The Microsoft ® Flight Simulator X (FSX) SDK can be used to create add-on components for Microsoft ® Flight Simulator X. These components can be new or replacement aircraft, instrumentation, missions, scenery, terrain, ground vehicles, airport runways and buildings, special effects, camera views, and many other elements of a simulated world. The creation of a new aircraft can involve the creation of new instruments, special effects, camera views, and appropriate missions that can all be completed and tested individually before being added to the new aircraft.

The most prolific advancement of the Flight Simulator platform is that of a new, supported, programmatic interface that provides a clear and easy to understand set of functions that allow direct access to the internals of the code: SimConnect. This Application Program Interface (API) is a client-server based architecture, supporting both native and managed coding styles, leveraging an asynchronous model to achieve the stability and power that come with multi-core processors. Major components of the platform that are supported include:

- User and Artificial Intelligent (AI) Simulated Object State Variables
- Internal Event and Input Event Control and Processing
- Application State (i.e., pause)
- Artificial Intelligence Object Manipulation and Control
- User Interface Menu and Modal Dialog Control
- Direct Weather System Access and Control
- Local-Host, LAN or Internet Scope Networking (including Cluster processing)
- Mission System Custom Triggers and Actions
- Camera Manipulation and Control

Periodic updates of this API will also be provided in an effort to continue the expansion and capability of the platform between major product releases. The functionality provided by these updates will be prioritized based on the feedback of the development community's needs, including those who are selected as part of the Microsoft Research Gaming RFP process.

By utilizing the power of the SimConnect API with the extensive world-wide simulation platform of FSX, the opportunity exists to develop a curriculum combining the elements of Computer Science with the advantages of an out-of-box, real-time world-wide simulation platform.

The proposal should include the use of the SimConnect Managed API. Ideally, the proposal will include:
A real-time interactive component
A non-real-time, modal dialog component
Network capability

The overall areas of interest are:
Aerospace Sciences
Training and Familiarization

requires the installation of the original SDK from the Deluxe version of FSX