How do you fly a complete flight in MSFS 2020?

To fly a complete flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, choose a simple aircraft and short route, create a flight plan, configure fuel and weather, start the engine, taxi, take off, follow the route, descend, land, taxi to parking, and shut the aircraft down. Use assistance initially, then reduce it.

Choose a simple aircraft and short route

The easiest first complete flight is a 30–60 nautical mile daytime trip in the Cessna 172 G1000, using clear weather and light wind. Pick airports in relatively flat terrain, preferably with long runways and uncomplicated taxiways.

Select a parking position as your departure rather than the runway. Starting on the runway loads the aircraft ready for take-off, skipping the cold start and outbound taxi that make this a genuinely complete flight.

Enable the taxi ribbon and checklist assistance if needed, but disable AI piloting and assisted take-off or landing if you want full control. If basic control, trimming or circuit work is still difficult, complete the built-in lessons covering take-off, aircraft control and landing first.

How do I plan the flight in MSFS 2020?

Build a simple VFR (Direct - GPS) route on the World Map, selecting your aircraft, departure parking position and destination airport. Choose a cruising altitude that safely clears the terrain, then load enough fuel for the flight plus a sensible reserve.

Check the Nav Log before entering the cockpit, particularly the route distance, expected heading and cruising altitude. Our World Map flight-planning walkthrough explains route creation, procedures and cockpit verification without turning this first flight into a complex IFR exercise.

Complete MSFS 2020 flight step by step

A full flight follows the same broad sequence in any aircraft, although speeds, engine controls and shutdown procedures vary.

1. Check the controls and conditions. Confirm that the yoke or stick, rudder, throttle, brakes and cockpit-view controls respond correctly. Review fuel, payload, weather and runway information before moving.
2. Verify the loaded route. In the Cessna 172 G1000, the flight plan should contain the departure, destination and any intermediate waypoints. Confirm that the GPS map shows the intended route rather than assuming the World Map plan transferred correctly.
3. Start the aircraft. Follow the built-in cockpit checklist. For a normally aspirated piston aircraft at low elevation, this generally covers the fuel selector, mixture, electrical system, beacon, engine start and avionics; high-elevation starts may require different mixture handling.
4. Request taxi and leave the stand. Release the parking brake only after receiving or selecting the appropriate taxi instruction. Taxi slowly, steer with rudder or tiller inputs, test the brakes early and stop before the runway hold line.
5. Complete the take-off checks. Set trim and flaps as specified by the aircraft checklist, check the flight controls and instruments, then obtain take-off clearance or announce your departure. Apply power smoothly, hold the centreline and rotate at the aircraft's stated speed—roughly 55 KIAS for a normally loaded Cessna 172, though weight and variant matter.
6. Climb and join the route. Establish the recommended climb speed, retract flaps when appropriate and turn towards the first active leg. Trim out control pressure instead of holding the yoke continuously.
7. Cruise and monitor progress. Level at the planned altitude, reduce to an appropriate cruise-power setting and correct for wind. You can hand-fly or use the autopilot, while the VFR map provides a simple position and route check.
8. Prepare the arrival early. Obtain the destination weather, identify the landing runway and calculate when to descend. Review the airport elevation, pattern altitude and expected taxi route before reaching the airfield.
9. Approach and land. Reduce speed in stages, extend flaps only below their limiting speeds and establish a stable final approach. Flare, touch down, brake as required and go around rather than trying to rescue a fast, high or badly aligned approach. See our practical guidance on rotation, approach, flare and go-arounds for the detailed technique.
10. Taxi in and shut down. Clear the runway completely, stop beyond the hold line, retract the flaps and request taxi to parking. At the stand, set the parking brake and complete the aircraft's shutdown checklist.

Why doesn't the aircraft follow the magenta route?

A loaded route provides navigation guidance; it does not steer the aircraft automatically.

• Wrong navigation source: on the G1000, the CDI should normally indicate GPS in magenta for a GPS route, not VLOC in green.
• Wrong autopilot mode: heading mode follows the selected heading bug. The aircraft needs the correct active leg and NAV mode to capture a GPS course.
• No intercept: the autopilot may not capture a route behind the aircraft or far off to one side. Hand-fly an intercept heading first.
• Incorrect active leg: confirm that the highlighted leg leads towards the next waypoint rather than back to the departure airport.
• AI assistance is active: an AI pilot or assisted control setting can oppose your inputs or change the planned route.

A mistake we see constantly is engaging the autopilot immediately after take-off and expecting it to find the route by itself. Stabilise the climb, verify the navigation source and intercept the active course before selecting navigation mode.

When should I start descending?

For a gentle three-degree descent, begin roughly three nautical miles before the destination for every 1,000 feet that must be lost, then add several miles for slowing down and joining the circuit.

For example, descending 4,000 feet requires about 12 nautical miles for the descent alone. Add another 5–10 miles to reduce speed and position the aircraft, especially if you are unfamiliar with the airport.

Remember that the altimeter shows altitude above mean sea level, while circuit height is commonly described above ground level. If an airport sits at 1,500 feet and its circuit is 1,000 feet above the field, the target circuit altitude is about 2,500 feet indicated, subject to local published procedures.

What counts as completing the flight?

A complete flight ends after landing, clearing the runway, taxiing to parking and shutting down—not at touchdown.

For a piston aircraft, the parking sequence normally includes setting the brake, switching off unnecessary electrical loads and avionics, stopping the engine with the mixture, then turning off the ignition, lights and master switch. Turbine aircraft use a different shutdown sequence, so follow their checklist rather than copying piston-aircraft steps.

MSFS 2020 may display an end-of-flight or logbook screen after shutdown, depending on the aircraft and assistance settings. If it does not, remain parked and complete the shutdown before returning to the main menu; quitting immediately after touchdown omits the final phase of the flight.