What Should I do first in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

If you’re new to flight simulation, start by exploring the world of aviation through Discovery Flights. You can find these by selecting “Activities” from the main menu and then choosing “Discovery Flights”. These experiences begin with you already airborne, allowing you to enjoy the thrill of flying while visiting iconic locations such as the Pyramids of Giza, Yosemite National Park, and Mount Everest.

Next, head to the in-sim training lessons by selecting “Flight Training” from the main menu. With virtual instructor Jess, you’ll learn the basics of flying a Cessna 152, a popular training aircraft. Lessons cover essential skills such as taxiing, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, navigation, and landing.

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, jump into Free Flight mode from the World Map. Here, you can choose from a variety of aircraft — including gliders, helicopters, airliners, and military jets — and explore the stunning, highly detailed world of MSFS at your own pace.

In MSFS 2024, you can now embark on a full virtual aviation career! Just like real-world pilots, you’ll start by completing beginner training and earning your Private Pilot License (PPL). From there, you can advance your aviation skills by obtaining additional certifications and ratings, including:

• Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

• Instrument Rating (IFR)

• Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)

• Helicopter Pilot Ratings

As you progress, you’ll unlock opportunities to complete real-world-inspired aviation missions, such as:

• Aerial Firefighting

• VIP Charter Service

• Aerial advertising

• Mountain Rescue

• Search and Rescue

• Air Ambulance

• Aerial Construction

• Helicopter Cargo

• Agricultural Aviation

• Passenger Transport

• Remote Cargo Ops

Love virtual photography? World Photographer Mode tasks you with flying to iconic locations and capturing stunning images of landmarks and wildlife under specific conditions. For example, you may need to photograph the Sydney Opera House with the Harbour Bridge in the background while a seaplane floats on the water. With hundreds of photography challenges to complete, this mode offers a unique and creative way to explore the world!

Once you have gotten the hang of flying, try competing against other pilots! For competitive pilots, the Challenge League offers weekly skill-based challenges (each lasting 3–5 minutes) where you’ll compete against 14 other players. Perform well to advance through ranked tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond), but be careful—lower-ranked players will be relegated to the previous tier!

You can also try your hand at the brand new Red Bull Air Races! The mode offers four difficulty levels (Novice, Intermediate, Expert, and “True to Life”) — scaling from easier, forgiving races to realistic courses with full real-world rules. It includes authentic race procedures: smoke trails, a 200-knot entry limit, strict gate-passing rules (height/bank-angle/knife-edge/vertical turns), and penalty mechanics for mistakes like gate strikes, over-G-loads, or incorrect entry. Compete in timed courses to beat others on the leaderboard.