Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 cheaper than a flight lesson in a real aircraft?

We wondered what you get for your money when purchasing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, how much a real flight hour costs in comparison, and what real pilot licenses cost.

Sure, watching a movie in the cinema has a different feel than just sitting at home in front of the TV. A visit to the cinema has its own charm, perhaps when your too-loud, smelly neighbours irritate you. However, the experience is often short for a relatively high cost. So, staying home and making your own popcorn seems like a better choice. But what about flying? In the cockpit of a real plane or with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

The comparison may be as wobbly as a half-extended landing gear on an airstrip, but still: how much does a real flight hour cost? A quick search reveals prices between £190 and £220 on average. For a private pilot's license for small aircraft, expect to pay at least £7,000, but usually several thousand more. Those paying out of pocket to train as an commercial airline pilot should prepare for around £50,000 - £100,000 in costs. An hour in a real flight simulator with a physical cockpit costs on average between £200 - £249. . All prices depend on the aircraft and how realistic the flight sim cockpit is.

Lufthansa flight simulation cockpit. Source: Lufthansa Aviation Training

This is, without a doubt, much cheaper with the incredibly realistic Microsoft Flight Simulator. And the only thing crashing during virtual flights might be your PC. Sure, you won’t have a real pilot’s license since you’re not certified by the Civil Aviation Authority, but you’ll still be somewhat proficient in handling all kinds of planes. With the MS Flight Simulator 2024, landing on your PC on November 19, 2024, you can already take control of more than 65 aircraft and fly to 150 airports with the base edition — something real-life flight lessons can’t offer.

Moreover, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is designed for Virtual Reality applications right from the start, so with a VR headset and the right hardware, you can experience spatial flying even on a PC.

In the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Premium Deluxe Edition, there are even 95 faithfully recreated aircraft and 10 additional international airports. A real dream for hobby pilots is the Flight Simulator 2024 Aviator Edition. When purchasing the Aviator Edition, Microsoft adds 30 more aircraft to your hangar, for a total of 125 ready-to-fly vehicles.

On Gamesplanet, the flying fun starts with the standard edition of MS Flight Simulator 2024 (MS-Key) at a price of £59.49, offering you virtually unlimited flight hours. If you want more content, it’s best to go for the Premium Deluxe Edition at £110.49 or even the Aviator Edition for £169.99. All editions also come with the De Havilland Canada CL-415 firefighting aircraft as a preorder bonus, available for immediate use in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.

So, for those passionate about flying, Flight Simulator 2024 offers a lot. This sequel even includes a variety of missions, commercial flights, private jet services, air rescues, aerial advertising, agricultural distribution, freight transport, firefighting, aerobatics, and more.

MSFS24 uses global map data from the cloud and photogrammetry to recreate Earth with incredible detail. Landscapes, cities, and airports are depicted very realistically. The Microsoft Flight Simulator also reflects real-world weather in real-time, meaning that the in-game weather conditions mirror those of the real world, including storms, rain, snowfall, and even the northern lights.

Flight Simulator 2024 offers highly realistic flight models that accurately capture the essence of flying different aircraft types, from small motor planes to large airliners. You’ll also enjoy an immersive soundtrack and realistic sound effects that enhance the realism. This is how flight simulators should be in 2024!

As before, Microsoft will regularly update the simulator, adding new planes (potentially as paid add-ons), improving textures, landmarks, and models. The Flight Sim also benefits from an active community of players and modders who create additional content, custom flight scenarios, and various improvements for the community.