Learn how to fly Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: set controls, choose a trainer, complete your first take-off and landing, and fix common mistakes.
Start Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with Flight Training or a short Free Flight in a Cessna 172, using clear daytime weather and a long runway. Learn pitch, roll, rudder and throttle first; practise straight-and-level flight, gentle turns, take-off and landing before trying airliners, live weather or Career Mode.
What aircraft and mode should a beginner choose?
A light, single-engine trainer in Flight Training or Free Flight is the best starting point. The Cessna 152 and 172 are stable, slow enough to let you think ahead and far less demanding than an airliner or fast jet.
Use Flight Training to learn individual skills, then repeat them in Free Flight without prompts. Pick a wide runway near sea level, start on the runway with the engine running, and select clear skies, daylight and little or no wind. This removes weather, taxiing and engine-start procedures from the first lesson.
Which controls do I need for MSFS 2024?
A gamepad or joystick is enough to learn Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, although a joystick gives finer control around the centre position. A keyboard is useful for secondary commands but is awkward for manually controlling pitch and roll.
| Control method | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Gamepad | Accessible flying on PC or console | Short stick travel makes over-controlling easy |
| Joystick with twist grip | Best balance for a new simmer | Needs desk space and initial configuration |
| Yoke and pedals | More realistic general-aviation control | More equipment than a beginner needs |
| Keyboard and mouse | Cockpit switches, views and occasional commands | Poor precision for primary flight controls |
Check that pitch, roll, rudder and throttle respond in the correct direction before taking off. Bind brakes, elevator trim, flaps and view controls as well. Our reference for essential MSFS 2024 keyboard commands covers the useful defaults.
A mistake we see constantly is the same axis assigned to two devices. If the aircraft twitches or the throttle moves by itself, remove duplicate bindings and increase the affected axis dead zone only enough to stop physical controller drift.
How do I complete my first flight?
For a first flight, concentrate on controlling airspeed and attitude rather than operating every cockpit system.
- Prepare the conditions. Choose a Cessna 172, clear daytime weather, calm wind and a runway start. Leave navigation and radio work for later.
- Check the aircraft. Centre the elevator trim, set flaps according to the cockpit checklist and release the parking brake. Move each control and confirm that the cockpit surfaces or control indicators respond correctly.
- Take off smoothly. Apply full power progressively, keep the aircraft on the centreline with rudder and make small corrections. In a typical Cessna 172, raise the nose gently at about 55 KIAS and climb near 75 KIAS; these figures do not apply to every aircraft. Our full beginner take-off sequence explains runway alignment, rotation and the initial climb.
- Level off and trim. Lower the nose as the aircraft reaches the chosen altitude, reduce power and use small trim inputs until it holds the attitude without constant pressure. Trim relieves control force; it is not a substitute for moving the elevator.
- Practise basic manoeuvres. Hold a point on the horizon, make gentle turns at roughly 15–20 degrees of bank and practise climbing and descending. Look outside as well as at the instruments.
- Fly a simple circuit and land. Use roughly 1,000 feet above the airport unless local procedures specify otherwise. Slow down before extending flaps, aim for a stable final approach around 65 KIAS in the Cessna 172 and make a small flare just above the runway. Follow our guidance on stabilising the approach, flare and go-around rather than trying to rescue a poor landing.
The quoted speeds are useful starting points for the Cessna 172 only. Change aircraft and you must use its checklist or cockpit speed references.
Which assistance settings should a beginner use?
Keep guidance that explains the flight, but reduce assistance that flies the aircraft for you. Checklist help, taxi guidance and instrument labels can reduce workload; AI piloting and assisted take-off or landing can mask control mistakes or fight your inputs.
Assisted rudder is reasonable if you have no twist grip, pedals or analogue rudder control. Turn it off once you can keep the aircraft near the runway centreline yourself. Leave live weather and strong turbulence disabled until you can hold heading, altitude and airspeed in calm conditions.
Why does the aircraft veer, stall or refuse to climb?
Most first-flight problems come from excessive control input, an incorrect binding or poor airspeed control rather than a simulator fault.
- It veers during take-off: use rudder rather than aileron to steer along the runway. Check for crosswind, a dragging brake, rudder-axis drift or two devices controlling the same axis.
- It will not accelerate or rotate: release the parking brake, verify full throttle, check trim and flap position, and make sure the aircraft is not overloaded. Use our take-off troubleshooting checklist if it remains stuck to the runway.
- It stalls after lift-off: you have probably raised the nose too far. Lower it enough to regain airspeed, keep the wings level and apply full power.
- It pitches up and down repeatedly: make smaller inputs, let the aircraft settle and then trim away the remaining pressure. Chasing every instrument movement makes the oscillation worse.
- It appears to fly itself: disconnect the autopilot and AI pilot, review assistance options and remove duplicated axes.
- It bounces on landing: do not force the nose down. Hold a controlled attitude or apply full power and go around if the bounce is severe.
When should I try Career Mode or airliners?
Move on when you can take off, trim for level flight, make controlled turns, fly a stable approach and go around without relying on automated piloting. A useful target is holding heading within about 10 degrees and altitude within roughly 200 feet in calm weather.
Career Mode can be started earlier, but its missions add objectives and procedural workload. Airliners add flight management, automation, higher speeds and longer stopping distances, so learn the basic visual circuit in a trainer first.