Microsoft Flight Simulator For Dummies

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to fly around the world simply by booting up a video game? Stop over at some of the largest airports in the country, then zip around to the other side of the globe with a plane full of passengers?

Welcome to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, the most realistic flying simulation game on the market. You’re not confined to a single map or two, or even an incomplete list of destinations. The world is your oyster, as they say. And you can go anywhere. Fly from point A to point B, wherever your heart desires, in the confines of this expansive, lovingly crafted game.

But unless you’re an actual pilot, a flight simulator expert, or one of the developers, you might need a little help getting started. This isn’t like your typical first-person shooter or adventure game. The aircraft you find throughout the book are real-world aircraft. People go to school for years to learn how to fly them.

So with this book, I’m taking you to flight school, so to speak. After you read the parts that are pertinent to your Flight Simulator journey, you can simply jump into the airplane of your choice, spin the globe to choose a destination, and fly there in no time.

Like the wise Joshua Michael Homme of Queens of the Stone Age once sang:

It’s gonna be smooth sailing

From here on out

About This Book

When you fire up Flight Simulator, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What do you do first? How in the heck does a plane actually work? Will you ever get off of the runway, and how will you accomplish that? What’s the best place to start?

Here’s the honest truth: The game won’t hold your hand. That’s fine. I’m here to do just that. This book is for anyone who has questions, concerns, or frustrations about Flight Simulator. Enjoying a flight simulator game should be for everyone, not just for those with the patience to watch dozens of piecemeal YouTube videos or complete a slew of practice flights.

Really, the For Dummies series is all about giving you just what you need to know to accomplish things as simply as possible. In the case of Flight Simulator, you can find out the basics (and handy shortcuts) of the game that can help you fly your favorite aircraft across the world to any destination you choose.

This book is a reference tool crafted to help you get as much out of this realistic simulator as possible. Follow the part and chapter structure to

Get acquainted with the nuts and bolts of the game, its setup, and its controls.

Find out about basic flight principles that apply in the real world, how to invite friends to fly with you, and even how to play in virtual reality.

Pull off a successful start-up and takeoff, and then figure out how to navigate, as well as return to the runway. (Talk about a round-trip flight!)

Determine how to find your way around an airport and communicate with air traffic controllers.

Select the airplanes that you want to fly with, explore how to navigate while in the air, and embrace flight rules and radio etiquette.

Discover the unexpected happenings that can occur when you’re in the cockpit, prepare for them, and tackle that emergency landing when you need to.

Follow the steps provided to take sample flights in aircraft that have various levels of complexity.

Sure, you could do a few Google searches to find some of the information presented in this book, but there’s nothing quite like having everything you need to know gathered in one place. There’s still something to be said about a physical tome that contains a wealth of knowledge about a subject.

Consult it when you have no Internet connectivity. Read it when you’re on the throne. Roll it up and swat a fly with it. No matter how you slice it, there are about a zillion ways this book can help you inside and outside of Flight Simulator. In a pinch, you could probably use it as an emergency ration. Chewy, but it’s still sustenance.

Tip Buying this book is the cheapest way to consult an expert, really. For less than the price of the game itself, you’re getting the expertise of someone who’s played video games for nearly 30 years, written about them for almost two decades, and accumulated real-world aviation information as it relates to the aircraft you’ll be flying. It’s a win for everyone, in my book. This one, I mean.

Foolish Assumptions

Most level-headed people don’t like to make assumptions. But if I wanted to get this book into the hands of those who might need it most, I had to do just that. And here you are, just as planned — which is great! So, let me put it to you like this: If one of these assumptions ends up being incorrect, I have a sneaking suspicion you can still find this book helpful.

I assume that

You probably like planes. Maybe you’re interested in their inner workings. Perhaps you enjoy traveling. Either way, you have some sort of rudimentary knowledge or passion about aircraft that makes you want to dive into this book. You might even be a pilot in real life, looking to take your passion into the digital world.

Whatever the case may be, you take some sort of delight in watching, riding in, studying, or looking at planes. Or at the very least, you know what a plane is. Right? Okay, great.

You’re familiar with video games. You’ve either played a few of them or you’ve seen them in passing. You have an interest in video gaming, even if you’re not an avid gamer. Whether you’ve killed a few Goombas here and there, or explored Magicant several times over, gaming is at least a small part of your life.

You’re curious about or enjoy simulation games. Maybe you’ve driven everything from farm equipment to trains in the digital world, and planes are the next frontier. (Great choice, by the way.) It seems obvious to me that you enjoy either the idea of flying an aircraft or the actual experience. The thrill of seeing the world from 40,000 feet in the air never wears off — in the real world or in the game.

Remember So whether you’re a hardcore gamer who happens to enjoy sim games or you’re an aspiring pilot looking to get a little virtual practice in before you actually hop in the cockpit, you can get something out of this book. And if not, well, go ahead and buy it anyway. Collecting retro tech is getting expensive, and I’m still trying to add a Super Lady Cassette Vision from Epoch Co. and a copy of Milky Princess to my stores.

Icons Used in This Book

Need a wingman? I’m right here! Well, I’m here spiritually, in the form of icons, anyway. Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight certain types of valuable information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you encounter and a brief description of each.

Tip The Tip icon marks tips and shortcuts that you can use to make it much easier to navigate your first flight, set up multiplayer sessions, understand how some of the game’s aircraft differ, and more.

Remember Remember icons mark the information that’s especially important to know. Want to know the most important tidbits from each chapter? Just skim through these icons, and you’ll be flying fancy free in no time.

Technical Stuff The Technical Stuff icon marks information of a highly technical nature that you can normally skip over. Of course, much of what you can expect out of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 often veers into the nitty-gritty, so it can be helpful to stop by and read over some of this content — even if it’s just because you’re curious.

Warning The Warning icon tells you to watch out! It marks important information that may save you headaches, failed first flights, or overall frustration with the sim. I’ve got your back — but you don’t have a ton of these icons around to worry about.

Beyond the Book

In addition to the abundance of information and guidance related to Flight Simulator that I provide in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies.com. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet by accessing www.dummies.com and searching for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 For Dummies Cheat Sheet.

Online, you can find a quick reference guide to common controls, taking to the skies, and more, all to read over if you don’t happen to have the complete book handy. The Cheat Sheet can definitely come through for you in a pinch.

Tip Need help beyond this book and its online information? Don’t hesitate to head to YouTube and check out the many talented creators who have painstakingly recorded video tutorials that complement the written ones in this book to help you along. You can find a massive Flight Simulator community out there that wants you to spread your wings. You never have to fly alone!

Where to Go from Here

Just like the aircraft that inspired Flight Simulator, this book is built to take you anywhere you want to go. You can fly through this book however you want because it’s not meant to be a linear experience. You can explore and skip around as much as you like as often as you like.

If you need help getting started, feel free to jump in and follow the beginner’s tips or check out a sample flight. For those completely new to the Flight Simulator franchise, acclimate yourself to the game with Chapter 1. Also, be sure to check out Chapter 3 for an overview of menus and flight preparations so that you can get a handle on them before jumping into the cockpit.

If you already have a good idea of what to expect from the game, check out Chapter 19 for a master class in breaking down some of the coolest parts of the game. Also, for a selection of interesting airport destinations in-game, take a look at Chapter 19. That way, you don’t have to search very long for a destination. The choice can feel overwhelming — because you have the whole world in your hands, quite literally!

If you only really need a quick reference in terms of mouse and keyboard controls or controller support, I have those for you in Chapter 2. You can find everything you need to know about using one or both methods to control Flight Simulator in this chapter, whether you’re opting for a hybrid model or sticking strictly to your controller.

It’s really up to you how you begin your journey. But know that no matter where you start, I’m here with you every step of the way. Spread your wings and get ready to greet the horizon! The whole world is at your doorstep. You just need to hop into the cockpit and fly there. It really is that easy.

Part 1

Getting Started with Microsoft Flight Simulator

IN THIS PART …

Get a crash course on flight simulators, an overview of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 offerings, and a guide for evaluating and choosing a version of the game.

Find out about selecting the game’s control platform and the extensive list of controls for your chosen interface — whether PC keyboard or Xbox controller.

Explore the game’s main menu, find good advice and tutorials to guide your flying, and start out right with preparations for takeoff and landing.

Take a look at the preparations and equipment needed to fly a plane in virtual reality.

Discover how to gather your friends, create a multiplayer flight session, get your group flight off the ground, and even troubleshoot your online connectivity.

Chapter 1

Taking to the Virtual Skies

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Introducing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

Bullet Exploring the history of flight simulators

Bullet Figuring out whether Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is right for you

Bullet Choosing a version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

Are you ready to see the entire world without leaving your seat? Jump into the cockpit with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and you can do just that. From flying over the majestic Grand Canyon to touring the rolling hills of the town you grew up in, your virtual journey soars. You can truly see it all within the confines of this extraordinary simulation game (sim). A sim game is designed to closely simulate a real-world activity — in the case of Flight Simulator, the activity of flying in the aircraft of your choice, at your leisure. You don’t even have to worry about the weather.

Many of us will never set foot in a cockpit and are, instead, content to be passengers aboard commercial flights enroute to various destinations. That’s by choice for some, or by circumstance for others. Giving people a chance to fly without all the time, money, and risk that goes into actual piloting makes flight simulators such a fun and rewarding experience. Flight Simulator is currently the best of its kind for casual players and hardcore enthusiasts alike. Not only does it let you fly just about anywhere in the world that you want, but you can do it in a dizzying number of different aircrafts, including jetliners and prop planes aplenty, all modeled after their real-world counterparts.

Whether you’re a rookie pilot or a seasoned professional, this chapter offers foundation and guidance as you prepare to soar through the friendly skies. It’s smooth sailing (or flying) from here on out.

Following the Evolution of Flight Simulators

Flight simulators sprang up in the early 1900s, and military pilots used them throughout World War I and World War II. As passenger flight became common, civilian pilots would also begin relying on simulators to learn the basics before graduating to a real airplane. Original flight simulators primarily took the form of analog cockpits which were used to train professional pilots and maintenance crews during simulators’ early days. As technology evolved, flight simulators transitioned to a more cost-effective digital format that both professionals and enthusiasts could use.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator that was

In terms of Microsoft’s line of flight simulators, the company released Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 for the IBM PC in November 1982. This somewhat rudimentary debut used simplistic graphics (as shown in Figure 1-1) but employed systems that included variable weather and time of day, as well as a coordinates system to help players navigate.

Remember The original Flight Simulator game was touted as extremely realistic, offering full-color, out-the-window flight display as a draw for those interested in jumping aboard. Only four colors were on display at one time, and the graphics were simplistic depictions known as vector graphics. These two visual limitations make the original Flight Simulator look positively archaic when compared to even the most rudimentary video game of the modern industry. The modern version of the game offers photographic realism as well as an amazing number of airports and aircrafts you can choose from.

The original release severely limited the aircraft types and available terrain that you could fly over. Players could board a Cessna 182 (the only plane available in the main game mode) and fly around four areas of the United States: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, or Seattle. Players would begin in Chicago’s Meigs Field airport, which would continue to be the default starting airport over the years, even as Flight Simulator continued to grow and evolve as an eventual series.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

FIGURE 1-1: Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0, released in November 1982 for the IBM PC.

Another in-game mode, Europe 1917, let players take flight with a Sopwith Camel plane (a fighter plane, vintage WWI) in a mountainous area, then declare war and grapple with other enemy aircrafts. Although it was an extremely rudimentary simulator, it served as a great foundation for what was to eventually come. Mostly incremental updates happened over the intervening two years, and 1984 marked the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0. A third sequel appeared four years later in 1988: Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0.

Numbered updates would continue through 1996, when Flight Simulator for Windows 95 debuted — but beyond that, releases were marked by years rather than versions. Check out the nearby sidebar, "A 30,000-foot view of releases," for a rundown of the evolutionary path taken by Flight Simulator.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator that is

Flight Simulator is the first release in the series since 2006’s Microsoft Flight Simulator X, marking a 14-year absence for the popular game. This new version is also the most feature-rich, with thousands of airports to visit, hundreds of aircrafts, and real-world topographic mapping that allows players to fly around the world at their leisure. It’s impressive stuff, to be sure. Figure 1-2 shows an excellent example of the stunning visuals.

Technicalstuff_White A 30,000-FOOT VIEW OF RELEASES

For the techy audience who cares, here’s a complete list of Microsoft Flight Simulator releases over the years, since the beginning:

Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 (1982)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0 (1984)

Microsoft Flight Simulator (Mac) (1986)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 (1988)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0 (1989)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0 (1993)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 (1995)

Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95 (1996)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 (1997)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 (1999)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 (2001)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight (2003)

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006)

Prepar3D (2010)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (2020)

Note: Prepar3D is essentially a branch of Flight Simulator X, brought to market by Lockheed Martin. After the company bought the rights to Prepar3D, it became a separate simulator in its own right. Many Flight Simulator X developers went on to work on Prepar3D after Microsoft closed developer Aces Game Studio.

Used with permission from Microsoft.

FIGURE 1-2: One of Flight Simulator promotional screenshots.

Comparing Figure 1-1 to Figure 1-2 shows just how far the game’s realistic appearance has come in a relatively short time. Flight simulation has just about reached parity with real-world flight, and in a few years, simulations might offer graphics on par with what you see when you look out the window of an actual plane’s cockpit. And with the Flight Simulator experience as immersive as it is right now, I’m anxious to see how much the game improves going forward.

Evaluating Whether Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Is Right for You

When people think of flight simulators, some may tend to envision video games where you simply fly planes. Sure, that’s what you’re doing in the end, but Flight Simulator has a lot more to it. Consider this: You can fly planes in arcade-centric games such as the Ace Combat series, but all you really control are aircraft movements (up, down, left, and right), deploying missiles, and laying down gunfire. You control the planes in games like Ace Combat much like you control any other video game avatar. (A game avatar is the player character’s digital representation.)

Recognizing that you have much to learn

You get the most out of Flight Simulator when you’re interested in figuring out the inner workings of flight and want to enjoy navigating from the perspective of a pilot.

These inner workings include

Selecting the types of aircrafts you want to pilot.

Doing what you need to do to arrange for takeoff.

Understanding how to maintain altitude while flying.

Knowing how to maneuver the craft in the air.

Finding out how to navigate to your destination.

Training to land safely and smoothly on runways across the globe.

Remember Flight Simulator offers a virtual experience of applying essential flying skills, all while you’re chatting with air traffic controllers and multitasking in a way that requires your full attention at all times.

Gaining the knowledge and honing the skills to engage with Flight Simulator is an acquired taste, that’s for sure. The process may be frustrating at times, even with the right amount of in-game assistance, tutorials, and this book. In fact, the effort required to understand a real flying skill before applying it in the game may not be fun for some folks. But I find few things more rewarding than jumping into Flight Simulator, getting to know the cockpit, and unraveling the mysteries that come along with becoming a pilot.

Tip If you’re not particularly interested in diving into the most granular parts of flight — including what all those buttons and switches do — you might find that the Flight Simulator game isn’t really for you. Keep in mind that it’s called a simulator, after all; it’s meant to be as similar as possible to the real thing.

Making the decision to tackle Microsoft Flight Simulator

If hopping into a cockpit behind the seemingly inscrutable wall of controls isn’t something that appeals to you, you might want to pick up a game with a more arcade-centric approach to flight. That way, you get the fun parts of navigating the skies without the real-world parts you aren’t as interested in. If you don’t like the idea of a game that expects you to learn more than you