Flight Simulator History Website

The family tree of subLOGIC/Microsoft Flight Simulator describes main developmental lines. The first version was made by Bruce Artwick in his subLOGIC corporation and it was released in 1980. Then subLOGIC made the first edition for Microsoft in 1982. There were released many next versions and editions under subLOGIC and Microsoft trademark to the end of 1995. The issues for Microsoft were made by subLOGIC and later from 1989 (B. Artwick left subLOGIC) to 1995 by BAO (Bruce Artwick Organization). Then Bruce Artwick sold all Flight Simulator rights to Microsoft. Microsoft developed Flight Simulator until 2008. The last version is Microsoft Flight Simulator X. In 2009 they sold source code to Lockheed Martin which continues with development of the product called Prepar3D (the first version was issued in 2010). In 2012 Microsoft released Flight, but it was not understood as a successor of Flight Simulator.

In 2014 Dovetail Games announced a licensing agreement with Microsoft to distribute Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition and to develop further products based on Microsoft's technology. In May 2017 Dovetail Games released (Early Access) their flight simulation project called Flight Sim World. Unfortunately, in April 2018, it was announced that Flight Sim World project was cancelled.

On June 10, 2019, at Microsoft's E3 conference, a new generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator was announced to be released in 2020 for Windows 10 and Xbox One. After a year, Microsoft Flight Simulator was set for launch on August 18, 2020.

In a table below you can find a year of release of all known subLOGIC/Microsoft Flight Simulator releases, versions and partial modifications for all computer platforms. There are some next flight simulation related programs by subLOGIC, BAO and Microsoft as well. The table is as detailed as possible.

The evolution of subLOGIC/Microsoft Flight Simulator
year of	version	computer/OS
release	version	computer/OS
1979	subLOGIC 3D Graphics (The demo depicts 14 still monochromatic pictures of the future Flight Simulator)	Apple II
1980	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on tape, sub-version 1	Apple II
1980	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on tape	TRS-80 Model I
1980	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on 5,25inch FD, sub-version 2	Apple II
1980	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on tape	TRS-80 Model III
1981	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on 5,25inch FD	TRS-80 Model I
1981	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on 5,25inch FD	TRS-80 Model III
?	subLOGIC Flight Simulator 1 on 5,25inch FD, sub-version 3	Apple II
1982	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.00	IBM PC
1983	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.0	Apple II, Apple II+, Apple IIe
1983	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.05	IBM PC
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.05	Apple II, Apple II+, Apple IIe, Apple IIc
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 2.0	Apple II+, Apple IIe, Apple IIc
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.05	Atari 400/ 800/ 800XL/ 600XL/ 1200XL/ 1400XL/ 1450XLD
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.01 cassette version	Commodore 64
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.01 on FD	Commodore 64
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.05 on FD	Commodore 64
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II	amateur conversion from C 64 to C+/4 computer
1984	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.00	Data General/One
1984	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.10	IBM PC, PCjr
1984	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.10A	IBM PC, PCjr
1984	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.11 (internal update to correct the no color problem on PCjr)	IBM PC, PCjr
1984	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0	Texas Instruments Professional Computer
1985	subLOGIC Jet v 1.0	Commodore 64, Commodore 128
1985	subLOGIC Jet v 1.0	IBM PC, PCjr
1985	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.12	IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, PCjr
1985	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.12 (a special release for AST Research)	IBM PC
1985	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.12	Tandy 1000/1200HD/2000
1986	subLOGIC Jet v 1.0	Apple II, Apple II+, Apple IIe, Apple IIc
1986	subLOGIC Jet v 2.0	Commodore 64, Commodore 128
1986	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.0 monochrome version	Atari ST
1986	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.0 colour version	Atari ST
1986	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.0	Amiga
1986	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.01	NEC PC-9801F/VF/VM
1986	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.01	NEC PC-9801U2/UV2
1986	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.13	IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, PCjr, IBM PC Convertible
1986	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.00	Apple Macintosh, Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE
1986	Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.02	Apple Macintosh, Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE
1987	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.07	Atari XE
1987	subLOGIC Jet v 1.01	Atari ST
1987	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.1 monochrome & colour version	Atari ST
1987	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.1	Amiga
1987	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.2	Amiga
1987	subLOGIC Flight Simulator II v 1.00	Tandy Color Computer 3
1987	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.14	IBM PC and Compatible, PC XT, PC AT, PCjr, PS/2
1988	subLOGIC Jet v 1.0	Amiga
1988	subLOGIC Jet v 2.14	IBM PC/XT/AT/Compatible PS/2
1988	subLOGIC Flight Simulator with torpedo attack	MSX 1, MSX 2
1988	subLOGIC Flight Simulator with torpedo attack	NEC PC-8801
1988	Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 on 5,25inch FD	IBM PC and Compatibles
1988	Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 on both 5,25 and 3,5inch FD in one box	Tandy, IBM PC and Compatibles
1988	Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 on 3,5inch FD	IBM PC and Compatibles, IBM PS/2
Bruce Artwick left subLOGIC late 1988 followed with some of his colleagues. Then he established a new company called BAO (Bruce Artwick Organization). It is very important for future that he is an owner of a license for the trademark Flight Simulator. SubLOGIC with Stu Moment as a head continued with making flight simulation programs and add-ons.
1989	subLOGIC Thunder Chopper v 1.0	IBM PC/Tandy/Compatibles
1989	Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0	IBM PC and Compatibles
1989	Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0A	IBM PC, PS/2
1990	subLOGIC Flight Assignment: Airline Transport Pilot	IBM PC/Tandy/Compatible
1990	Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0b	IBM PC, PS/2
1990	Microsoft Aircraft & Scenery Designer	MS DOS
1991	Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0	Apple Macintosh Series
1992	Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0b	NEC PC-9800 Series
1993	Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0	MS DOS
1994	subLOGIC Flight Light	MS DOS
1994	Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0a	MS DOS
1994	Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0a	NEC PC-9821/PC9800/PC-H98
1995	subLOGIC Flight Light Plus	MS DOS, Windows
1995	BAO Flight Simulator Flight Shop	MS DOS, Windows
1995	Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 on 3,5inch FD	MS DOS
End of the year 1995 was significant for both subLOGIC and BAO as well. Artwick sold BAO to Microsoft and by chance in that time Sierra bought subLOGIC.
1996	(Sierra) subLOGIC Flight CD ROM	MS DOS, Windows
1996	BAO Tower	Windows
1996	Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 CD ROM	MS DOS
1996	Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95 v 6.0	Windows
1997	Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 v 6.1	Windows
1997	Sierra Pro Pilot	MS DOS
1998	Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series	Windows
1999	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 v 7.0 (professional and standard edition)	Windows
2000	Update to 2000b version	Windows
2000	Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 WWII Pacific Theatre	Windows
2001	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 v 8.0 (professional and standard edition)	Windows
2002	Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3 Battle for Europe	Windows
2003	Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 v 9.0	Windows
2004	Update to 9.1 version	Windows
2006	Microsoft Flight Simulator X v10.0 (deluxe [professional] and standard edition)	Windows
2007	Service Pack 1 for Flight Simulator X	Windows
2007	Microsoft Flight Simulator X Acceleration Expansion Pack	Windows
2007	Service Pack 2 for Flight Simulator X	Windows
2008	Microsoft Flight Simulator X Gold Edition	Windows
Microsoft sold source code and rights of Microsoft ESP (a commercial version of Microsoft Flight Simulator X) to Lockheed Martin. They started to produce Prepar3D.
2010	Lockheed Martin Prepar 3D v1	Windows
2012	Microsoft Flight	Windows
2013	Lockheed Martin Prepar 3D v2	Windows
On the 9th of July 2014 Dovetail Games announced a licensing agreement with Microsoft to distribute Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition and to develop further products based on Microsoft's technology for the entertainment market.
2014	Microsoft Flight Simulator X : Steam Edition	Windows
2015	Lockheed Martin Prepar 3D v3	Windows
2015	Microsoft Flight Simulator X : Steam Edition Premium	Windows
2017	Lockheed Martin Prepar 3D v4	Windows
2017	Dovetail Games Flight Sim World	Windows
2020	Lockheed Martin Prepar 3D v5	Windows
2020	Microsoft Flight Simulator	Windows
2021	Microsoft Flight Simulator	Xbox Series X\|S

Timeline