Google's free flight simulator now runs right in your browser

Google has surprised fans of virtual flying and world exploration by including a free and experimental flight simulator in its web version of Google Earth, which users can control with just a mouse and keyboard. You don't need a powerful computer or extensive software packages to play, as the entire simulation runs directly in a tab in popular browsers such as Google Chrome or Apple's Safari.

The history of this add-on dates back to 2007, when it first appeared as a hidden feature in the desktop version of Google Earth. The implementation at that time required users to install software. The new web version, however, brings much more freedom and accessibility. As Google explained in a post on the social network X, this feature was added mainly “for fun”. Along with it, many other advanced options that were previously reserved exclusively for the professional desktop edition of Google Earth Pro have been transferred to the web environment.

Starting your own flight is extremely easy. The user simply needs to visit the official Google Earth website and click on the “Explore” button. Then, select the “Tools” menu in the top bar and launch “Flight Simulator” from the list. To maneuver the aircraft in the air, the classic arrow keys (up, down, left and right) on the keyboard are used. To adjust the speed, or to accelerate and decelerate the engine, there is a vertical indicator on the screen that you can click on with the mouse, or use the Page Up and Page Down keys, if your keyboard has them. For all additional details and detailed instructions, the company has also prepared a special informative website.

The arrival of the simulator in browsers has sparked a huge interest online, with the demonstration video on the X network garnering 5.5 million views in a short time. Despite the enthusiasm, many commentators admitted that they had a lot of trouble controlling the plane and maintaining a straight horizon line. While some joked that they had crashed a lot of planes and asked for help, others highlighted the fun side – the ability to fly a passenger or military plane in high-definition 4K directly over their own house without leaving their web browser.