Overview
- Google documented and published the web flight simulator in mid‑June 2026, making the feature directly accessible in Google Earth on the web without any app to install.
- Users open Google Earth, click Explore Earth, then choose Tools → Flight simulator to launch the mode and begin flying at their current map location.
- Google calls the feature experimental and says it uses simplified flight physics and basic keyboard and mouse controls such as Page Up/Page Down for thrust and the arrow keys for pitch and roll.
- High‑resolution imagery and 3D buildings stream dynamically as you fly so fast speeds or slow connections can cause temporary loading, clipping, or terrain anomalies and the simulator pauses with a one‑click restart after impacts.
- The web release is a port of a hidden Google Earth desktop Easter egg from 2007 and is framed as a casual, easy way for anyone to explore photorealistic places rather than a rival to high‑fidelity simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator.