How realistic is Microsoft flight simulator 2020

[kiba99]

I've been playing flight Sims all my life and have gotten pretty good at them especially since the release of msfs2020. Each time I tell people a have a full flight sim set up they ask "so you'll be able to save us during a plane crach" and it got me thinking how realistic is smfs2020? I guess this question is for all my pilots friends but other than resistance on the controls how realistic is the mechanics of the game?

[chicagorandy]

IMHO only, not very 'true to life' realistic. But visually stunning. The loss of control feedback, spatial awareness etc are key elements to controlled real-life flight......IMHO

 

But assuming you mean pre-crash or loss of actual pilot's ability to fly the plane? A simmer would be able to recognize the gauges/screens and someone WOULD be able to talk them all the way down to the crash site.

Edited February 22, 2022 by chicagorandy

[g7rta]

Back in 2011 I had one of those “trial flights”. To say it was my first (& only) time at the controls of a real plane I took to it rather quickly. Years of flight simming certainly helped, and back then the sims were no where near as good as MSFS.

As for special awareness.. we do have that now to a degree, with VR.

 

Regards

Steve

[jrdale210]

I would go along with Steve below. Having started flying real planes in 1970 (retired 3200 hours and almost 70 different aircraft) and having instructed on real ones and now on RC planes, I tell all students whether on Flightsim or Rc planes, its just another kind of aircraft they are all different with their own characteristics. Some flightsim models are abysmal and some real planes are just plane !! dangerous.

The more types you get in the easier it becomes. Overall MSFS2020 is quite amazing.

 

I've been playing flight Sims all my life and have gotten pretty good at them especially since the release of msfs2020. Each time I tell people a have a full flight sim set up they ask "so you'll be able to save us during a plane crach" and it got me thinking how realistic is smfs2020? I guess this question is for all my pilots friends but other than resistance on the controls how realistic is the mechanics of the game?

Edited February 22, 2022 by jrdale210

[Rupert]

It seems all the airlines and many flight training schools use simulators for training a lot nowadays. I have a friend who recently retired as a 747 command pilot for DHL. He told me they use sims on a regular basis, especially when emergency action practice is considered too dangerous RW. Having said that, any sim I and probably 99% of other people in the world could afford at home isn't anywhere close to the sim he flew!

 

However, as a now disabled RW pilot I feel a lot of the things we learned by rote could have been much easier to grasp if we had simmed them with a personal sim as well. And I heartily recommend any RW pilot or student pilot try them out. I agree with Steve, home sims at least give you a taste and understanding of many terms and some procedures.

 

Even though I now can't pass a flight physical, I still sim approaches and practice other procedures based on articles in "Flying" as well the AOPA publications. I use RW weather and everything else I can use to simulate RW. It's not the real thing, but it beats not being able to "fly" at all!

 

IMO, the huge disadvantage to MSFS compared to pretty all the other home sims of the last several years including FSX for simulation reality to RW is that MSFS is limited to a single screen view format.

 

Being able to look at a center monitor with a view out the windscreen plus using additional screens to expand your side, radio, GPS, etc. views is a real advantage we had with Microsoft products as well as P3D, X Plane etc.

 

Sadly multiple screen capabilities aren't available with MSFS. I suppose VR lessens that problem as you can turn your head to see what's outside to the left, right, etc. But that's not nearly as natural as what you easily do when you drive your car or fly a RW aircraft with the flick of an eye.

 

I suggest you fly MSFS if you really like pretty scenery, it's the prettiest and most accurate scenery I've ever seen with a sim. But if you're thinking about using a home sim to help with your RW flight training I believe one of the other sims using multiple screens is a much better choice.

 

Michael

[kingnorris]

I have no desire to fly for real. It was never about realism for me, just a side hobby and “something to do.”

 

Most I gain is watching movies; I can see the pilots doing things in cockpits I’m familiar with. In real life, I’m no longer a “white knuckle” airline passenger.

 

But still, photoreal scenery in FSX and I guess MSFS (I don’t have the latter) is pretty cool to fly over my house and such.

[FrankPilot]

Absolutely no feeling in the Sim, which is a big thing, a very big thing, but otherwise pretty real. Cheers.

[Skywatcher12]

I spent 2 hours flying a Cessna 172 without ever being in a cockpit before. Everything came from FS9.

 

If I used MSFS, I probably wouldn't be here to tell you about it. lol

[Rupert]

I spent 2 hours flying a Cessna 172 without ever being in a cockpit before. Everything came from FS9.

 

If I used MSFS, I probably wouldn't be here to tell you about it. lol

 

Well said! They seem to have lost their mission! It's no longer a sim.

[N069NT]

Occasionally this topic pops up and I always reply with the same answer as someone who got his private ticket in the late 1980s long before PC based flight simulators came into homes (and PCs for that matter): If you want to see how well you can do, take an introductory flight at your nearest general aviation airport FBO (fixed based operator).

 

Do not expect anything to be close to the feel of what you are used to in a static home PC environment in front of a PC screen (or three). There is no realistic stick and rudder feeling in the PC based flight sim, specifically around how an aircraft reacts in yaw-roll (dutch) when hit by cross winds in landing for example. The good thing about PC based flight sims is that you can learn the basics of how to fly as well as navigation like VOR work as well as airspace and ATC coms. Just like we used to have to study in ground school with 1D and 2D diagram book pages while in private pilot training.

 

That said, if you find yourself doing good on challenges or whatever, chances are you'll do good in the real thing. Just do not expect to be a Top Gun prop spinner out of the gate. If you get challenged to do a 360 turn and hold altitude and succeed after the first few attempts crossing your own air wake with a satisfying bump, you are a natural!

Edited February 23, 2022 by N069NT

[Herc79]

I do think it also depends on how serious or silly one is in using the simulator too. Someone that just wants to burn up clouds at Mach 4 in an edited B-747 with damage turned off, doing vertical loops... well, I don't give much chance of survival in the real world. But... if someone really TRIES to fly it real, learns all about the systems, and does so in muliple aircraft... then yea, I think you and your new passengers at least have a CHANCE of landing without damage. But it's not a guarantee, too many factors can do pearshaped such that even very experienced real ATP pilots can't always salvage.

 

I do think there's a bit where VARIETY of sim experience could also help. Meaning, not one or two types, but lots of different types, get good at many, learn them, and that can help to adapt rapidly to a real situation.