Learning Resources
Lesson
Microsoft Flight Simulator has a lot of options. For a novice, it can be confusing. This initial part of the activity, carried out in Learn to Fly mode, will get you started. It requires a few initial configuration settings.
- setup and calibrate your joystick.
- select a flight option
- select an aircraft
The information for this is contained in the Activities section below.
Activity
Assigned activities
Perform initial configuration of Flight Simulator
- Set and calibrate your joystick
Be sure that it is plugged into the port, either the game or the USB port (Have your instructor do this if you have difficulty). When it is connected go to the next step
- Start the Flight Sim program
Double click on the icon on your desktop.
- Choose Learn to Fly and then Lessons.
- Select Introductory Flight: Boeing 737-400 as your flight.
The screen will switch to San Francisco airport in California. It will take a couple of minutes to load the scenery.
From the menu bar, click:
- Options->Custom Controls
- Click the Enable Joystick radio button or push Alt - J.
- Click Calibrate->Properties->Settings->Calibrate and follow the instructions.
In the customize controls box:
- select Assignments.
- Scroll down until you see Brakes under the action column.
- Left click the area under game device and a blue box should appear.
- Click Clear and then Assign.
- Push the button at the front of the joystick and button 1 should show in the box.
- Scroll down until you see Toggle Landing Gear.
- Click in the area under game device and click clear.
- Next click assign and push the button on the top of the joystick.
- It should assign button 2 to the box.
- Click OK and then close the program.
You are ready to fly!