This paper presents the opportunities arising when using a flight simulator with a high fidelity software interface in higher education. A flight simulator is a powerful tool to deepen the learning experience in any aeronautical degree program. It allows students to gain practical insights into the physics of flight, the impact of control engineering as well as valuable experience in flight test engineering. Explicit experiences of simulator use in undergraduate education are provided, based on the Alsim AL250 combined with the Engineering Pack software. Moreover, concepts for simulator use in postgraduate lectures and research projects are presented.