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Show HN: I made a flight simulator, except you're just a passenger

Buckle your seatbelt, secure your tray table, and open your window shade. Now you can simulate flying anywhere in the world as a commercial passenger, from takeoff to touchdown. Terrain, weather, and realtime sun position included. Don't worry, the latest release now features legs, so you can get up and go to the bathroom on longer flights. Enjoy!

135 points by rkotcher - 59 comments

59 Comments

drayfield [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Or you could check out the non-vibe coded Airplane Mode from 2020:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/931310/Airplane_Mode/

apexalpha [3 hidden]5 mins ago
That's... why?

I can understand slow games like EuroTruck or Farming Sim. But what's the point of this?

rogual [3 hidden]5 mins ago
These days it's pretty unusual to think of an idea that hasn't been done yet, so when you do, I guess you just don't think too much and go make it.
lejeanvaljean [3 hidden]5 mins ago
You know what? I had fear of flying. I did a training with a pilot in a simulator, but it was in the cockpit. I don't have fear of flying in a simulator or in the cockpit. I have fear of flying as a passenger, I'm sit in a chair. That's what I would have liked during my training. I told that to Air France and they did not understand but this might seriously be useful.
lubujackson [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Also useful for people who want to ride along with someone currently on a plane. "Honey, you are over Kansas right now!"

Useless things tend to be deeply useful to a select few.

I am loving this "re-weirding" of the internet. For the younglings, this is very much the sort of pet project that would bubble up in early internet days. No startup raising money, no pain point necessarily being solved, just one person's idea lovingly rendered to life.

CamperBob2 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Don't try to build something for everyone, build something that's everything to someone. - paraphrasing Ferry Porsche
aaronbrethorst [3 hidden]5 mins ago
UAL used to let you listen into the cockpit to ATC chatter: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17656352 — I understand this was really helpful for calming some passengers' nerves during flying.
ryukoposting [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I really appreciate it when I get a pilot that actually tells us wtf is going on.
password54321 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I don't think you can completely eliminate this as people naturally don't like giving up their agency which is usually going to produce at least a low level of anxiety.
recursivecaveat [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Agency and information in a way. I actually feel safer in a tiny 4 seater plane than a jet, even though objectively that's probably backwards. Being able to look at all the parts of the plane, how the movements derive from the pilot's actions, actually see out the front, it is more reassuring. More similar to being a passenger in someone's car. It probably doesn't hurt that it is easier for my mind to imagine a Cessna gliding gently to earth than a passenger jet.
rkotcher [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Interesting, thanks for the idea. Would be pretty cool if this app did have some real-world applications, beyond being a bit of a meme app. Thanks for the comment!
sublinear [3 hidden]5 mins ago
This is going to sound insane, but something like this for the backseats of various common, and maybe even exotic, cars would be cool too.

I have similar problems being a passenger in an uber for more than 15 mins. I lose my mind on roadtrips when it's not my turn to drive.

etatester [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Crashed within 10 seconds on iPhone 17 Pro. Love the vibes
PUSH_AX [3 hidden]5 mins ago
It uses too much RAM, it’s vibe coded so makes sense
minikomi [3 hidden]5 mins ago
You have to turn on airplane mode
gizajob [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Looks amazing for the 2 seconds before it implodes on iPhone though.
djmips [3 hidden]5 mins ago
ahhh your phone crashed! I was a bit confused for a moment... Could you imagine if the airplane crashed like 1 in every million plays?! :O
sdcfgy [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Yeah same here.
GreyMolecules [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Hahaha this is awesome. I can teach what it's like to be on an airplane to my friend who has never flown before.

Currently playing on my usual route, ICN -> HKG. The flight path is too ideal. Due to airspace restrictions in china, almost every flight has to divert over taiwan in real life, but this one cuts thru mainland china.

mikeshi42 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
3 overhead reading lights for a 2-2 configuration? On a trans pacific flight? Literally unplayable.

Would love to see this open source and extended!

quietfox [3 hidden]5 mins ago
That’s a nice idea. Taking off from Frankfurt am Main felt like that ultra long runway in Fast & Furious 6 though.
flawed_crater [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Please remove the login screen. Is love to try this.
jameson [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Hrm. I can play it without logging in
freak42 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I can't it covers half of my mobile screen and it doesn't seem dismissible.
SparkyMcUnicorn [3 hidden]5 mins ago
It's almost comical how annoying it is. I just want to try it.
DrSiemer [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Yeah, not a great experience, but it will let you play if you just register with something random.
ryukoposting [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Likewise.
wafflemaker [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Had to use uBlockOrigin to remove the login prompt. Think there could be a way to dismiss it without tricks like that.
ffsm8 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I just closed the window instead, it wasn't that interesting
kinduff [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I asked for beef, they only had chicken. 10/10, average flight experience.
vavooom [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Selfie mode was too funny these characters are ridiculous. Also a whole plane to myself? What a steal!
thoughtsimple [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Seems to hate not having location access on iOS. Keeps refreshing until eventually Safari just gives up.
zhaoziyuan2000 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
This is really cool! Also, my girlfriend suggested it would be nice if she can login and be on the same flight so we can fly home together.
zubspace [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Can't press the Continue button, because the footer overlaps it. Firefox on mobile.
ironhaven [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I was hoping for a very detailed menu with more flight avionics in the in flight entertainment screen but I guess the speed and altitude in the HUD is all I get. I want to know the exact plane T am flying in
lateatdesk [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I like how much work you've put into just being a passenger :) I'm building a little world in the browser myself, so I like finding projects like this.
noufalibrahim [3 hidden]5 mins ago
It's very nicely done. I snapped the seatbelt on and that dread of a long boring flight automatically hit me. :)
tnolet [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Is this visual style Fable or Astra. I see it everywhere now. It’s the new black and purple
khazhoux [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Genius doesn’t always look like you expect it will. Well done!

(Kill the login panel though —- it wouldn’t go away for me)

modinfo [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I love that this is in real time and this jokes :D Even we have chess game :3
darknavi [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Missing FCA (Glacier international airport in Kalispell, Montana, USA).

It's small but a beautiful flight!

orliesaurus [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Flying to NYC, sitting next to nobody, never happened to me before :) - see you in 4h
zergrush [3 hidden]5 mins ago
really wish i could sit by the window
groestl [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Next up: Airport Simulator! Enjoy security, customs, and the inevitable panic of missing your gate across more than 50 international airports around the world!
fortran77 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I'd pay $1 to upgrade to first class. $2 if I get a hot towel, a pre-departure beverage, and warm nuts.
ivolimmen [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I always have warm nuts on a plane...
smallstepforman [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Now if we can watch fresh movies, that would be ideal …
WithinReason [3 hidden]5 mins ago
A pirate website disguised as flight simulator? What a madman!
d--b [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Nice.

Waiting eagerly for the "crying baby" extension pack. The "get to your seat" MMO. And the "I want to pee, but the guy next to me is sleeping" campaign.

Also, inflightsimulator: 1980, with ashtrays and lethal weapon playing on dropdown TV sets

EagnaIonat [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Or the passenger who is friendly and wants your window seat, but doesn't want to straight out say it. Then turns deranged when they find out they are in the middle seat for the whole flight.
rkotcher [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Thanks for playing! I'll be sure to consider so of those for the next release!
nullify88 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
The Boeing extension pack and watch how the plane deteriorates in the air in real time! Door plugs, MCAS, the works!
fortran77 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
What a great idea! How about, a kid behind kicking your chair, the person in front of you abruptly putting his seat back all the way, and a person of size next to you spilling into your seat.
nader [3 hidden]5 mins ago
haha this is fun!
tony-ay [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Pretty cool! I could see leaving it up on another screen to enjoy while I go about my workday.
Ballas [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Finally, a use for a second screen!
rkotcher [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Thank you!
seemaze [3 hidden]5 mins ago
no
bartvk [3 hidden]5 mins ago
What if they add snakes?