Others say...

"The LobsterView: This software is great!"
If I could, I would rate this with a trillion stars. It is the greatest flight simulator I ever had. I have also flown FSX and FS2004. I hope Microsoft will come out with a new combat flight sim even better than the one I already have, CFS3. Even my sister likes flying this one. But she is crazy with the machine guns and rockets and bails out whenever she feels like it just to watch her own plane crash and blow up when it hits the ground. The money you pay for it is really worth it.

"The best simulator ever!!!!"
This is the second simulator that I have bought and out of the two, this one is the best!! It's like flying in real life!! It doesn't have any of the big bombers such as the B-17 or the B-24 or Lancasters but I love it anyway.
If you are trying to decide between CFS3 and CFS2, get this one! However, if you want it to run well and without stopping often, you need to have a very high-speed computer or it will not be any fun at all. (Which is something that I had to learn the hard way.) I love to dogfight, it is one of the funnest things to do on the program.
Alden savoca

"Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3"
This software will usually result in "Screen Lock" and is unusable with Windows Vista. The problem occurs only occasionally with Windows XP. Disappointing in the limited selection of Bomber Aircraft included (no "heavy" B-17, B-24, Lancaster, etc). The flight character of various aircraft modeled do not represent those of the actual aircraft very accurately in terms of firepower, energy manueverability, and vulnerability (Typhoon particularly).

"Save your money ... buy IL-2"
I should have believed the majority of reviews ... Microsoft should go back to the drawing table.

"A Great Game, but make sure to check for Add-ons"
CFS 3 is a solid flight sim all around. But it has a number of shortcomings out of the box. The graphics are decent, but some of the realism elements and flight models are lacking in certain regards.

Where this game shines is in its use as a foundation for other add-ons and modifications. There are a great many special add-ons for CFS 3, some commercial and some free. The expansion allows the user to customize the game in every regard.

Another interesting feature of the game is actually its age. While the game is becoming somewhat dated, it also is flexible enough to run on older spec machines, which is a plus for many users with older rigs.

I can suggest this game as a great value, but make sure to look for the free online add-ons as well as the commercial ones. CFS 3 out of the box is somewhat dated, but if you update and customize your game, then you're getting one of the single best flight sims of the past few years. The user community is excellent and supportive in helping new players get started with customizations and add-ons that add to realism and graphics.

The multiplayer experience is also first rate. It's a lot of fun.

The bottom line: A fair game out of the box, but a wonderful title when all the add-ons and updates are brought into the equation. A must have for any serious PC fight pilot.