June 16, 2026, 1:36 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Google is expanding Google Earth with a new feature aimed at aviation enthusiasts. The web application now offers an experimental flight mode. This allows users to explore the virtual globe from a pilot’s perspective and control the aircraft themselves.
Flight Mode Directly in Google Earth
The new feature integrates a flight simulator directly into Google Earth. Users can move over the partially three-dimensional globe and view various regions from the air. The controls are operated directly within the application.
Visually, the mode resembles well-known flight simulators with displays for altitude and tilt. However, Google takes a much simpler approach. The feature is not aimed at simulation fans expecting the most realistic flight conditions, but at users who want to discover the world map in a different way.
How to Start Flight Mode
To try the feature, users must first open Google Earth in a browser and select any location. Then, navigate through the menu bar to the “Tools” section. In the corresponding drop-down menu, the “Flight Simulator” entry appears, allowing the mode to be started.
The controls allow for various flight maneuvers. Users can tilt the aircraft left and right, raise or lower the nose, and accelerate or decelerate. This creates a simple flight experience that focuses on exploration from the air.
Intentionally Simpler Than Classic Flight Simulators
Google makes it clear that the feature is not comparable to extensive flight simulations. For example, there is no selection of different aircraft models with individual flight behaviors. Also, takeoffs and landings at well-known airports are not part of the feature set.
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The mode also forgoes a detailed cockpit environment. This distinguishes the offering significantly from specialized flight simulators. Instead of realistic procedures, the focus is on orientation on the virtual globe.
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Explore Aerial Images and 3D Buildings in Flight
During the flight, the high-resolution aerial images and 3D buildings of Google Earth are streamed. This allows metropolitan areas and geographic landmarks to be viewed from a bird’s-eye perspective.
The display quality can fluctuate, especially at high flight speeds or with a slower internet connection. Nevertheless, the mode often provides impressive views of various regions of the world.
Not Entirely New
The feature is not entirely new. A similar feature is included in the installed version of Google Earth. In it, users can even choose between a propeller plane and a jet. However, it was more of an Easter egg that only appears when the user enters a specific key combination. Additionally, users could only explore regions around about 30 well-known airports. The new browser version has no such limits and is deliberately integrated as an alternative map view directly in the menus.
The flight simulator is currently still in an experimental phase. Whether Google will expand the feature and add additional capabilities in the future remains open.