By Yi-Wyn Yen
LAS VEGAS – One of the amazing things about the Consumer Electronics Show is all the cool toys you’d like to have, but don’t really need or can’t really afford. Like Panasonic’s 150-inch plasma screen TV. Or a $3,000 flight simulator.
The basic version of the DreamFlyer retails for $2,800, and the premium version that includes pedals costs $3,225. It does not include the PC, video game software, or flat-screen monitors you’ll need to set up the machine (up to three is recommended for a more realistic viewing experience). Oh, and some assembly is required.
After that, get ready to soar. Considering that it doesn’t use hydraulics or motors, Flight Motion Simulators’ DreamFlyer does an impressive job of mimicking being in a cockpit. It uses the weight of the individual in the pilot’s chair to generate flying motions like pitch and roll.
The company is currently working on a race car version. There is no release date yet, but you can bet it won’t be cheap.
