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April 24, 2008
How to Get 3D Buildings in Google Earth 4.3 Flight Simulator
Google apparently thought the 3D buildings in Flight Simulator mode would slow down performance for many computers. So, with the new Google Earth 4.3 beta (version 4.3.7191.6508) they automatically disable the 3D buildings layer when you turn on the Flight Simulator. As a pilot, and flight simulator fan, I really don't like this - and have sent multiple messages requesting Google re-enable the feature before 4.3 is finalized. Note: download Google Earth 4.3 if you haven't already.
The good news is that there is a work around to make the 3D buildings come on in GE 4.3's Flight Simulator. The process is just a bit of a pain, and you have to do it each time you start up the Flight Simulator. Here are the steps:
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Enter Flight Simulator mode - Select "Tools->Enter Flight Simulator". Optional: fly to a city which has 3D buildings (tip: San Francisco, Baltimore, Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte - these all have lots of 3D buildings). NOTE: - there is a bug in GE 4.3 if you select the "Current View" option in the "Enter Flight Simulator" window, you may end up at an higher altitude than you expect upon starting the flight (much higher). Just fly back down to the city level.
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Open the Sidebar - Sidebar shortcut - Press 'Ctrl + Alt + B' (or
+ Option + B' on the Mac) to bring up the sidebar
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Turn on 3D Buildings - Turn these on in the Layers pane in the lower left after the sidebar opens.
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Turn Off Sidebar - IMPORTANT - before resuming the flight simulator, turn off the sidebar by hitting the sidebar shortcut from step 2
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Resume flight - Now you can resume flying the flight simulator by hitting the SPACE key and the 3D buildings should stay on for your current flight.
NOTE: - See GEB's Tips on Using Flight Simulator.
NOTE 2: If your machine doesn't have good performance with the 3D buildings, then you shouldn't try to fly with them turned on. I don't think Google should automatically turn off the layer though. Do you?
Google Earth 4.3 (beta) was released last week on April 15th (see GEB's first impressions). This new beta has some very nice new features like sun lighting, new navigation controls, better 3D building performance, and Street View imagery (see the video demonstration, and more details on the release).
Posted by FrankTaylor at April 24, 2008 10:11 AM
Comments
Posted by: Joe at April 24, 2008 3:27 PM
I never understood the habit of limiting options in later software versions. Adobe got rid of an unique animation technique in ImageReady, some versions ago. Early Mediaplayers from Microsoft had the simple option to loop a part of a recording.
Now Google Earth. It had easy zoom/tilt functions, although I missed the ctrl-LMB as in Live Earth, but now it's really a pain GE deciding when you want to tilt. The DL progress meter with the convenient percentage: gone. This Flight Simulator restriction is another thing.
Please developers, add functionality. Do not disable it. People are capable of making choices themselves.
Posted by: Bl00kie at April 24, 2008 5:17 PM
Until the 3D buildings can be made so that they won't crash anyone's computers, I say that Google did the right thing.
And as long as there's a work-around, that's cool, no?
Posted by: FlagFreak at April 24, 2008 6:11 PM
i agree with blookie, i just hate that they removed the loading bar!
Posted by: Novolo at April 27, 2008 1:00 AM
I encountered some really weird screen drawing issues with 3D buildings/flight simulator around Honolulu, Hawaii. Everything above a certain part of the screen simply wasn't drawn at all and you couldn't see the horizon. The problem went away as soon as I'd either turn off 3D buildings OR leave the flight simulator. So I thing Google did this because there are some issues they are working through.
Posted by: someguy at April 27, 2008 7:33 PM
when you've opened up the sidbar to activate the 3D buildings, you can also check the clouds layer (under the weather layer) for some more realism. using that, the buildings and the new "sun" feature, the flight sim mode looks pretty awesome when flying into the sunset in new york for example
Posted by: MiG at April 28, 2008 3:36 PM
The thing that I really miss in 4.3 is the removal of the tilt scroll bar. The auto-tilt just does not do it for me. It would have been easy to enable this bar in Options rather than crippling the software by removing it completely.
I too dislike it when software makers remove useful features in later versions.
Posted by: rederikus at June 5, 2008 6:28 AM
Middle-drag anywhere to tilt and rotate around that point.
Posted by: überRegenbogen at November 8, 2008 11:22 PM
I want to uninstall the upgrade and reinstall the 3.0 version to get the tilt option back. Where can I find the prior version?
Posted by: George Brooks at November 21, 2008 11:13 AM
another reason they do it might be anti-terrorism. if you can fly into realistic buildings for free...
Posted by: Jackson at April 15, 2009 6:07 PM
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I have to say that as much as I like GE 4.3, its really straining my hardware (Core2 Duo Intel processor with 1GB Ram). Trying to use the flight simulator AND 3D buildings would absolutely sink me.