The Falcon BMS Story
From Community Passion to Flight Simulation Legend
Falcon BMS (BenchMarkSims) represents one of the most remarkable achievements in flight simulation history—a testament to what passionate volunteers can accomplish when united by a common vision.
Our Origins (2003)
BenchMarkSims was born in August 2003 when two experienced developers, Cobracab and Jam, accepted a challenge: transform Falcon 4.0's aging graphics engine into something modern. What started as a 90-day contract to help a struggling commercial publisher became something far greater—a commitment to the community that would span over two decades.
Our first public release came on September 20, 2003, featuring graphics improvements that brought Falcon into a new era. As we added talented coders like Saint and Baldeagle, we realized our work could serve a higher purpose: creating the definitive version of Falcon 4.0 for enthusiasts worldwide.
The Underground Years (2005-2011)
Following legal complexities and community fragmentation, we worked quietly for eight years. During this period, nicknamed "DarkFalcon" by the community, our team regrouped under the BenchMarkSims banner, using locked executables and activation keys to protect our work while we built something extraordinary.
These years taught us patience, discipline, and the value of doing things right rather than doing them quickly.
The Breakthrough (2011-Present)
On September 4, 2011, we unveiled Falcon BMS 4.32 to the world. After eight years of silent development, we presented a changelog exceeding 1,500 pages, featuring a complete DirectX 9 conversion, new terrain engine, advanced flight modeling, reworked avionics, and countless other improvements that left the community stunned.
Since then, we've continued our mission:
- 2015: Released BMS 4.33 with new cockpits, F/A-18 carrier operations, and AV-8 Harrier V/STOL
- 2016: Achieved legal agreement with Tommo Inc., securing our future
- 2022: BMS 4.37 introduced VR support and the F-15C Eagle
- 2023: Reached perpetual licensing agreement with the revived MicroProse
- 2025: BMS 4.38 debuted an entirely new terrain engine, complete DX11 migration, and enhanced VR implementation
The Team: Benchmarks Sims
Our Team Spirit
We are a global collective of passionate developers who work in our free time, driven purely by love for what we do. We have no formal hierarchy, no bosses, and no deadlines imposed from above. Each team member chooses their own projects based on their skills and interests—whether that's for building the F-15C cockpit, crafting flight model systems, or creating immersive theaters with combat environments.
We come from all walks of life—aerospace engineers, programmers, artists, former military aviators, students, and professionals—spanning continents and time zones. Some of us are in our twenties, others in our sixties. What unites us is an unwavering commitment to excellence and realism.
Our dedication runs deep. Team members spend entire nights fixing critical bugs, entire weekends rewriting systems for better performance, all without compensation. We do this because we believe in the vision: creating the most authentic F-16 combat simulation experience possible.
We're currently at a generational crossroads. As our founding members gradually retire, fresh faces bring new ideas and energy. We've invested in modern tools and infrastructure to support this transition, ensuring that Falcon BMS will continue to evolve for years to come.
Our Philosophy
Unlike commercial simulators that prioritize graphics over substance, we've remained true to the original Falcon 4.0 vision: simulate the experience of being a fighter pilot by creating a realistic war zone first, then putting you inside it. You're not just flying an F-16—you're experiencing what it means to be part of a large-scale combat operation.
We maintain an open database for community modding while carefully curating official releases. Our EULA reflects our desire for maximum community involvement while maintaining quality standards. We believe in transparency, collaboration, and giving credit where it's due.
Community: Our Lifeblood
For our 4.38 release alone, over 40 community pilots answered our call for testing, making the development process both enjoyable and invaluable. The synergy between our developers and our engaged community isn't just beneficial—it's essential to everything we create.
We organize testing flights, coordinate feedback via modern collaboration tools, and welcome new contributors who share our passion. Whether you're a tester, theater developer, 3D artist, or coder, there's a place for you in BMS—if you're willing to meet our standards and share our commitment to excellence.
Looking Forward
What started in 2003 as a graphics upgrade has become the definitive combat flight simulation experience. With MicroProse's support and our perpetual license agreement, there is truly no end in sight for Falcon BMS.
We're not just maintaining a 1998 simulator—we're pushing the boundaries of what flight simulation can be. Every release proves that passionate volunteers, working together across borders and time zones, can achieve what commercial studios cannot.
This is Falcon BMS. This is our story. And we're just getting started.