Flight Simulator II

Flight Simulator II
Title	Flight Simulator II
Release date(s)	1983
Original Platform(s)	Apple II
Developer(s)	Bruce Artwick
Category(s)	Entertainment, Simulation, Flight Simulator, Recreational Flight Simulator

History of SubLOGIC's Flight Simulator II

Flight Simulator II (often styled FS II or FS2) is a significant title in the early history of personal computer simulation. Released by SubLOGIC in the 1983, it represented a major leap forward from the company's first-generation simulator and became a foundational product for both hobby pilots and the wider flight-simulation industry.

Origins and Development (1982–1984)

Following the success of FS1 Flight Simulator for the Apple II and TRS-80, SubLOGIC began work on a far more capable second-generation simulation.

Bruce Artwick, SubLOGIC's co-founder and lead developer, rewrote much of the engine to support faster 3D rendering, smoother motion, and a richer instrument panel.
SubLOGIC designed the title to be cross-platform from the start—allowing it to reach the rapidly expanding home-computer market.

Flight Simulator II was built on Artwick's “3D Microcomputer Graphics” architecture, which used highly optimized math routines to generate real-time flight visuals on CPUs that were otherwise far too slow for 3D graphics.

Initial Release and Platforms

The title debuted on the Apple II in 1983, followed by ports to:

Each platform had its own unique refinements, but the Commodore 64 version in particular became one of the most widely recognized— thanks to its performance, color graphics, and huge installed base.

The Amiga and Atari ST versions, released later in the 1980s, featured the best graphics and performance of any FS II variants.

Key Features and Innovations

1. Vastly Improved Graphics

FS II introduced:

Solid horizon line
Better ground textures (albeit still abstract)
Improved 3D object rendering
Higher frame rates

This made the simulation more immersive and much more flyable than its predecessor.

2. Expanded Flight Model

The aircraft responded more smoothly to control inputs, and the simulation incorporated more realistic aerodynamic effects. [SubLOGIC] also refined stall behavior, climb rates, and engine performance.

3. Full Instrument Panel

FS II introduced a fully functional instrument panel featuring:

Artificial horizon
Turn coordinator
Altimeter
VOR navigation
ADF receiver
Engine gauges and fuel management

This enabled real-world-style instrument flight training at home- a milestone for consumer software.

4. Scenery Expansion System

One of FS II’s hallmark innovations was its ability to load Scenery Disks.

SubLOGIC sold dozens of scenery add-ons that expanded coverage across:

The entire United States
Much of Europe
Japan
Specialized airport regions

This modular system made FS II feel like a platform rather than a standalone game.

5. Air Traffic and Landmarks

FS II introduced:

Simple AI traffic
Recognizable landmarks (e.g., Chicago’s Sears Tower, San Francisco's bridges)
More defined runway and airport layouts

Users finally had real-world references to navigate toward.

Relation to Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft had already released its own PC version (licensed from SubLOGIC) by the time FS II came out. The early Microsoft versions and FS II shared:

The core flight engine
Much of the instrument panel
Basic scenery design

But SubLOGIC's FS II offered:

Broader platform support (Apple II, Atari 8-Bit, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST)
Better scenery expansion
Fast performance on 8-bit hardware

For years, the Microsoft and SubLOGIC lines existed in parallel, both deriving from Artwick's underlying architecture.

Reception and Influence

Flight Simulator II was widely praised for:

Technical achievement: delivering smooth, real-time 3D on extremely limited hardware.
Educational value: becoming a legitimate introduction to aviation navigation and instrument flying.
Longevity: many users flew FS II throughout the entire 1980s.

Magazines consistently ranked it among the most advanced home-computer applications ever made at the time of release. On platforms like the Commodore 64 or Atari 800, it was considered a definitive "system showpiece."

Legacy

FS II is remembered today as:

One of the most influential simulation titles of the early 1980s
A breakthrough that legitimized personal-computer aviation software
The product that solidified SubLOGIC as the early leader in flight simulation
The technological bridge between the primitive wireframe FS1 and the more sophisticated Microsoft/SubLOGIC successors of the late 1980s and early 1990s

Many flight simulation enthusiasts consider Flight Simulator II the first "complete" home flight simulator- one capable of serious navigation, cross-country flights, and instrument procedures.

Releases

Links