Always dreamt of becoming an ace pilot and seeing the world from the clouds? While Microsoft Flight Simulator can only take the player so far into that fantasy, it does its best to make the experience as realistic as a game can be. Everything from fuel capacity to real-time weather patterns is covered in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
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While actual pilots and flight sim fans might pick up the game with ease, it can be a bit of an information overload for new players. The base of the entire game is flying, and in order to do this, the player will have to select an aircraft. Microsoft Flight Simulator offers a wide variety of planes to choose from, and deluxe and premium editions give players a few extra. The planes fall into four main groups:
- Airliners
- Turboprops
- Jets
- Propellers
For a beginner, finding the right plane can be intimidating. Luckily, there are a few that are a little easier to start out with for all the game's categories.
Airbus A320neo
The Airbus A320neo is one of three airliners (assuming players have the premium edition) featured in the game. It is the smallest of the three, and is built for shorter passenger trips. This makes it the most approachable of the airliners for players who feel ready to take control of a wide, heavy plane.
The A320neo is probably the best option for a player who's looking to move onto a larger vehicle or one who wants to jump right into learning the big planes. Keep in mind as a general rule, airliners are harder to handle than the game's smaller aircraft. They lack the agility of smaller planes, but make up for this in speed and weight. The A320neo is the most well-rounded airliner, especially when compared to the Boeing airbuses in the same category
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (Premium)
In many ways, the Boeing 787's reputation precedes it. Even people who aren't invested in planes at all have heard of the 787, and it is one of the most prolific commercial airliner models. Players with the premium edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator will have access to the 787-10 Dreamliner. The Dreamliner is one of the largest planes in the game and is built for long-distance travel over oceans.
It's designed with lightweight materials to help with speed, lift, and drag. The model also conserves fuel more efficiently than either the A320neo or the other Boeing airliner featured. While unwieldy for true beginners, the Dreamliner is a good stepping stone for players learning to handle airliners, who want to take their trips even farther.
Cessna Citation CJ4
Like the airliner category, the jet category is usually not the first stop for newcomers unless they really want to learn the big planes. Flight Simulator's jets can act as a good first dive into big planes, though. New players looking to learn the airliners could start with jets first, namely the Cessna Citation CJ4. The CJ4 is a luxury jet built for small passenger counts. It's made to fly smooth and fast, despite being much larger than many of the other featured planes.
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The CJ4 also comes with good air brakes and a landing gear that's optimized to be smooth. While still harder to learn than the small one-seaters or two-seaters in the game, the CJ4 is a good choice for new players looking to hop right into large planes.
Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX
Turboprops fill the space of medium-sized, moderate-difficulty planes. Because these planes aren't running off of jet engines, they will handle a lot differently than the jets or airliners. They are usually larger than the standard propeller planes though, so they can act as a bridge for players who've learned prop planes and want to get into bigger ones. Rhe Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan is a good starter in the turboprop category.
The 208 B offers players a single-engine design. There's more than enough power to make it off the ground easily, but it won't feel like moving a colossus like the airliners or jets. The plane is simple to learn and can be a great starting point for new players learning takeoffs and landings.
Robin Cap 10
Looking for an agile plane with "stunt pilot" written all over it? Look no further than the Robin Cap 10. This small two-seater prop plane is straight out of an American airshow and offers players a unique feel compared to other planes in the game. It's fast and light, needing small adjustments for big maneuvers. This is a bit of a double-edged sword though, as players can easily send themselves plummeting out of the sky with the plane's touchy controls.
New players who want a zippy small plane should definitely consider picking up the Robin Cap 10. It's designed for tricks and impressive aerial moves, so feel free to experiment and don't be afraid to push it to the limits. After all, the best way to learn is through mistakes, and luckily there aren't any real lives or planes at stake with the simulator!
Zlin Aviation Savage Club
Landing can be one of the most intimidating parts of flight to learn. Players might master takeoff and aerial movement, but there's something about barreling towards a stretch of seemingly endless tarmac that just shakes players up. While it is crucial to learn how to land on runways, Microsoft Flight Simulator offers players plenty of bush planes to choose from. These planes can land almost anywhere and are perfect for safaris in remote areas.
The Zlin Aviation Savage Club has a lightweight design built towards making takeoff and landing easier. It is small and mobile, allowing it to land in tight places should things in the air start to head South. Players shouldn't even feel bad about landing it in a field; as the plane's in-game description says, "Runways are only an option…"
ICON A5
The ICON A5 has a unique look to it. Resembling an RC plane with a futuristic design, the ICON A5 is one of the best beginner planes in the game. It can't travel very far thanks to its small fuel tank and limited speed, but it's one of the best planes for learning takeoff and landing.
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The ICON A5 needs much less distance to stop and take off on a runway. This is in part because of how it is designed, but mostly thanks to its light weight. It is also available to all players, no matter the edition they own.
Shock Ultra (Premium)
The Shock Ultra is the king of bush planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its big tires and compact design make it perfect for landing everywhere and anywhere. Players flying in extreme environments shouldn't fret — the Shock Ultra can be customized with skis or floats in replacement of tires, allowing safe landing in snow or water. It should be noted that landing in snow or water takes an entirely different skillset, so be careful!
Unfortunately, the Shock Ultra is only available to players who cough up the extra money. If owned though, the Shock Ultra is a perfect starter plane.
Pipstrel Virus SW121 (Premium)
When it comes to training vehicles, players can't do any better than the Pipstrel Virus SW121. The in-game descriptor even calls the plane a training plane. It's loaded with safety features and is built to be easy to understand and learn. This plane is perfect for learning the movements needed for just about all parts of a flight. Takeoff, aerial flight, and landing are all easier to learn with the SW121.
Once again though, this plane isn't available for everyone. If players are having a lot of trouble learning the game but want to continue, it may be worth the extra payment, but this is by no means the only plane for beginners. Players shouldn't feel forced to purchase extra content for one training plane.
Cessna 152 Aerobat
The best all-around learning plane is, without a doubt, the Cessna 152 Aerobat. Available to all players, this highly customizable plane offers a compact, fast, and durable package that can withstand mistakes in the air.
Players won't be crossing oceans in this little prop plane, but new players will learn the ropes easily with it. This is the perfect plane for sightseeing or just learning good in-air movement. The 152 has already helped many players learn the fundamentals of flight, and its simple easy-to-use design ensures that it will keep teaching for as long as the game is played.
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