Best Civilian

Pionen is a commercial data center operated by Swedish internet service provider Bahnhof, located inside a former Cold War civil defense bunker beneath the Vita Bergen park in central Stockholm. The bunker was originally built in 1943 to shelter government officials during air raids and was later co...

The PMDG 737 for Microsoft Flight Simulator offers a remarkably detailed simulation of the Boeing 737 airliner. It’s notable for its advanced flight modeling and systems replication, providing an exceptionally realistic experience. This add-on is designed for serious flight simulator enthusiasts and...

The Légion d’honneur is a French national medal established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It represents France’s highest distinction awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to the nation, both military and civilian. Recipients include distinguished figures in arts, sciences...

This War of Mine simulates the desperate struggle of civilians attempting to survive a war. Players manage a group of individuals – often wounded or ill – navigating a devastated city to scavenge for resources and maintain their well-being. The game emphasizes difficult choices and moral dilemmas, o...

The Presidential Citizens Medal is a federal honor bestowed by the President of the United States. Established in 1969, it’s the second-highest civilian award recognizing exceptional service performed by U.S. citizens. Recipients demonstrate significant contributions to their communities or nation....

The Bell 505 represents a significant advancement in helicopter noise reduction. Its redesigned rotor system and optimized engine placement minimize both external and internal noise levels compared to previous models. While helicopters are inherently noisy, the 505s improvements make it suitable for...

The HK MR556A1 is a gas-piston operated semi-automatic rifle based on the AR platform. It fires 5.56x56mm NATO cartridges and represents a commercially available version of the Heckler & Koch 416. This rifle is designed for responsible civilian ownership and is typically utilized by sport shooters a...

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 recreates global aviation experiences on personal computers. It’s a significant simulation due to its inclusion of historically accurate aircraft from the early 20th century, marking the centennial of powered flight. The game is designed for serious aviation enthusias...

The Order of the Rising Sun is Japan’s highest civilian order of merit. Established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji, it recognizes exceptional contributions to the nation. Awarded across eight classes, this medal honors individuals who have demonstrated distinguished service within civil or military sphere...

Sometimes in April is a 2005 historical drama television film directed by Raoul Peck and produced by HBO. The film examines the 1994 Rwandan genocide by following a Hutu military officer who attempts to protect his family while his brother participates in the violence through extremist radio broadca...

Released in 2001, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 is a civilian flight simulation video game developed for personal computers. This installment in the long-running franchise introduced real-time, interactive air traffic control and highly detailed 3D virtual cockpits. It also featured improved artif...

The Iron Mountain storage facility is located in a former limestone mine near the town of Boyers in western Pennsylvania. The underground complex provides millions of square feet of environmentally controlled storage space used by corporations, government agencies, and cultural institutions for secu...

Released in 2011 by Laminar Research, X-Plane 10 is a consumer flight simulator available for PC, Mac, and Linux. It is notable for its use of blade element theory to calculate aerodynamic forces in real-time, resulting in highly realistic flight dynamics. The platform features a detailed 64-bit arc...

A 2011 mobile and online flight simulator by Flying Development Studio, notable for its global multiplayer network, regular aircraft updates, and iOS/Android reach.

X-Plane 9 is a civilian flight simulator released by Laminar Research in 2008 for desktop computers. Like other versions of X-Plane, it calculates aircraft behavior using a system called blade element theory, which models aerodynamic forces across sections of an aircraft rather than relying only on...

Released in 1999, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 is a civilian flight simulation program developed for personal computers. The title significantly advanced the franchise by introducing global high-resolution terrain modeling and a database of over 17,000 real-world airports. It was published in Sta...

Established in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle, the Ordre National du Mérite is a French order of merit recognizing distinguished civil and military service. It was created to consolidate and replace numerous prior ministerial and colonial orders, streamlining the French national honors system....

Released in 1997 by Microsoft, Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 is a civilian aviation simulator for personal computers. This iteration introduced significant graphical improvements over its predecessors, including enhanced 3D acceleration and more detailed global scenery. It notably expanded the playa...

Flight Unlimited II is a 1997 civilian flight simulator developed by Looking Glass Studios. Set in the San Francisco Bay Area, it featured a ten-thousand-square-mile photorealistic terrain rendered using satellite imagery. The simulation emphasized general aviation, offering flyable aircraft such as...

Microsoft Flight Simulator 95 is a civilian flight simulation program released by Microsoft in 1995. It was the first version of the franchise designed specifically for the Windows 95 operating system, transitioning away from the earlier MS-DOS environment. The software introduced an improved graphi...

The Heckler & Koch SL8 is a semi-automatic civilian rifle derived from the G36 service-rifle family. It is chambered for the 5.56 x 45 mm cartridge and uses a gas-operated, rotating-bolt action, while its stock, magazine arrangement, and other details were adapted for civilian-market regulations. It...

Microsoft Space Simulator is a space flight simulation video game released for MS-DOS in 1994. Developed and published by Microsoft, the software allows players to navigate the solar system using realistic orbital mechanics and Newtonian physics. Users can pilot a variety of fictional and historical...

Flight Unlimited III is a 1999 civilian flight simulator developed by Looking Glass Studios for personal computers. It distinguished itself from contemporaries with its advanced, realistic dynamic weather system and highly detailed terrain modeling. The simulation focused primarily on the San Franci...

Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 is an updated MS-DOS edition of Microsoft's civilian flight simulation series, released after Flight Simulator 5.0. It retained the series' cockpit-based aircraft operation while refining performance, scenery support, weather, and technical compatibility, and it suppor...

Released in 1983 by subLOGIC, SubLOGIC Flight Simulator II is a foundational consumer flight simulator developed by Bruce Artwick. It expanded upon the original Microsoft Flight Simulator by bringing complex civilian aviation simulation to a wide range of early 8-bit personal computers, including th...

Take On Helicopters is a 2011 civilian helicopter simulator developed by Bohemia Interactive (Czech Republic), notable for its realistic flight model and career mode.

A 1989 flight training simulator published by Electronic Arts and endorsed by Chuck Yeager, designed to teach real aeronautical principles across multiple aircraft.

A 1999 general aviation flight simulator by Terminal Reality notable for its highly detailed fully 3D interactive cockpits and accurate flight dynamics.

Released in 1989 by Microsoft, this flight simulator introduced dynamic scenery featuring moving aircraft, ships, and improved polygonal 3D building models.