Flight Simulation
Flight Simulation (virtual flying) is a hobby where participants simulate piloting aircraft on their personal computer using specialized software, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS).
- What does it mean: This hobby can be described as realistic flight simulation, where the participant can try their hand at flying an aircraft – from smaller planes to large Boeing or Airbus airliners – both visually (in cockpit view) and in terms of flight physics and operational procedures.
- Equipment: In addition to a powerful computer and the flight simulation software, enthusiasts often use supplementary hardware, such as joysticks, yokes, pedals, or even replica instrument panels to make the experience as authentic as possible.
- Why do it: Flight simulation is a way to fulfill the dream of flying from the safety of home, learn complex flight procedures, navigation, and communication. Flight simulation brings not only fun, but also practical experience and knowledge that can be beneficial for anyone interested in aviation.
Virtual Airlines
A Virtual Airline (VA) is an online community within the world of flight simulation, that simulates the operations of a real airline.
- How it works: Enthusiasts become “virtual pilots” of the given airline. They fly aircraft in the company’s livery and perform flights according to its real-world flight schedule.
- Goal: The flights are recorded and evaluated (e.g., whether they flew correctly, maintained fuel consumption, etc.). The goal is to add another layer of realism, structure, and social interaction to this hobby.
- Why do it: It offers a sense of team belonging, the possibility of virtual career advancement (from junior pilot to captain). It is a source of knowledge and valuable information for realistic flight execution, and above all, it is a fun way to maintain motivation for regular and structured flying.
SW Group Virtual
SW Group Virtual is a Czech virtual airline, a non-commercial project that brings together fans of aviation within the environment of flight simulators. The project was founded back in 2006 under the name Travel Service Virtual. Throughout its existence, the core principle remains to follow the real operations of the real-world Smartwings Group airlines as closely as possible.
Our goal is to enable virtual pilots to perform flights in the amateur flight simulator environment that are as similar as possible to real-world flights – including the actual fleet, destinations, and flight schedule. We regularly and carefully monitor the operations of the real company and update the flight offerings to match the current real-world situation. The data we use (e.g., about flights, aircraft, and destinations) comes from publicly available sources and is used solely for non-commercial and educational purposes.
The project is operated completely independently, without any legal or organizational ties to Smartwings Group or other entities in the commercial air transport sector. All our activities are the result of the voluntary work of community members and are intended exclusively for entertainment, education, and skill development in the field of air transport and computer literacy.
The virtual airline operates on our own, continuously developed system (including the web interface), which allows flights to be recorded directly from the flight simulator. Thanks to this, our members can track their personal flight hours, collect statistics, discover new airports around the world in the flight simulator environment, or improve their skills in planning and executing flights in accordance to real-world principles.
Flight simulation brings not only fun but also practical experience and knowledge that can be beneficial for anyone interested in aviation.