Airplane Games/Books for Kids?

[Seagoon]

Hey Guys,

I've been searching vainly for a PC airplane sim designed for children in the 4-6 year old range, anyone have any suggestions?

Also, can anyone recommend books for small children on the subject of airplanes/aeronautical history? If I have to read "The Glorious Flight" to my son Victor one more time, I think I shall go mad. I now know all the names of the Bleriot family, including the Cat and Cockatoo by heart.

[Sandman]

There are some simple aircraft to be found for even Microsoft Flight Simulator. You can also modify the difficulty to very easy settings.

[Eden]

There is a Flight Sim Game put out by Airfix (the model people) called "Dogfighter".  The premise is that you are flying airplan "models" - (i.e. 1/72nd model planes) inside your house and destroying model bad guys (german tanks etc).  It is very arcadish and easy to play (there are power ups and such.  It is a great game for younger folks to play (and looks fairly decent as real vehicles are modeled) and the flight part is easy (plus you get to shoot plates and vases and such inside the "house").  My nephews got a kick out of if.  It does not require a real powerful PC to play (so if you have a spare around you can use this)
Anyway, just an idea

[Eden]

You can download a demo of the game here:

http://www.download.com/Airfix-Dogfighter-demo/3000-7547_4-2489032.html

[Debonair]

Original version of Red Baron should fit for simplicity, but i don't know about OK for a 4-6 year old.
I played it when I was 14 & am one messed up induhvidual

[eskimo2]

Aces High offline.  Turn the wind to a 100 mph updraft; even my daughter has trouble finding the ground with such wind.

eskimo

[nirvana]

Any MS combat flight sim or regular simulator, whichever you are looking for.  MS combat flight sim 1 isn't very demanding and has extremely easy flight mode.  Regular sim has it so you don't die at all.  But you probably knew that.

Oh and I had a book (can't for the life of me recall the name) that you stuck inserts in.  They have them for animals too.  You get a 3 ring binder or so and then the little airplane info pages come in the mail once a month or something.  You might have seen them in the recipe form.  I'll look for the name of it, because 1. I'm not sure if they still make them and 2. Ebay had some full sets for very cheap prices ($10) when I checked last.  


FOUND IT

Search Ebay or google for Aircraft of the world, the complete guide.   Was one of my favorite books to read and very informative.  Includes comparisons of range, armament, etc.  If anything the pictures are something to look at.

[Pei]

Trying to corrupt the kids early Seagoon?

[RTR]

Here's a book I'm sure the kids will enjoy Seagoon (and you may find that you don't mind reading it to them over and over).

Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
The authors name escapes me at the moment (I'm in camp right now).

It's not really about aircraft, but it is a great story about striving to live better and enjoy what you can do. For Jonathan it is flying.

Give it a go.

Cheers,
RTR

[straffo]

Originally posted by RTR
Here's a book I'm sure the kids will enjoy Seagoon (and you may find that you don't mind reading it to them over and over).

Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
The authors name escapes me at the moment (I'm in camp right now).

I agree any Richard Bach book is good too read (but perhaps a bit hard for a young like your Seagoon) my 6 year daughter loves the feret story and Jonathan

[Waffle]

I think Richard Scarry (sp?) had a book called 'the great big airplane book' or maybe it was about airports...lol

edit: - it was aiports - anyway heres the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375812024/qid=1132154532/sr=8-12/ref=pd_bbs_12/102-6581598-9116116?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Seagoon]

Hey Pei,

Originally posted by Pei
Trying to corrupt the kids early Seagoon?

Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm encouraging Airplane craziness but its easy because they already have the inclination. They play AH2 offline with me on occasion and my daughter (age 5) has already gotten the hang of flying if I let her take over in flight. My middle Son Victor who is 3 already loves airlplanes though, and I made him a P-47D-11 model recently which he has already "played" into its component pieces.

What I'd like though are simple things aimed at actually teaching the kids the history, science, and principles of flight and aerial warfare. As a kid I had bags of age-appropriate stuff from various museums in the UK aimed at teaching young children about the Battle of Britain and Fighter planes and so on (plus plenty of neato sticker books). Unfortunately, most of the stuff in local Barnes and Noble is aimed at teaching them about Spongebob, Panda Bears, or the horrors of global warming, so I'd like to order them something online.

PS: As a kid I loved Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

[SirLoin]

My soon to be 3 yr old can take off,fly around/shoot and crash when he's bored p47's and p38's..He's learned left/right/nose up/down and how to use most of the letters on the keyboard...This is with AH2 offline.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by SirLoin
My soon to be 3 yr old can take off,fly around/shoot and crash when he's bored p47's and p38's..He's learned left/right/nose up/down and how to use most of the letters on the keyboard...This is with AH2 offline.

I remember those days with my toddlers  I remember when my then 4 year old shot down I believe Toad?...can't remember...anyway it was a lucky shot.

[Biggles]

I have a collection of these books (80 of the titles), they're great (even interesting to adults--I've re-read them probably 3 times), and easier to find these days through Ebay. I got my collection while living over in England while my dad was stationed at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge. Here's a link to a bunch of links for more info.