About FlyGenX
A flight simulation hobby that started long before the graphics got good.
My interest in flight simulation goes back to the mid-1980s, flying SubLogic Flight Simulator on an Apple IIc. The scenery was sparse, the display was green, and today's level of immersion would have been difficult to imagine.
After spending years away from flight simulation, I returned to the hobby around 2016–2017. By then, the technology had changed dramatically — and it has continued to evolve at an incredible pace.
Today, FlyGenX is a home for that hobby and the different platforms, tools and experiences that have become part of it.
Beyond the Simulator
A simmer — and a pilot.
My interest in aviation extends beyond the simulator. I earned my Private Pilot certificate in 2002, training primarily in a Piper Warrior.
While simulation isn't a replacement for flying a real airplane, I enjoy the procedural side of the hobby and its ability to keep aviation knowledge familiar.
Today's simulators — combined with realistic aircraft, flight planning and AI-powered ATC — make it possible to practice everything from IFR procedures to radio communications in ways that weren't possible when I first started simming.
Then & Now
Mid-1980s
SubLogic Flight Simulator on an Apple IIc and a green screen.
2002
Earned a Private Pilot certificate after training primarily in a Piper Warrior.
Today
Microsoft Flight Simulator, sophisticated aircraft, AI ATC, SimFly, JetCard and an increasingly connected simulation experience.
How I Fly
Serious enough to enjoy the procedures.
The procedural side of aviation is a big part of what keeps flight simulation interesting for me.
IFR
Mostly IFR
Airliners make up most of my flying, and I enjoy the planning, procedures and structure that come with IFR operations.
VARIETY
Not Just Airliners
Business jets, turboprops and even single-engine piston aircraft find their way into the rotation when I'm ready for something different.
ATC
ATC Matters
AI ATC adds radio communications and operational structure without requiring every flight to take place on an online controller network.
Why SimFly?
Making every flight part of something larger.
SimFly caught my attention because it adds an economic and ownership layer to flight simulation. Aircraft can become assets. Airports can become part of a network. Flying can generate PAX, creating an economy around time already being spent in the simulator.
That changes the question from simply "Where should I fly tonight?" to "What can I accomplish with this flight?"
Building a fleet, acquiring airports and participating in that economy has become a major part of what eventually led to FlyGenX.
Explore the FlyGenX network →Why FlyGenX?
Bringing the pieces together.
FlyGenX is an extension of the platforms I use rather than a replacement for them.
SimFly sits at the center of the aircraft and airport network. Gen X Aviation is the virtual charter identity I use on JetCard. Sometimes those worlds overlap, and sometimes they don't.
As both platforms continue to evolve, FlyGenX gives me a place to connect those experiences, document what I'm building and share some of what I learn along the way.
The Names
GenXSimmer
I needed an online identity. I'm a member of Generation X, I'm a flight simmer, and GenXSimmer wasn't taken. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one.
FlyGenX
The home that brings together the SimFly network, Gen X Aviation and the tools and experiences that are part of the hobby.
Gen X Aviation
The virtual aviation identity currently used for charter operations through JetCard.
What's Next?
We'll see where it lands.
FlyGenX is still developing, and that's intentional. As SimFly, JetCard and flight simulation itself continue to evolve, I'm interested to see where the site goes with them.
Maybe it becomes a useful resource for other SimFly pilots. Maybe the airport network grows. Maybe Gen X Aviation eventually includes other pilots. Maybe something shared here helps someone else get more enjoyment out of the hobby.
The goal is simply to create a useful, welcoming corner of the hobby for people who enjoy flying, technology and aviation — and would prefer to leave the drama at the gate.