Microsoft Flight Simulator For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting Started with Microsoft Flight Simulator
Chapter 1 Taking to the Virtual Skies
Following the Evolution of Flight Simulators
The Microsoft Flight Simulator that was
The Microsoft Flight Simulator that is
Evaluating Whether Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Is Right for You
Recognizing that you have much to learn
Making the decision to tackle Microsoft Flight Simulator
Selecting and Purchasing Microsoft Flight Simulator
What platforms can you use to play the game?
Which version should you buy?
Wait, what are enhanced airports?
What do you need to get started?
Time for the Big Handoff
Chapter 2 Taking Control with (or without) a Custom Setup
Checking Out Custom Setups and Cockpits
Getting comfortable on consoles
Perfect PC controls
Preparing for virtual reality flights
Running the Cockpit from the Keyboard
Instruments and systems
Cameras
Menu
Autopilot
Brakes
Power management
Flight control surfaces
Radio
Lights
Commanding the Cockpit with the Controller
Chapter 3 Heading to Flight School
Exploring the Game’s Main Menu
Noting the tabs on the Main Menu
Taking the Discovery Flights
Searching on the World Map
Engaging in Flight Training
Adding flight challenges by using Activities
Scoping out the Marketplace
Early Flight Tips for Future Ace Pilots
Playing Those Tutorials
Taking off the Training Wheels and Engaging the Landing Wheels
Preparing for takeoff
Making adjustments before takeoff
Getting off the ground correctly
Practicing safe landings
Chapter 4 Virtual Planes, Real Pilot: Flight Simulator in VR
Experiencing a Whole New (Virtual) World
Going for the enhanced experience of VR play
Considering the potential downsides
Curbing motion sickness
Preparing for VR Gaming
Verifying the potency of computing equipment
Targeting the other gaming hardware you need
Prepping your game settings for VR play
Appraising Hearty Headsets
Meta Quest 2: The low-budget pick
HP Reverb G2: The affordable upgrade pick
Valve Index: The splurge pick
Tweaking Game Performance Settings
Chapter 5 Takeoff in Tandem: Flights with Friends
Meeting up with Friends for a Midair Adventure
Creating a multiplayer group
Picking a departure point
Crafting Your Itinerary
Setting flight conditions
Specifying your aircraft and attributes
Siting the all-important destination
Strategizing and Taking Off
Selecting manual control or autopilot
Starting the tandem flight — finally!
Collaborating Cross-Console
Tackling visual and lag issues in multiplayer mode
Troubleshooting console connectivity
Part 2 The Art of Single-Engine Navigation
Chapter 6 Loving Flight Fundamentals
Your Plane Will Cop an Attitude
Perfecting picture-perfect pitch
Saying yes, yes to yaw
That’s how we roll
Fine-tuning your plane’s performance by using a trim tab
Exploring Aerodynamic Forces
Achieving thrust
Downplaying drag
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Employing in-game assists
Checking out all the assists
Letting the game work for you
Chapter 7 Learning Those Instruments
Reading Analog Instruments
Going Digital in a Glass Cockpit
The primary flight display (PFD)
The multifunction flight display (MFD)
Chapter 8 Pulling Off a Successful Start-Up
Choosing a Good Starter Plane
Looking around Your Departure Airport
Heading to (or from) Popular Airports and Landmarks
Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH)
Maria Reiche Neuman Airport (SPZA)
Preparing for and Accomplishing Takeoff
Checking your flaps, releasing the parking brake
Centering up on the runway
Triggering the thrust
Putting the pedal to the metal
Handling Adverse Flying Conditions
Blame it on the weatherman
Cautious night flying
Chapter 9 Departing from and Returning to the Runway
Making It Up into the Air
Finding and staying the course
Attending to alignment correction and vertical stabilization
Maintaining speed and climbing
Taking a turn
Dealing with stalling
Inclination effects
Coming Home Again, Home Again
Navigating approach patterns
Tweaking your descent
Keeping an eye on RPM and airspeed
Touching Down
Making a smooth landing
Getting instructions for your next moves
Part 3 Airport Operations
Chapter 10 Knowing Your Way Around the Airport
Finding the Runway and Other Ways
Admiring the apron (or parking or stands)
Recognizing a runway
Traveling the taxiways
Identifying a terminal
Getting on at the gate
Tracking with the tower
What You Can Do at Airports
Identifying Compatible Airports
Choosing a departure location
Choosing an arrival location
Is Your Chosen Airport the Real Deal?
Chapter 11 Talking Your Way Into (and Through) the Air
Engaging with ATC
Communicating continuously with ATC
Finding options for an authentic ATC experience
Observing the Rules while Communicating with ATC
Working through an ATC Communications Sequence
Obtaining ATIS frequencies and info
Getting departure approval
Receiving and following taxi instructions
Getting the go-ahead for takeoff
Keeping contact with ATC while in the air
Acquiring approach and landing instructions
Part 4 Choosing and Flying Your Aircraft
Chapter 12 Airplane! (Not the Movie, the Craft)
Pick a Craft, Any Craft
Planes, Planes, and More Planes
Airliners
Jets
Turboprops
Propellers
Different Planes for Different Pilots
Best for Beginners: Cessna 152
Best for high altitudes: Cessna Citation Longitude
Best for performing tricks: Aviat Pitts Special S2S
Best for long-haul flights: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Best for Intermediate Players: Daher TBM 930
Best all-purpose plane: Beechcraft Baron G58
Best turboprop: Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX
Best for showing off: ICON A5
Chapter 13 Knowing the Nitty-Gritty of Flight Planning and Navigation
Gathering Information for the Flight You Want to Take
Choosing your flight rules: IFR versus VFR
Departure airports, waypoints, and arrival airports
Getting an altitude
Estimating flight duration
Noting weather conditions
Allowing for passengers and cargo
Planning and Navigating Your Flight by the Important Details
Setting your flight path and other parameters
Navigating your flight with help from Flight Simulator
Making the most of your console instruments
Minding your tracking tools
Chapter 14 Working the Radio in Single or Multiplayer Mode
Calling Up the Radio
Knowing what to listen for
Listening for other aircraft
How to Communicate by Using Your Radio
Flying the Friendly Skies with Company
Chapter 15 Rules, Rules, Rules — So Many Rules!
Playing It Safe by Following the Rules
Rules of traditional aviation
Following the rules virtually
Knowing What Not to Do
Part 5 What to Do in Case of an Emergency
Chapter 16 Mayday! Recognizing and Responding to Emergencies
Yes, It’s Probably an Emergency
Preparing for Emergency Scenarios
Getting Safely Through the Emergency
Adapting to continue your flight
Knowing when to call it and land early
Dealing with Equipment Failures
Acting on electrical failures
Responding to engine failures
Extinguishing Engine Fires
Using your aircraft’s fire deterrent system (if available)
Deciding what to do after the fire is out
Chapter 17 Making an Emergency Landing
Strategizing and Practicing for Emergency Landings
Determining a Landing Location
Adjusting the Approach and Touching Down
Making a Power-Off Approach
Seeing without seeing
Using your navigational sense
Part 6 The Part of Tens
Chapter 18 Ten Flight Simulator Tricks You Should Know
Start in Midair
Find Animals Quickly
Refuel Your Aircraft Anywhere
Turn Off Satellite Overlay
Explore Outside the Plane
Explore the Streets
Speed Up Your Flight
Fast Travel to Flight Phases
Customize Your Pilot Avatar
Change Your ATC Call Sign
Chapter 19 Ten Cool Airports to Visit Virtually
Courchevel Altiport; French Alps
Dubai International Airport; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Gustaf III Airport; St. Jean, Saint Barthélemy
John F. Kennedy International Airport; New York City, New York, USA
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport; Saba, Lesser Antilles
Marble Canyon Airport; Marble Canyon, Arizona, USA
Mataveri International Airport; Easter Island, Chile
Tenzing-Hillary Airport; Lukla, Nepal
Tokyo International Airport; Tokyo, Japan
Your Airport
Part 7 Appendixes: Example Flights
Appendix A Example Cessna Flight
Making a Cold and Dark Start
Taxiing Your Cessna 152 for Takeoff
Taking Off and Flying a Cessna 152
Landing Your Cessna 152
Appendix B Example Baron G58 Twin-Engine Flight
Making the Cold and Dark Start in a Beechcraft Baron
Taxiing Your Twin-Engine Baron
Taking Off and Flying the Baron
Landing in the Beechcraft Baron
Appendix C Example 787 Dreamliner Flight
Starting Cold and Dark in the 787
Taxiing Your Dreamliner
Taking Off and Flying the 787
Landing Your Big Boat — er, Plane
Index
EULA