My Experience with Microsoft flight simulator

I downloaded Microsoft flight simulator back in December 2020. I have always wanted to try out a commercial flight simulator, but I didn’t know where to start. When I was in college, I had already watched various videos on Youtube about people who were using flight simulators. They explained all the cockpit buttons functions. Moreover, they also explain how to start the Airbus A320, how to take off and land. The launch of Microsoft Flight Simulator (MFS) 2020 was exciting me because this device was so realistic. Indeed, the graphics are so well designed that sometimes people can confuse flight simulator pictures with reality.

I met a friend during my first year of engineering preparation. We have the same passion for aviation. He told me that during summer holiday, he installed MFS 2020 and started to fly. He explained me the tools to buy to start flying. Before meeting him, I thought that, to start using a flight simulator, I had to buy all the gadgets (flight stick or yoke, rudder pedals, overhead panel…), which are very expensive. That’s why before meeting my friend, I didn’t really try to install MFS, which is also expensive. My friend told me that a simple stick can do the job. I was a bit skeptic because on Youtube I have seen people with very accurate flight controls (gadgets).

Finally, my godfather gave me a flight stick that he had bought a long time ago in a countryside flea market. With this flight stick, you are able to fly any planes in MFS. However, you need to setup this stick first, which is easy. The stick is used to move the aileron (by moving the stick left and right) and the horizontal stabilizer (by moving the stick forward and backward). Without a rudder to move the vertical stabilizer, I decided to use a stick’s button to move the rudder. I chose the left side little button, which can go to the right and to the left. The middle button is the break.

When you have the stick well configured, you are finally ready to fly any plane!  However, to use the gas throttle, you need a throttle lever.  Without a throttle lever, I decided to use my computer keyboard. Indeed, in a flight simulator, there a lot of functions, such as retracting the flaps, the landing gear, etc. that you can use thanks to your computer keyboard.

In 2021, I finally bought a stick with a throttle. The flying experience was a bit more realistic than before.  In December 2022, my godfather offered me the rudder pedals. I was so excited because I finally had all the main controls to fly an aircraft.

Recently I created an Instagram account called skylife_sl  where I post my remote controlled (RC) constructions and my flying pictures and videos from Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The Airbus A320 Neo present in the simulator doesn’t have all the functions. Indeed, some buttons don’t work. Therefore, I downloaded the Airbus A32NX, which is an aircraft developed by actual Airbus A320 pilots. The A32NX is very realistic. I have learned to follow the various checklists and fly this aircraft. Moreover, I also downloaded the Vatsim network, which looks like a real flying environment. Indeed, we have to talk with the tower controllers (using aviation technical phraseology) to get the clearance to take off. Behind the tower control, there is an actual human (as not AI). If we don’t respect the rules, we can be banned from the network. Some real life tower controller’s students also use this network to practice.

If you have any questions about how to set up the commands, fly with MFS or about the Vatsim network, please feel free to comment down below.