HELP ON BASIC TAKING OFF, LANDING

[beau]

I've become newly passionate about aviation, but have zero insight on how to play this game.
The only keys I know to press are:
1. F4 - to proceed off the runway or "full throttle"
2. 2 (up), 8 (down), 4 & 6 (left and right?), G (lift, down wheels)

Can someone please dummy down for me how to:

1. Set flight plan from one airport to another (familiar with how to set destination waypoints, but don't know where it appears in free flight).
2. Take off on runway.
3. Follow flight path to landing airport.
4. Land at airport.

I'm super lost so if someone can share some knowledge with me, greatly appeciate it!

[Mergg]

Setting a flight plan is simple, in the freeplay screen click on flight planner. Choose your departing airport and arriving airport then click IFR, IFR is an instrument flight so you'll use your GPS. Once you start, ask IFR clearance from the Tower, he/she will give you clearance, a SQUAWK code, an assigned runway and assigned altitude. Punch the altitude into your autopilot. Once you are cleared for IFR, ask Ground for taxi-clearance if you chose to start at a gate. Once on the runway ask the tower for clearance to take off. Once in the air, activate altitude hold (ALT HLD) and turn on the autopilot (CMD A) so you ascend to your assigned altitude and listen to the tower, if he tells you to turn left to heading 255, punch that into your autopilot and click heading hold (HDG HLD or HDG SEL). Just do what the tower tells you to do until you get near your destination. Once near your destination you will be cleared for an approach, either VFR or ILS. If VFR, the tower will line you up with the runway and you will land. If using ILS, the tower will tell you your assigned ILS runway, look up the ILS frequency of said runway and punch it into the radio console. Activate the localizer (VOR LOC) on your autopilot panel and keep listening to the tower. Once you hit the ILS marker the plane will begin to turn itself to line with the runway, after about 10-15 seconds of the ILS taking over, press the approach hold button (APP). When the plane takes over you should be, at most, 3,000ft, speed depends on the plane. Do not try to descend yourself, the plane will do it automatically. At about 1,000 ft, disable autopilot and land the plane yourself. At about 30ft above the runway, tilt the nose of the plane and kill the throttle (flaring). Once you land contact ground and taxi to the gate. Reading this will most likely not help a whole lot, watch some YouTube videos and do the tutorials.

[Mergg]

You should also invest in a joystick, otherwise the game is almost impossible to actually play realistically.

[bobbi]

The keyboard is probably the most dificult way to "fly" a PC based simulator. If possible aquire a control yoke or joystick. It's been a LONG time since I tried the "mouse as yoke" function, but even that would probably be easier than using the keyboard. I've never tried using the game console style game pads for a flight simulator, so perhaps someone who has tried one can chime in.

Pilots make extensive use of checklists in all phases of flight. Use the checklists on the flight simulator's kneeboard to see what sequence you'll need to perform functions in for things like takeoff, climb out, cruise, descent and landing. Also use the built in documentation to learn each different aircraft's vital speeds including takeoff, approach, never exceed, stall, approach and flare. Start with the smaller lightweight planes, leaving the medium to heavy transports, jets and especially helicopters for later.

Learn to maintain altitude flying straight AND in turns before atempting the more chalenging climbs, descents and especialy landings. Remember that slowing fixed wing plane will often result in a descent and accelerating will often result in a climb. Contributing to the challenge is a tendancy for fixed wing planes to slow when you climb and accelerate when you descend. You'll have to be using a combination of yoke/joystick AND throttle(s), keeping that model's vital speeds in mind. Learn how to actualy control the plane in cleaar daylight skies then worry about navgation later. You can place your aircraft at several thousand feet altitude using the map or slew function. Don't get carried away by positioning a small prop plane halfway to the stratoshpere. It might dive for a bit before it picks up enouugh speed for you to level off by pulling back on the controls. Once you level off you can advance your throttles to maintain altitude. Feel free to save your status so you can resume level flight again later.

Yes, it's complicated. The goal is the satisfaction of mastering all those chalenges, much like learning your way around the maze of a first person shooter or where to change speeds in a racing game.

[beau]

thanks everyone!

[7heAngryVe7eran]

Here are the basics to enjoy FSX.

Launch FSX and go to your settings.

Set up your display settings to achieve a smooth flight experience, otherwise you will have a horrible time flying the aircraft.

If you are passionate about your simulator, I recommend using DX10 mode and Steve's DirectX 10 Fixer, especially if you have a powerful PC. If not, use the presets for your display settings to achieve 30fps everywhere you fly (lock frames at 30). Never turn the water up past 2.x Low.

Set up your controls. I use a XBOX 360 controller, and here is my scheme...

Left Bumper - Throttle Down (Max Repeat)
Right Bumper - Throttle Up (Max Repeat)
Left and Right Trigger - Rudder Axis
Left Stick - Axis for Elevators and Ailerons
Right Stick - Nothing (Normally for view but I use EZDok instead)
Left Stick Button - Prop RPM Decrease Incrementally (Max Repeat)
Right Stick Button - Prop RPM Increase Incrementally (Max Repeat)
D Pad Up - Elevator Pitch Down
D Pad Down - Elevator Pitch Up
D Pad Left - Flaps Up Incrementally
D Pad Right - Flaps Down Incrementally
Y Button - Spoilers On/Off
B Button - Full Thottle
X Button - Throttle Cut
A Button - Brake (Max Repeat)
Start - Landing Gear
Back - Push to Talk (Teamspeak3)

If you do not use a XBOX 360 Controller, just map these controls to what you use. I've found that they are the most important. Everything else can be handled with the keyboard or the mouse.

Go to free flight and choose the Cessna 172. Pick an airport, time, date, etc. Go to the flight planner. The first button is your departure airport. Once you click it, it should automatically select where you are currently. The second button is your arrival airport. For simplicity, choose GPS Route next.

The final button should generate the flight plan and offer you a chance to look at your NavLog, which shows you important information about your trip. Once you click ok, it will save the flight plan and ask you if you want to move your aircraft. You don't have to now because you're already there.

Under the yoke, you will find your switches. Make sure all your lights are on. Make sure your pitot heat is on. Set flaps to one notch. Use the elevator trim to give the aircraft a bit of positive trim.

Give the aircraft full throttle and you should accelerate, and with enough positive trim, the aircraft should lift itself off the runway. Make sure you do not climb too aggressively or you will run out of speed and stall.

Watch your GPS. The DTK tells you what heading you need to travel to your destination. You can also follow the red line as well. Use the heading indicator in your aircraft to fly the correct heading to your destination. Make sure you do not overspeed your aircraft.

You will lose speed as you climb and gain speed as you descend. When you descend, make sure you throttle down a bit and use your flaps to slow down. Do not dive too quickly or you will overspeed your aircraft.

Upon approaching your destination, it is wise to fly left traffic (counter clockwise, so the pilot can see the airfield) so you can get an idea where you want to land. Line up with the runway and descend so that the PAPI lights are red and white. Red means you're too low and white means you're too high.

Lower your flaps completely and use your throttle to decelerate to 80 knots. Pick a spot on the runway to touch down. Attempt to maintain 80 knots on your approach until you're just above the runway. Decelerate more until your aircraft slowly touches down. Cut your throttle and taxi off the runway.

Watch more videos on how to fly different aircraft and utilize different techniques to navigate. I hope this helps!

[beau]

thanks everyone!!!