I’m excited to announce FlyBeside has been launched as the companion for multiplayer in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
FlyBeside is a free to use web app, with a twin Windows application, that uniquely offers a marketplace for lessons, while solving the problem of easily finding appropriate people to fly with as wingmen and copilots. It’s suitable for both Windows and Xbox users of Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.
Buy and sell lessons
FlyBeside allows flight sim enthusiasts to improve their piloting skills in a cost-effective and fun manner. One-to-one flying lessons can be purchased from other FlyBeside users. Anyone can create and sell their own lessons to earn real money. FlyBeside instructors don’t need to be real world pilots or instructors. The subjects of the lessons can be whatever the lesson creators are knowledgable or passionate about.
Find flight buddies
FlyBeside also solves the challenges of finding suitable people to fly with. Before FlyBeside, requests for multiplayer companions were spread over many different social media sites and forums, with little or no information about the creator of these requests. With FlyBeside, users can search and filter by many useful criteria in order to find the ideal companion.
FlyBeside pilots can easily show that they’re looking for other pilots to fly with via a ‘Fly Beside Me!’ switch in order for others to join them as a copilot or wingman for impromptu social flights. Pilots can also request ‘buddy flights’ for wingman or copilot company. Group flights can be scheduled easily with all the relevant information described. Shared cockpits are currently handled via the third party app ‘YourControls’, which is donation-ware.
In-flight voice communication is conveniently handled via FlyBeside’s built-in voice call feature, or through Discord or Facebook Messenger. Built-in text chat supports initial user-to-user contact. FlyBeside is designed to be very easy to use, and highly flexible.
Main features
- Lessons marketplace for buying and selling one-to-one flying lessons
- Flag yourself as looking to fly with someone in multiplayer
- Request buddy flights with specific flight needs
- Schedule group flights
Other features
- Supports both shared cockpit for copilot flights, or wingman flights
- Extensive search and filter
- Pilot profiles
- Maps with flight routes
- Ratings and reviews for lessons and pilots
- Badges and XP awarded for participation
- Pilots can be followed to receive updates
- Notification system
- Web app with twin Windows application
- Discord server
About FlyBeside:
Vision
FlyBeside’s vision is to enable flight simulator enthusiasts to improve their piloting skills in a fun and cost-effective way, and to help forge friendships across cultures and continents.
Philosophy
Our approach to the creation and development of FlyBeside is first and foremost to be an enabler for flight sim enthusiasts. We would like to bring the spectrum of flight simmers together: from new players to experienced real world pilots, from young to old, and across all types of flight sim setups.
Flight simulation is a fun, relaxing and rewarding pastime when done alone, but it can offer so much more when shared with others. Apart from being an outlet for our social needs in times of increasing isolation, FlyBeside hopes to be educational through its lessons marketplace, enjoyable through its buddy and group flights, and lucrative for its lesson sellers.
Feedback
We would love FlyBeside to fit its users’ needs like a glove, and hope that we can keep developing it together, as one. As such, the FlyBeside developers welcome feedback. Suggestions for new features, improvements and fixes are always encouraged. It’s possible to connect to us via the Contact Us page, in app feedback widget, and through our Discord server.
Website: www.flybeside.com
Discord: FlyBeside server
| Category | Options |
|---|---|
| Creator | FlyBeside |
| Category | tools |
| Cost | freeware |