Microsoft FLIGHT SIMULATOR As Real As It Gets V5.1 Flight Simulator 5.1 was introduced, adding the ability to handle scenery libraries including wide use of satellite imagery, faster performance and a barrage of weather effects: storms, 3D clouds and fog became true-to-life elements in the Flight Simulator world. This edition was also the first version that was released on CD-ROM and the last for DOS.. This edition was also the first version that was released on CD-ROM and the last for DOS. This was released approx in June 1995. In the fall of 1995 and the release of the Flight shop program nearly any aircraft could be built. The French program "Airport" was also available for free which allowed users to build airports (FS5.1 only had 250 World wide) and other designers were doing custom aircraft cockpit panels.