- 1). Invest in proper flight controls such as a yoke and throttle. Although you technically play the game using a mouse and keyboard, you cannot obtain the precession needed when handling more advanced aircraft or performing certain maneuvers with any proficiency. Even a standard USB joystick is a better alternative to the mouse and keyboard.
- 2). Play the training tutorials. All versions of MS Flight Simulator include detailed tutorials that teach you the basics of flying; taxing, take-off, turns, climb and descents are just a few of the beginning tutorials available. These tutorials cover all the different types of planes you'll have access to in the game. Each tutorial is taught by a virtual, voiced flight instructor who walks you through the theory and technique required to successfully complete the task.
- 3). Read the ground school material. In addition to voiced tutorials, all lessons and missions include additional information related to the aircraft or mission in the ground school library (available in MS4 and FSX). The ground school material is more detailed and offers more explanation on the task at hand.
- 4). Play the Free Flight mode to get used to aircraft without the restrictions or time limits of missions and tutorials. Free Flight mode allows you to get as detailed as you want by selecting the aircraft of your choice, set the weather parameters, the departure airport and the destination (or not destination at all). You can file a flight plan for visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IRF) that is as detailed as you want. Free Flight mode also allows you to stage engine outs and other emergency procedures for practice.
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