January 4, 2011 at 1:18 am