Find the best beginner jet in a flight simulator, why the Vision Jet beats the CJ4, and what to know about CJ4 autothrottle in MSFS 2024.
For most beginners in a general-purpose flight simulator, the Cirrus Vision Jet is the best first jet. Its single engine, manageable speed, stable handling and Garmin-style avionics keep workload lower than a twin-engine business jet. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Citation CJ4 is the better next step, not the easier starting point.
Why is the Cirrus Vision Jet the best beginner jet?
The Cirrus Vision Jet introduces turbine flying without immediately burdening the pilot with two engines, airliner speeds or a large overhead panel. It retains the important lessons: energy management, turbine response, pressurised flight, flight-plan management, autopilot modes and properly planned descents.
- One engine: there is no thrust matching during normal flight and no asymmetric handling caused by losing one engine of a twin.
- Manageable performance: it is faster than a piston single but gives the pilot more time to think than a CJ4 or airliner.
- Integrated avionics: the Garmin-based cockpit combines navigation, flight planning, autopilot and aircraft information in a comparatively approachable layout.
- Good visibility and stable handling: both help when learning visual circuits, approaches and landings.
- Useful automation: an autothrottle-equipped G2 implementation can reduce workload, provided the pilot understands which mode is active.
The Vision Jet is not a trainer in the real-world sense, and it should not be treated like a slower Cessna with a turbine attached. It retains energy, turbine thrust changes are not instantaneous, and its touchscreen avionics still demand preparation. The whole-aircraft parachute fitted to the real aeroplane is an emergency system, not a substitute for learning approaches and go-arounds; its simulation also varies between models.
What is Cirrus, and what is the Vision Jet?
Cirrus Aircraft is the manufacturer, while the SF50 Vision Jet is its single-engine very light jet. “Vision Jet”, “SF50” and “Vision Jet G2” therefore describe an aircraft family and generation, not a generic class of simulator jet.
That distinction matters when following a checklist or tutorial. A first-generation SF50, a G2 and different simulator add-ons may have different avionics, autothrottle functions and system depth.
Is the Vision Jet available in MSFS 2024 and MSFS 2020?
The Cirrus Vision Jet G2 is included in the standard Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 aircraft roster, while MSFS 2020 requires a separately acquired Vision Jet add-on. The Cessna Citation CJ4 is included with both simulator generations.
| Simulator | Vision Jet availability | Citation CJ4 availability | Platform point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Vision Jet G2 is part of the standard aircraft roster | Included | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Not a base-simulator aircraft; a separate add-on is required | Included | PC and Xbox only; MSFS 2020 was never released for PlayStation |
| X-Plane or another general simulator | Depends on the installed aircraft package | Depends on the installed aircraft package | Check the exact model rather than assuming MSFS features carry across |
If an expected aircraft is missing, check the simulator's aircraft-content and entitlement listings before troubleshooting cockpit systems. Add-on ownership, compatibility and availability can differ between simulator generations and platforms.
Is the Vision Jet the easiest plane to fly in MSFS 2024?
No: the Vision Jet is the easiest approachable jet in MSFS 2024, but a Cessna 152 or 172 is easier for a complete beginner. Piston trainers fly more slowly, need less descent planning and give the pilot longer to recognise and correct a mistake.
Start with the Vision Jet if you can already take off, trim, fly a circuit and control speed on approach. If those tasks remain difficult, first learn the specific handling skills a Cessna 172 teaches. Our explanation of when a beginner should move from propeller aircraft to jets covers the transition without repeating the full training syllabus here.
Vision Jet or Cessna Citation CJ4: which should a beginner choose?
Choose the Vision Jet for the easiest civil-jet introduction and the Citation CJ4 when you are ready to manage more speed, two engines and manual thrust.
| Aircraft | Choose it when | What it teaches | Main beginner trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus Vision Jet | You want the least intimidating first civil jet | Turbine handling, glass avionics, automation and jet energy management | Assuming selected speed means the autothrottle is active |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | You want a realistic step towards business-jet operations | Twin-engine management, faster descents, FMS work and manual thrust control | Expecting autothrottle or beginning the descent too late |
| Airbus A320neo | Your specific goal is learning airline procedures | Managed automation, airline workflows and mode awareness | Using automation to conceal weak speed and pitch control |
| L-39-type jet trainer | You want manual military-style jet handling | Basic subsonic jet control with less civil FMS work | Learning systems that transfer poorly to modern civil IFR flying |
A broader comparison of approachable Microsoft Flight Simulator business jets can help once the Vision Jet and CJ4 are no longer your only candidates.
Does the Cessna Citation CJ4 have autothrottle in MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024?
No. The standard Cessna Citation CJ4 workflow in MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 requires the pilot to move the thrust levers manually. The engines have FADEC, and the avionics can provide thrust guidance, but neither feature is an autothrottle.
In flight-level-change mode, the autopilot can adjust pitch to maintain a selected airspeed. It does not move the thrust levers: more thrust generally produces a greater climb rate, while reducing thrust controls the descent. A generic simulator binding labelled for autothrottle does not add equipment that the simulated CJ4 lacks.
This is a common source of unexpected acceleration. After take-off, set the appropriate climb thrust rather than leaving take-off power applied. During descent, reduce thrust early and monitor both indicated airspeed and the flight-mode annunciator. A differently designated add-on or aircraft generation may vary, so the exact cockpit controls and supplied checklist remain authoritative.
Do you need a dedicated jet flight simulator?
No dedicated jet flight simulator is required. Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane and comparable civilian simulators can all support useful jet practice when the chosen aircraft has credible handling, working avionics and documentation appropriate to that specific model.
Aircraft quality matters more than the word “jet” in the simulator's description. If the software decision comes first, compare simulators with suitable training features and beginner aircraft before choosing a complex add-on.
How should you practise your first jet flight?
A short flight in predictable conditions teaches more than an ambitious route filled with unfamiliar procedures. Use the aircraft's own checklist and add complexity only after basic speed control becomes reliable.
- Check the controls: calibrate pitch, roll, rudder and throttle axes, then remove duplicate throttle assignments. Conflicting controller bindings often cause unexplained power changes.
- Begin with the engines running: learn handling and automation before adding a cold-and-dark start. Start-up procedures can come later without weakening the flying lesson.
- Choose simple conditions: use daylight, light wind, clear weather, moderate fuel and a long runway. Disable random failures while learning normal operation.
- Use model-specific speeds: take rotation, flap, gear and approach limits from the checklist supplied with that aircraft. Do not copy numbers from a different SF50 or CJ4 implementation.
- Hand-fly first: practise take-off, climb, level flight, turns and configuration changes. Engage the autopilot only after the aircraft is trimmed and stable.
- Confirm every automatic mode: read the flight-mode annunciator after selecting NAV, altitude, vertical navigation or autothrottle. An armed mode is waiting to capture; it is not necessarily controlling the aircraft yet.
- Plan the descent early: a useful starting estimate is roughly three nautical miles for each 1,000 feet to lose, plus distance for deceleration and configuration. Go around if the resulting approach is not stable.
Why will the jet not slow down or follow the flight plan?
Most first-jet problems come from excess energy, an incorrect navigation source or an automation mode that was armed but never captured.
- The aircraft remains high and fast: reduce thrust sooner and, if necessary, level temporarily to decelerate. Use speed brakes, flaps and landing gear only within the limits shown for the model.
- The Vision Jet ignores selected speed: confirm that autothrottle is fitted, armed and shown as active. Selecting a speed alone does not guarantee automatic thrust control.
- The CJ4 keeps accelerating: move the thrust levers manually. Neither VNAV nor FADEC replaces autothrottle.
- NAV mode does not follow the route: check the active navigation source, flight-plan discontinuities, the active leg and the annunciated lateral mode.
- The aircraft porpoises after take-off: use smaller pitch inputs, trim after establishing the climb and check for duplicated axes or excessive controller sensitivity.
- The approach becomes unstable: go around rather than forcing the landing. Repeating a correctly configured approach builds better habits than rescuing a fast or steep one.
Move from the Vision Jet to the CJ4 when you can hold assigned speeds, recognise active autopilot modes, begin descents without rushing and complete a stable approach using deliberate thrust changes. An airliner becomes a sensible next aircraft after those habits no longer consume all your attention.