![]() ![]() ![]() I took a peek at some of the most lavish resorts on the Caribbean island, spotting mini waterparks and pools. When I flew the Daher over a coastline near Nassau, Bahamas, I fell in love with how the crystal-clear turquoise waters glimmered beneath the sun in an ultra-realistic fashion. The detail and definition of the London cityscape ere so incredibly pristine, I was damn-near convinced I saw Queen Elizabeth glaring at me through the window - pursed lips, extravagant royal hat and all. I waved at Buckingham Palace as I neared the imposing, grandiose structure. I muttered a few Britishisms - such as “blimey!” and “wicked!” - as I passed the world-renowned Tower Bridge with awe. I was delighted to spot The Shard as I piloted the Daher (a single-engine turboprop airplane) through the London skies. Exploring Planet Earth on Microsoft Flight Simulator It may not be immediately obvious, but Microsoft Flight Simulator certainly has elements of gameplay, however, the challenges are more self-imposed with simmers focusing on sharpening their piloting skills. As of this writing, simmers are competing to reach the top of the leaderboard to nail the smoothest landing at Courchevel. Like Saba, Courchevel is a French Alps airport that is known for being particularly challenging and perilous for pilots. It’s also worth noting that Microsoft has included a landing challenge in the game called Courchevel. Or they can try their hand at nailing a touchdown at one of the most dangerous airports in the world, such as the Caribbean’s Saba Airport with its tiny runway and jagged terrain. They can challenge themselves to perform the perfect take off as mother nature unleashes heavy winds, relentless rain and powerful lightning to thwart their ascent. Performing the perfect landing, which involves finding the sweet spot between airspeed and altitude control, is a fulfilling accomplishment for many virtual pilots.Īfter simmers have gained mastery over flawless landings, perhaps they can up the ante by attempting to fly a plane through extreme weather conditions. As you spot that long beautiful stretch of asphalt at your target airport, there’s an adrenaline rush that electrifies your body and you ask yourself, “Will I stick this landing?” For experienced simmers, their personal ambitions may be to nail smooth, polished and fluid landings instead of wobbling like a newborn deer on the runway. Whether you want to explore the jungles of Costa Rica in a small biplane or gawk at Prague’s eye-catching cityscapes in a speedy jet, Microsoft Flight Simulator has a decent catalog of aircraft to choose from - thirty, to be exact.įor a beginner like myself, maintaining a steady and balanced flight by immediately correcting unintentional deviations, descents and climbs is my personal goal post. Microsoft Flight Simulator's fleet of aircraft In the future, perhaps Microsoft Flight Simulator can implement two instructional guide settings according to simmers’ experience level - one for newbies who need hand-holding each step of the way and another for independent simmers who can’t stand micromanagement. However, those who want to be told how to control the plane at every step of the way will find themselves feeling vulnerable several thousands of feet in the air. However, I can admit that my landings are still a little rough (and that’s an understatement).įor learners who love autonomy and enjoy being left to their own devices, they’ll love Microsoft Flight Simulator’s style of teaching. At this point, there will be no instructions - you’ll just have to tap into your knowledge of physics to regain equilibrium.ĭuring my first attempt at flying the Cessna, I made some near-fatal mistakes, prompting my Jess to yell “You’ve left the training airspace! You need to go back!” But after a few more practice sessions, I started to get the hang of it. For example, Jess may tell you to pivot your aircraft downward using the yoke, and soon after, she will command you to “level out” the plane (or else you’ll end up crashing). ![]() The average flight duration of these classes is 11 minutes.Īlthough Jess coaches you through flying the aircraft, she will not hold your hand. Microsoft Flight Simulator offers seven other training courses, including Altitudes and Instruments, Take-off and Level Flight, Landing, Traffic Pattern, First Solo Flight, Navigation and First Solo Navigation. After mastering the ailerons, you’ll get an encouraging “nice!” from your virtual flight coach. The yoke controls the aircraft’s ailerons, which allow the plane to pitch (upward or downward movement of the aircraft’s nose), roll, and bank into turns. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (Image credit: Microsoft)Īs I hovered thousands of feet in the air, one of the first aeronautical steps I learned in Microsoft Flight Simulator was how to operate the yoke, which is the aircraft’s steering wheel. ![]()
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