Microsoft Flight Simulator has offered a great way to fly aircraft of all sizes without ever leaving the ground for nearly 40 years. With help fromMicrosoft Flight Simulator For Dummies, you'll take to the skies in everything from tiny two-seaters to huge commercial airliners. Plot your course and deal with realistic wind and weather as you fly pond hoppers, 747s, and everything in between all around the world.

In this book, you'll learn how to:Start with getting a feel for the controls of a small plane before moving on to larger airlinersGet familiar with the instrument panels of all sorts of planesDeal with virtual emergencies, dynamic weather, Maydays, and more!

Great for anyone just getting started with Microsoft Flight Simulator,Microsoft Flight Simulator For Dummies is also the perfect book for existing players looking to get the most out of their time with this awesome game.

Brittany Vincent is a journalist specializing in the video game industry, with nearly a decade and a half of experience reviewing games, reporting on the industry, and aiding manufacturers in research. Her work has appeared on CNET, CNN.com, and numerous other publications. She is also a frequent guest at gaming conven­tions and events.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Microsoft Flight Simulator 7

Chapter 1: Taking to the Virtual Skies 9

Chapter 2: Taking Control with (or without) a Custom Setup 19

Chapter 3: Heading to Flight School 35

Chapter 4: Virtual Planes, Real Pilot: Flight Simulator in VR 49

Chapter 5: Takeoff in Tandem: Flights with Friends 63

Part 2: The Art of Single-Engine Navigation 77

Chapter 6: Loving Flight Fundamentals 79

Chapter 7: Learning Those Instruments 93

Chapter 8: Pulling Off a Successful Start-Up 101

Chapter 9: Departing from and Returning to the Runway 113

Part 3: Airport Operations 127

Chapter 10: Knowing Your Way Around the Airport 129

Chapter 11: Talking Your Way Into (and Through) the Air 145

Part 4: Choosing and Flying Your Aircraft 157

Chapter 12: Airplane! (Not the Movie, the Craft) 159

Chapter 13: Knowing the Nitty-Gritty of Flight Planning and Navigation 169

Chapter 14: Working the Radio in Single or Multiplayer Mode 187

Chapter 15: Rules, Rules, Rules So Many Rules! 193

Part 5: What to Do in Case of an Emergency 199

Chapter 16: Mayday! Recognizing and Responding to Emergencies 201

Chapter 17: Making an Emergency Landing 213

Part 6: The Part of Tens 221

Chapter 18: Ten Flight Simulator Tricks You Should Know 223

Chapter 19: Ten Cool Airports to Visit Virtually 235

Part 7: Appendixes: Example Flights 247

Appendix A: Example Cessna Flight 249

Appendix B: Example Baron G58 Twin-Engine Flight 257

Appendix C: Example 787 Dreamliner Flight 263

Index 269