Microsoft Flight Simulator collection and one personal story.
With the Pilot’s handbook, civilian simulators get a new dimension. At one time I flew all the parts in the photo, including MSFS 2002 + MSFS X (not in the photo), but I admit, I used to prefer Flight Unlimited II (with 3Dfx it was a graphics gluttony) and Flight Unlimited III for great radio communication and fantastically detailed terrain graphics, especially compared to the competition, for that time of course!
Although I spent a lot of time with MSFS 2004, including one memorable rally near Hradec Králové, at a dam, with virtual pilots of the competing Flanker 2.0 (at that time with patch 2.03 that broke the multiplayer a bit), I was on the other side, Falcon 4.0 Super Pack 3!
That was the time of two irreconcilable camps of the combat virtual pilots, who prefer the aircraft of one side or the other.
And as one of the few from our Falcon virtual squadron, I met them not only there, but also in Brno at CIAF.
With the add-ons, it was a great simulator, although this applies to practically all MSFS parts.
At the Hradec Králové air show, we flew a navigation flight competition with the L-13 Blaník, and I surprisingly won it that time, or I was second on the podium. My God, it’s been years…
It’s a shame that on hardware in the form of a socket A, Athlon 1.2 or 1.6Ghz (I don’t remember exactly), MOBO KT133, and Radeon 9000 Pro 64MB DDR, the then novelty, i.e. Flight Simulator 2004 didn’t run exactly exemplary, but it looked absolutely fantastic!
As is known, the HW requirements of simulators have always been extremely bloody!
Currently, I occasionally fly in MSFS 2020, which is a feast for the eyes on a large 4K TV screen. It’s a shame that Ostrava, or rather the entire Czech and Slovak Republic, doesn’t look exactly like it does in real life, but Prague is the best.
PS: Can you imagine the excitement at the time? I loaded my PC with personal equipment and a joystick into my bag and got on the train from Ostrava to Hradec Králové on Friday.
A fellow pilot picked me up there and took me to the destination, where a monitor was waiting for me. The whole weekend was a wonder, experiences of a lifetime, including an evening campfire by the dam, and back on Sunday.
Just getting on the train with a heavy PC case was a respectable feat. No car, just a nice tram with equipment to the train and back.
The story ended successfully. I picked up the gigabytes of data from others, and because of pure enthusiasm, I forgot to visit my girlfriend, and she was waiting for me when I came back! Can you imagine what happened? 
I had to say sorry several times!
