# Flight Simulators Over the Thanksgiving I fell into the rabbit hole that is modern flight simulators. My brother has been flying them for years but the bug never bit me, until now. I've been splitting my time between Eagle Dynamics [DCS](https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/0) and [Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2024](https://www.flightsimulator.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024/), although due to launch bug and a seriously un-finished software, I'm heading back to MSFS2020. It's a super steep learning curve, which has always been part of what kept me away before, but after spending that last few years obsessed with ARMA 3 of all things, a steep learning curve is no longer the deterrrent it once was. A big part of what got me interested this time around was the opportunity to simulate fighting wildfire with planes and helicopters, as we've been through some rough fire seasons and I've loved the water bombers since I was a kid and was obsessed with the movie [Always](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Always_(1989_film)). And since we have more and more of our year affected by [[Red Flag Warnings and Wildfire in January|fire]] it feels relevant to get a sense of how that process happens. Unfortunately, the reality of aerial fire fighting in the current games leave a lot to be desired, but I've discovered that I'm enjoying learning how to fly in game, especially helicopters. But a big part of what I'm enjoying is the 'making' part of the hobby. I grabbed some scrap lumber and a chair out of a toyota minivan and made myself a home cockpit, and now I'm working on making myself a new controller via 3D printed parts and an arduino board to make flying helicopters easier and more realistic.