Every edition of Flight Simulator has its own distinctive cover. Therefore, the designs of covers and manuals can provide a good clue to the identity of each version. Needless to say, a great number of them have been issued since 1980, and what is more, there were often more variants available.

The first examples shown here represent manuals of subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 for Apple II (blue, green and yellow covers). Here are actually the very first editions plus the following edition on a MG cassette. Why three colors for the same version? You can find an answer on a special page.

           The next edition, released on a 5.25” floppy disc, contained the same manual as the MG cassette version, but it also included a card describing the use of the disc version and a green paper sheet. The whole package was wrapped in a plastic bag. There was not a box cover.

            subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 for TRS-80 saw several editions with different manuals too. The disc version then comprised an additional card, which describes disk dissimilarities  and a green paper sheet. The cassette version as well as the disk version was distributed in a plastic bag only (still not in a paper box cover).

            In 1982 Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.00 on a 5.25” floppy disc came out. Its manual was stored in a small perforated cardboard box.

            The period between 1983 and 1987 saw the release of a number of subLOGIC Flight Simulator II editions for numerous platforms (see the timeline section for more details). The medium, manual, flight physics description and the keyboard map were distributed in a typical VHS cassette format paper box.

          The Amiga and Atari ST releases have a bit bigger paper boxes. It's hard to find copies of Flight Simulator with the packaging intact. Sometimes good copies can be found put away in pods storage or other types of storage units where they are usually protected from deterioration.

            The same type of package was used for editions of subLOGIC Flight Simulator with Torpedo Attack for MSX and NEC PC-8801. The boxes were made of plastic.

            In 1987, Atari XE console packages included subLOGIC Flight Simulator II on a cartridge, which was distributed in a plastic bag with a black/white manual.

            Microsoft Flight Simulator 2 for IBM PC, issued in 1984, and all 2.x modifications had a manual with ring binding and a solid paper cover. The covers of 2.10 and 2.10A modifications were the same green colour as the cover of 1.00 (1.05) version, so it was not difficult to get these two versions mixed up. The medium and the manual for 2.10 and 2.10A versions were sold in the same green paper box (with the same design as the manual). The manuals of later versions 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 were already in a typical blue colour. The Special Edition for AST research has its manual in a blue three ring binder.

            The covers of the editions for Tandy computers (version 2.12), Apple Macintosh (versions 1.00 and 1.02) and Texas Instruments Professional Computer (1.00) were very similar to IBM PC editions.

            The following editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 5.1 for PC came in familiar large paper boxes containing media, manual and additional materials. The 5.0 version was released in two slightly different boxes (USA and Canada edition x not USA edition). There is a special offer edition - together with MS DOS 6.2 update. The 5.1 version was released on 3.5" floppy disks and the first time on CD ROM as well (two different editions).

             The paper box covers of Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 for Tandy/IBM PC, Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0 for Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0 for NEC PC-9800 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0a for NEC PC-9821/ PC-9800/ PC-H98 computers have nearly the same design as the same called versions for IBM PC compatible computers. In fact, they are differing by text labels only, but I show the boxes here to give you complete information. Here is presented another box cover of MSFS 3.0 for Tandy/IBM PC as well.

             Since 1996 it has become easy to identify a concrete version by the designation on the box.

            It should be noted that besides “professional editions” of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and 2002 there is also a “standard edition” with a different cover.

           There exist few language mutations, for example German edition of Flight Simulator for Windows 95, Japanese edition of Flight Simulator 98 or Spanish editions of Flight Simulator for Windows 95, Flight Simulator 98 and Flight Simulator 2000.

           There have been released some reeditions, which were sold for relatively low price. For example: Microsoft Flight Simulator 95, 98 or 2002 Standard edition.

           Here are the cover boxes of the Combat Flight Simulator series. Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator, Combat Flight Simulator 3,

the Japanese Combat Flight Simulator 2 issue and "the rest of world" issue box cover.

           MS Flight Simulator 2004 was released in a classical paper box but there are more often seen editions in a DVD case (on CDs). There exist a special edition of MS Flight Simulator 2004 in a metal box and also there is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) DVD release (without box cover).

            The newest Microsoft Flight Simulator X was released in two announced editions – Deluxe and Standard. It is interesting that some European Deluxe editions, for example Italian, German, Spanish and French, are marked as Professional edition. The editions are in a DVD case. The USA/Canada editions have extra paper sleeve and the DVD case is a bit fatter than European edition. The Japanese edition is in a big paper box. It should be mentioned that Microsoft released an official playable demo of Flight Simulator X as well. The latest product is Microsoft Flight Simulator X Acceleration Expansion Pack - an official Microsoft add-on for Flight Simulator X.

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            My collection of box covers looks complete but I am sure there exist some differing boxes. I would like to ask you for help. If you find some unknown box, please let me know. There is also a variety of special national editions. If you feel that you could encourage and support my effort to preserve the Flight Simulator history, I would be very appreciating for any scan copies of front (and back) covers in a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. You can send the scan copies to one of my e-mail addresses. I will add the covers on this page.

           The main missing item is a custom version of Flight Simulator for Cessna's retail flight stores (I am not sure about a number of version and a computer type).

Credits:

            I am the most grateful to Messrs Marc-Andre Handfield from Canada (all Apple II releases, TRS-80, Texas Instruments Professional Computer, Color Computer 3, the cassette version for Commodore 64, all Atari ST releases, MSFS 2.1 paper box, both boxes of MSFS 3.0 for Tandy/IBM PC, both MSFS 5.1 CD ROM editions, Russian MSFS 2004 edition, MSFS 2004 OEM, MSFS X Demo, MSFS 95 reedition, MSFS 98 German reedition, MSFS5.0 special edition), Jos Grupping from the Netherlands (MSX version), Satoshi "Bin" Hiranuma from Japan (NEC PC-9801 FS II, MSFS 5.0a for PC-9821, FS for PC-8801), Joe Metro from California - USA (A2-FS2 edition with a special label) and Enric Plana from Catalonia - Spain (all Spanish box covers) for their support and help.

© 2005 - 2011 Josef  H a v l í k