Need advice on getting started in Microsoft Flight Simulator

[u/LukeVenable]

I bought MSFS about a week ago (playing on PS5 pro) and I also picked up the thrustmaster HOTAS 4. I'm really impressed with it so far but I'm feeling a little confused about a couple things.

First off, the controls. While the game instantly recognizes the HOTAS 4, it seems like the default control bindings are just taken from the Dual Sense controls and don't exactly match up. And a lot of important cockpit controls don't even have a binding set up, and many others feel very unintuitive. Can anyone recommend control bindings that have worked well for you?

Also, I'm finding the in-game tutorials to be a bit lacking. I have no prior experience with flight sims so I was really hoping for detailed instructions on how to properly fly. I'm referring to the "training" missions that are available in the career mode. If there are better tutorials somewhere else in the game please let me know. Or if there are any youtube tutorials that you can recommend

Also just any other tips you have for a beginner would be appreciated!

[u/OffRedFloyd]

Use the flight stick for the primary control surfaces i.e ailerons, elevators and rudder control, landing gear, brakes, parking brake. For everything else get a cheap usb mouse and physically click the buttons. It is much much better.

[u/LukeVenable → u/OffRedFloyd]

Thanks. So you find using a mouse while in VR is easy enough?

[u/OffRedFloyd → u/LukeVenable]

Yeah, as long as it is within reach. I use a next level racing sim rig with the hotas 5 on the wheel plate in front of me and a mouse on a coffee table on my right hand side. The throttle for the hotas is mounted on a shifter mount on my left. I also have a keyboard on the coffee table with a few things mapped to the bottom row of buttons but these are more plane specific controls like the APU, Engine Switches and GBox buttons for the Eurofighter for example. I find these all fairly simple to use with PSVR2.

Make a main control profile for prop planes, jets, gliders and helicopters and then name them as such. Map all the primary controls like ailerons, elevators, rudders, landing gear etc etc. Next time you jump in a Cessna 172 for example, select the prop plane control profile and then map plane specific controls for that plane only. It takes a wee while to setup and the first few times you fly each plane you will find yourself mapping or remapping things you’ve forgotten about but after half a dozen flights all your mainly used controls should be mapped and no more tweaking will be needed. It’s worth doing if you fly a lot of different types of aircraft.

With regard to the in game training, it only really teaches you the bare bones of flight. You’ll get much better stuff by going on youtube and typing in “cessna 172 beginner tutorial” and watch a few videos for whatever plane you are flying.

Aviation is a massive rabbit hole to dive down but it’s worth learning all the basic stuff and your sim experience will be better.

[u/LukeVenable → u/OffRedFloyd]

Awesome reply, thanks so much! Do you mind sharing any of the specific control bindings you use?

[u/OffRedFloyd → u/LukeVenable]

Sure, for the Hotas i have ailerons and elevators on the stick and throttle on the throttle. I have increase flaps and decrease flaps on the two small buttons on the base of the throttle. My parking brake is triangle on the throttle and my landing gear is circle on the throttle. My actual brakes are the trigger on the stick and i can bring up the EFB using square on the throttle and atc using the index finger button on the side of the stick (can’t remember what button name is).

These are my base buttons for all planes (helicopter is slightly different).

For the Keyboard i have autopilot on/off set to Z, Altitude up and down is X and C, Speed up and down is V and B and vertical speed up and down is N and M, Heading is Left and Right Arrow key but i find the mouse scroll wheel better to dial in a heading. Space bar is to cancel all autopilot. I only use the bottom row as i find it hard to locate other buttons with the headset on. A keyboard with a numberpad would probably be better.

For everything else i use the mouse to physically click switches.

I have a few plane specific controls as mentioned in my other comment but these are few and far between and can usually be clicked with the mouse.

[u/LukeVenable → u/OffRedFloyd]

You're a legend bro! Appreciate you

[u/OffRedFloyd → u/LukeVenable]

No worries :) you’ll find your own mappings eventually based on what you’re flying most and what functions you use most. The mapping will become more intuitive the more you fly basically. Happy flying pilot!

[u/em7924]

You can map out the HOTAS bindings any way you want. The dualsense controller is really good to use as well. There's a bunch of YouTube channels with good tutorials on getting started and learning the basics. You can get started by checking out tutorials from these YouTubers:

SimHangar Flight Simulation

Johnathan Beckett

Huddison

Squirrel

** With the PSVR2, the dualsense is the best to use. But, if you're going to use the HOTAS, use should also keep the dualsense or a connected mouse close by. This way it'll be easier to navigate the menu and the cockpit dials.

• Also, in the settings, make sure you don't overwrite the default settings. Just duplicate the default settings. Rename it and apply the changes to that new profile.

[u/AscendiSky → u/em7924]

Since Sim Update 6 there is a new 'precision' mode for turning knobs and dials. Using the VR controller. Instead of pointing and turning your hand (you can still do that). Instead you point at the knob then press the grip and, at the same time, press the up or down button (Circle or X). This will move the knob in precise increments or decrement. Grip squeeze + O or X

[u/em7924 → u/AscendiSky]

Nice. I never tried using the sense controllers. I've always liked the dualsense better. Maybe I'll try it this weekend

[u/AscendiSky → u/em7924]

How do you fly in VR? With the dualsense?

[u/InfiniteStates]

Yeah it took me a while to get the HOTAS set up, and you’ll need to keep the regular controller nearby as you can’t do everything on HOTAS. Especially walking around outside your aircraft

You’ll definitely want the time speed up and down mapped to something easily accessible

I found the lessons it gave on the run ups to the licenses pretty good. Especially in the early stages

[u/Opening_Engineer_589]

I’m not sure maybe ask a pilot

[u/IAmSuperNew]

I don’t have a HOTAS, so can’t help there.

MSFS has a steep initial learning curve. Stick to flying the Cessna 172 till you can perfectly fly it and takeoff and land from any airport. Always start the plane from a cold start. This way you know what button does what and where is located.

The in-game tutorials are minimal, but there are many excellent tutorials on YouTube. Search for “MSFS 2024 Cessna 172”. And watch the top rated tutorials. Try to recreate the flights you see in them. Avoid crosswind landings till you’ve mastered normal landings (you can set the weather in the game)

Flying is difficult. And it’s not just about controlling the plane but also about procedures, patterns and physics. Similar to how driving a car is about both controlling the vehicle and following traffic rules. So be prepared to spend a lot of time googling aviation terms.

The game being a simulator leaves it pretty much up to you to figure things out. You will need to fly for 10s of hours and perform dozens of landings till you get a hang of it. It’s actually way easier in VR compared to playing on a flat screen.