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For software, you're looking at, in no particular order: - X-Plane 12 - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024 - Prepar3d (fork of Flight Simulator X) -

For software, you're looking at, in no particular order: - X-Plane 12 - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024 - Prepar3d (fork of Flight Simulator X) - FlightGear (free, open-source) - Digital Combat Simulator World (aka DCS World, combat flight simulation; specialises in jet fighters) - Orbiter 2016 (space flight simulator; also free) Modern flight simulators today are generally quite intensive on hardware—especially the CPU—even at low rendering settings. The article is a great example; all of these calculations are fully CPU-bound. It is strongly recommended to get a high-frequency, high-core-count, large-cache CPU—this is probably any of the 3D V-cache Ryzens (5800X3D, 7800X3D, 9800X3D). A _decent_ GPU is recommended for graphics eye candy, but not strictly necessary for accurate flight simulation if you're happy to turn the graphics knobs down (although I've heard that FS2024 has offloaded some weather and physics calculations to the GPU; don't quote me). For simulation hardware, you can't go wrong with a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick which is fairly inexpensive new (https://www.logitechg.com/en-gb/products/space/extreme-3d-pro-joystick.html https://www.logitechg.com/en-gb/products/space/extreme-3d-pr...), although you can actually still use mouse + keyboard if you're more interested in simulating the systems and procedures of jet airliners. Tutorials: I do believe the game simulators have built-in tutorials, though it's been a while since I've followed any of them. Searching for '<flight simulator> Cessna 172 VFR tutorial' is a decent place to start. For a more structured work-through, PilotEdge (a virtual ATC network) has some: https://www.pilotedge.net/workshops https://www.pilotedge.net/workshops Speaking of virtual ATC, at some point you'll get bored of being the only person simulating. All the game simulators have a multiplayer option, but if you want to get serious with the role-playing, VATSIM is a great place to start and has worldwide coverage, depending on when ATC providers log on. I've found that European ATC is generally online on weekday evenings UTC, and American ATC is generally online on Saturday mornings (UTC) and at the weekends. PilotEdge has more limited, but more round-the-clock coverage, and is a paid network, and takes the seriousness and realism to the next level.

wkat4242 2y ago
Vatsim is a great place to start if you're very serious about your radio protocol. Don't expect them to take you by the hand and teach you. They expect you to know what you're doing. They don't have any time for people who are just there for a chat. It's a pretty serious sim community. Nothing bad about that but if you're just messing around and hoping to say hi to some other people it doesn't really go down well there.
- Macha 2y ago
  > Vatsim is a great place to start if you're very serious about your radio protocol > They expect you to know what you're doing. These two statements are a little contradictory. Definitely VATSIM is not a place to start, they expect you to know how to operate in ATC and even just operating your plane is a significant hurdle in the beginning which you need to get over before going to VATSIM.
  - wkat4242 2y ago
    Yeah the place to start thing was something that the OP said. I intended to put that into perspective by adding some ifs and buts. But yeah to be honest vatsim is not a good starting point at all. Totally agreed there. I just didn't want to sound negative. Especially because I don't think it's a negative thing at all. They're just people that are very serious about simming and there's nothing bad about that. And yeah controlling the plane is the first thing to learn. If you can't maintain altitude or a vector I'm sure they'll call you out just like a real ATC would. When I learned to fly the comms part would stress me out because it was distracting. So usually the instructor would handle it. I was lucky to learn at a controlled airport so I would spend the day between flights just listening. I even had an air band receiver in the car :)
lars_francke 2y ago
Thank you! Yeah, I'm mostly looking for someone to hold my hand. The limited amount of time I have I'd love to actually learn and play and not search for the "best tutorial for XYZ". So anything with a guided path is perfect. I do have an old Saitek Cyborg Evo, not sure if it still works) so I'll try that first.
- marsovo 2y ago
  FSacademy has lesson packs that I've found pretty good for Microsoft Flight simulator. Though they are not super US-centric. The built-in lessons are decent for the basics. The older flight simulator lessons with Rod Machado were much, much better. I had picked up FSX on Steam for cheap during some sale, and they are available digitally there. I've still used that for reference, and even though they obviously don't integrate interactively with the new Microsoft Flight simulator, you can still use them as ideas to practice skills. If you decide to get serious about it, bite the bullet and get rudder pedals. In my opinion adding feet coordination is a much bigger adjustment than yoke versus stick or a fancier stick. Also VR is truly a game changer. It requires beefy hardware and will ratchet up the cost, but it will seem downright cheap compared to real flight time.

wkat4242 2y ago

Vatsim is a great place to start if you're very serious about your radio protocol. Don't expect them to take you by the hand and teach you. They expect you to know what you're doing. They don't have any time for people who are just there for a chat. It's a pretty serious sim community. Nothing bad about that but if you're just messing around and hoping to say hi to some other people it doesn't really go down well there.

Macha 2y ago
> Vatsim is a great place to start if you're very serious about your radio protocol > They expect you to know what you're doing. These two statements are a little contradictory. Definitely VATSIM is not a place to start, they expect you to know how to operate in ATC and even just operating your plane is a significant hurdle in the beginning which you need to get over before going to VATSIM.
- wkat4242 2y ago
  Yeah the place to start thing was something that the OP said. I intended to put that into perspective by adding some ifs and buts. But yeah to be honest vatsim is not a good starting point at all. Totally agreed there. I just didn't want to sound negative. Especially because I don't think it's a negative thing at all. They're just people that are very serious about simming and there's nothing bad about that. And yeah controlling the plane is the first thing to learn. If you can't maintain altitude or a vector I'm sure they'll call you out just like a real ATC would. When I learned to fly the comms part would stress me out because it was distracting. So usually the instructor would handle it. I was lucky to learn at a controlled airport so I would spend the day between flights just listening. I even had an air band receiver in the car :)

lars_francke 2y ago

Thank you! Yeah, I'm mostly looking for someone to hold my hand. The limited amount of time I have I'd love to actually learn and play and not search for the "best tutorial for XYZ". So anything with a guided path is perfect. I do have an old Saitek Cyborg Evo, not sure if it still works) so I'll try that first.

marsovo 2y ago
FSacademy has lesson packs that I've found pretty good for Microsoft Flight simulator. Though they are not super US-centric. The built-in lessons are decent for the basics. The older flight simulator lessons with Rod Machado were much, much better. I had picked up FSX on Steam for cheap during some sale, and they are available digitally there. I've still used that for reference, and even though they obviously don't integrate interactively with the new Microsoft Flight simulator, you can still use them as ideas to practice skills. If you decide to get serious about it, bite the bullet and get rudder pedals. In my opinion adding feet coordination is a much bigger adjustment than yoke versus stick or a fancier stick. Also VR is truly a game changer. It requires beefy hardware and will ratchet up the cost, but it will seem downright cheap compared to real flight time.