How to Take off in a Flight Simulator

Choose "Current Aircraft" from the Free Flight menu. Return to Main Menu. Select "Flight Planner" to create your flight plan, then decide on your departure airport. Place your aircraft in the parking area and pick out an arrival airport.

Use VFR flight rules and "VOR-to-VOR" navigation. Click the "Find Route" button. VOR stations appear between your departure and destination airports. Pilots use the VOR airports as waypoints to keep themselves on course. Set your altitude to 12,000 feet.

Click the "NavLog" button and review your flight plan. Multiply the estimated fuel consumption by 1.5 because "Flight Simulator's estimate is usually off. Enter your flight plan data and new fuel value into the "Fuel and Payload" Menu.

Select the "Weather Menu" and choose "Real-World Weather" and have it update every 15 minutes. Pilots whose computers stay online throughout the flight will face real-life atmospheric challenges. Flight Simulator X updates the terrain according to the weather conditions.

Open the "Free Flight" menu and click "Fly Now." Enter your plane. Turn on the battery and avionics, open your radio and contact the tower for clearance. The tower informs you of the next open runway and the current weather conditions.

Choose "Request IFR Clearance." The tower gives you information on your runway heading and cruising altitude. Confirm their instructions. Mix the fuel and start the rotating beacon. Tap the throttle and start the engine.

Warm up the engine for 5 minutes, request taxi clearance and select "Progressive Taxi" after you receive permission to proceed. Turn on the taxi lights and the Flight Director. Push the prop control in.

Release the parking brake. The plane will begin to taxi while you wait for further tower instructions at the holding point. Turn on the pilot's heat, lower the flaps by one notch and request take-off clearance, after which you must turn on your landing and strobe lights.

Enter the runway, taxi to the centerline and push the throttle all the way. When your speed reaches 70 knots, pull the yoke back. Achieve a positive climb rate and retract your landing gear. Accelerate to 90 knots, raise your flaps and switch on the Autopilot. Continue climbing to your cruising altitude.