Hello Captains, and welcome back!
I’m truly honored you’ve stopped by. Today, I want to share a thoughtful email I received from Michael, a newcomer to the world of flight simulation. His question is one many of us have asked at some point, and I think it’s worth exploring together.
Michael writes:
Hello Jerry,
I’m new to flight simulation. While I’ve known about it for some time, I just purchased Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and have been flying around my hometown near Atlanta. I enjoy my time in the sim, but I’m curious how others—like yourself—manage to get more out of it. You’ve spent decades enjoying this and often refer to it as a hobby. My wife says I get bored easily and have a short attention span. I’m retired and would love to better understand what truly excites you about this game. Thanks for your time—I look forward to hearing from you soon.
—Michael
Michael, I hear you—and I can absolutely relate.
Back in the 1980s, when I first dipped my toes into flight simulation on the Commodore 64, I’d often lose interest after a few flights. We had just a handful of airports and one aircraft to choose from. But as the sim world expanded, my buddy and I began simulating passenger and cargo flights between airports, tracking our hours on paper to see who could log the most time each week. That was my first taste of a “virtual airline”—long before the internet made it official.
Finding Purpose in the Sim
One of the best ways to stay engaged is to give your flying a sense of purpose. Here are a few tried-and-true ideas:
Join a Virtual Airline (VA)
- VAs simulate real-world airline operations and offer structure, community, and progression.
- Most require 1–2 flights per month to stay active.
- You’ll typically start as a First Officer, with access to certain aircraft based on rank.
- Since you’re near Atlanta, Delta Virtual might be a natural fit—but ATL is a hub for many airlines, so the sky’s the limit.
- VAs are a great way to meet fellow simmers and share your journey.
Try Career Mode Add-ons
If a VA feels too structured, career mode add-ons offer flexibility with purpose:
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- A Pilot’s Life and Fly The Line are my current favorites.
- These tools simulate pilot careers, assign flights, track progress, and add a layer of realism that keeps things fresh.
️ Enhance ATC with Add-ons
Default ATC has come a long way, but third-party tools take it to the next level:
- BeyondATC and SayIntentions.AI offer immersive, dynamic ATC experiences.
- I personally use BeyondATC—it fits my budget and integrates well with career mode tools.
- SayIntentions supports both IFR and VFR; BeyondATC currently focuses on IFR, with VFR in development.
Plan an Around-the-World Adventure
This is one of my favorite long-term challenges:
- Fly a general aviation aircraft around the globe, landing in all 245 countries.
- Use Volanta to track your journey and keep a visual log.
- For added immersion, try the A2A Piper Comanche—it’s a joy to fly but demands care and attention, or you’ll “break” the aircraft.
Final Thoughts
Flight simulation is one of those hobbies that gives back what you put into it—tenfold. Whether you’re flying for a virtual airline, building a pilot career, or chasing the horizon in a GA aircraft, there’s always something new to explore.
Michael, I hope these ideas help you find your rhythm in the sim. And to everyone reading—I’d love to hear how you stay engaged and get the most out of this incredible hobby.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!
—Jerry