On Friday Google announced it was making a relatively unknown feature of Google Earth available to a wider audience. The desktop version of Google Earth has had a hidden flight simulator mode since 2007, but it’s now easily accessible through a web browser without having to download or install any apps.
To take to the virtual skies you’ll need to open the Google Earth website and then click on the “Explore Earth” button found near the top right corner of the page. From there you’ll find the “Flight Simulator” mode accessible as the last option in the Tool’s section of the site’s top menu bar. For the best experience you’ll first want to find an interesting part of the world to explore as the first locale that loaded for me was in the middle of a featureless ocean. You’ll also want to make sure you change Google Earth’s basemap type from Map to Satellite for a photorealistic experience.
Google has shared a help page detailing how to use your keyboard or mouse to control your aircraft. While the experience isn’t as complex or realistic as you’ll get in games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Google Earth simulator will still require a bit of practice to point your aircraft where you want it to go without crashing. But should your flight end with an unplanned impact with the terrain the simulator will pause and give you the option to reset your aircraft to a safe altitude again.