Google Earth Flight Simulator: Fly Free in Your Browser
The complete, plain-English guide to the free flight simulator built into Google Earth — how to start it, every control, the best places to fly, and how to fix it when it won't load.
Start here
How to Start
Start the flight simulator on Google Earth in 4 steps: open earth.google.com, click Explore Earth, open Tools → Flight Simulator, then switch the basemap to Satellite. No download needed.
Controls
Full list of Google Earth flight simulator controls and keyboard shortcuts for keyboard, mouse, and gamepad — throttle, steering, flaps, and exit.
Best Places
The best places to fly in the Google Earth flight simulator: Grand Canyon, Mount Everest, Manhattan, the Alps and more, with exact coordinates.
Troubleshooting
Fix the Google Earth flight simulator when it won't open, has no terrain, shows no airplane, or the plane won't move. The most common cause in 2026 is mixing up the web version and Earth Pro — here's each fix.
SR22 vs F-16
SR22 vs F-16 in the Google Earth flight simulator compared: speed, difficulty, and which plane is best for beginners. The SR22 is easier; the F-16 is faster.
On Mobile
The Google Earth flight simulator is not in the mobile app. Here is what works on a phone or tablet and how to fly using a browser instead.
How to Land
Step-by-step guide to landing a plane in the Google Earth flight simulator: line up with the runway, reduce throttle, descend slowly, and touch down.
On Google Maps
There is no flight simulator in Google Maps — the free flight simulator is in Google Earth. Here is the difference and how to fly in Google Earth instead.
Alternatives
Free alternatives to the Google Earth flight simulator compared: GeoFS, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and browser flight games, by cost, realism, and ease of use.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Google Earth flight simulator?
- The Google Earth flight simulator is a free feature inside Google Earth that lets you pilot a virtual airplane over Google's 3D satellite maps of the real world. As of 2026 it runs directly in a web browser at earth.google.com, with no download required.
- Is the Google Earth flight simulator free?
- Yes. The Google Earth flight simulator is completely free. It is built into Google Earth, which is free to use in any modern web browser. There is no account, payment, or download needed to fly.
- How do you start the flight simulator in Google Earth?
- Open earth.google.com in a browser, then press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows) or Cmd+Option+A (Mac), or open the menu and choose Start Flight Simulator. Pick an aircraft and a starting airport, then click Start Flight to fly.
- Do you need to download anything to use it?
- No. The flight simulator now runs in the web version of Google Earth, so you only need a current browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. The older desktop Google Earth Pro app also includes a flight simulator.
Last updated: 2026-06-24