Microsoft Flight Simulator Beginner's Guide: Tips To Get You In The Air

Microsoft Flight Simulator is finally here, at least for PC players, and once you've installed it you're able to explore an incredible recreation of the world.

That's all well and good, but most people can't just hop into a plane and know how to take off, let alone fly and land.

Thankfully, we've put together a handful of hints to help you make the most of your new wings.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Tips and Tricks

Complete the Tutorial

This might not be all that surprising, but each of the tutorial's eight exercises are a must for any new pilot.

They'll show you how to get in the air, fly safely, and land at one of the game's many airports. It'll only take you around 45 minutes, too, and will increase your enjoyment of the game no end.

Know Your Plane

There are three aircraft categories in Flight Simulator: Propeller, Turboprop, and Airliners.

Propeller planes are ideal for low-level sightseeing, while Turboprops can fly higher and faster.

Airliners (and jets) are built for long hauls, with increased speed and altitude potential.

Add Active Pause To Your Key Bindings

Flight Simulator is staggeringly beautiful, and you'll no doubt want to take some photos of your travels.

Head into your settings and add Active Pause to your keyboard inputs to be able to pause your aircraft's movement. You can then change the weather settings to set up a great photo, or just to take it all in.

Set Your Assists

As with a racing sim, there are plenty of adjustments you can make to ensure your flight isn't as terrifying as it could be.

You can set things to "True to Life" for the ultimate challenge or "All Assists" to keep things more manageable, or set "Middle-ground" for, well, the middle ground.