Microsoft Flight Simulator for Real-World Pilots

What is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020? 

FS2020 is the latest incarnation of a computer flight simulation product that dates back to 1982. Back then, IBM compatible personal computers were still in nappies. Some say they still should be, given the amount of crap that comes out of them when least expected. While Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 might have been advanced for its day, it is quite laughable in comparison to what has been available in the last few years. Back then, graphics were very basic, and functionality was extremely limited. 

Until 2020, the most recent version of the Microsoft flight simulator was known as FSX. That was released way back in 2006, has not been maintained by Microsoft, and as a result is well past its use-by date. Due to the lack of any updates from Microsoft, it has been surpassed by most other flight sim offerings in the market. 

Photorealism 

There have been numerous computer games released in recent times that provide exceptional graphical experiences. Photorealism is a word often used to describe these games, as the visual experience they provide approaches that of watching high quality TV or DVD programs. 

By comparison, FSX and most other home flight sim programs in their standard state provide scenery that resembles the artwork produced by a seriously untalented five-year-old. 

Quantum leap 

FS2020 is, reportedly, a quantum leap in terms of the visual experience. Instead of using standard ‘rubber stamp’ images for buildings and landscapes, FS2020 is moving towards using actual visual imagery, at least in some locations, as captured by Bing Maps. This is combined with actual data sourced from the OpenStreetMap project to create the 3D images of buildings. An infamous glitch in this system was the 212-floor building that appeared in the northern suburbs of Melbourne in the first release of FS2020. This was caused by a data error in the source mapping database that should have read “2” instead of “212”. 

FS2020 is still very much a work in progress, but the potential is enormous when compared with what has come before it. Already third-party developers have released addons that will enhance the experience. For example, well-known Australian flight simulator development business Orbx has released an upgrade that replaces 28,000 generic buildings in Sydney with more realistic versions. Apparently, that includes replacing the bare-bones Harbour Bridge with something more recognisable. 

Sure, the initial release has a few problems. In fact, for some features it is a backward step. But at least this time it seems that the developers are interested in continuing to improve the product, and third-party developers are already on board to add their own variety of spice into the mix. 

Product details 

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 comes in three flavours, ranging in price from $99.95 to $179.95, and even more for the Physical Edition on 10 DVDs. For full details check out the Microsoft Flight Simulator website at Microsoft.com. But that is only a minor part of the overall cost of setting up a home flight simulator. 

As most people would know, flight sims are very demanding when it comes to hardware. The average office PC will not have enough resources to even load FS2020, much less run it at full capacity. While a less-capable machine will run the product, it may not be enough to provide a useful experience. 

Should you even bother? 

The first question most pilots ask about flight sims is “what benefit, if any, are they to me?” Great question, glad you asked. 

In the landscape that is 2020 (and probably beyond), participating in both commercial and recreational aviation may not be as easy as in the good old days. For these pilots, maintaining – or even enhancing – their skills by using a flight simulator may be a valid option. But as usual, conditions apply. 

When it comes to flight simulators, we believe in general that gamers want ‘pretty’ and real pilots want ‘practical’. It may be appropriate for gamers to demand the best graphics to provide the ultimate (for now) immersive gaming experience. But for real world pilots, the focus is (or should be) on flying the aircraft in the most true-to-life manner possible rather than looking at the lovely scenery. 

So, what will the real-world pilot need to do to gain some practical training benefit from FS2020? 

From what we have seen so far, we believe that most ‘experts’ are approaching the subject from the wrong angle, at least as far as real-world pilots are concerned. With FS2020, we often hear the advice that to get the best results you need to buy the best hardware you can afford. 

We think that choosing the PC components first is missing the most critical step of the whole process. In fact, it may lead to lower quality outcomes in many cases. We believe that the second question should not be “What PC specs do I need?”, but rather “How much physical room do I have available?” Before we can explain the reasoning for this, we need to discuss a few other issues. 

The basic setup 

We think that the typical home flight simulator may be useful for real world pilots IF a few basic conditions are met. 

Firstly, a proper yoke, rudder pedals and a throttle quadrant are essential. These will ensure that your muscle memory will not be modified, or bad habits developed. Perhaps a joystick could be used in place of the yoke if that applies to the type of real aircraft you usually fly, although in our experience moving between these in the real world is rarely an issue. Certain options that short-circuit basic skills such as auto-rudder and ignoring crashes and airframe overloads should be avoided at all costs. 

You can choose to use the on-screen methods of operating controls, or you can buy the external ones. In our experience external control panels look fancy but add little to the overall experience as the layout of controls will probably not match your regular real-world aircraft. However, external controls can be easier to use when you are in a hurry. So, nice to have, but not essential. 

The critical components 

Perhaps the most important difference between the gamer and real-world pilot experience is the view from the pilot’s seat. While it might be OK for a gamer to ‘fly’ using a single screen, for the real-world pilot looking to maintain or enhance their real-world skills, we do not consider that as not a viable option. 

Imagine trying to fly your favourite aircraft with all the windows blacked out except for the front windscreen. Not great for situational awareness. But that’s what it will be like if you try to use any flight sim with only one screen. Sure, there are controls that allow you to pan the views, but these can be tricky to use, especially for casual users. They do not allow you to use peripheral vision when turning, for example. Some gamers fly using a view from outside and behind the aircraft which gives better vision around the aircraft. But that has nothing to do with how a real-world pilot flies an aircraft. 

Therefore, we believe the minimum acceptable setup includes three screens – one for the front windscreen and dash panel, one for the view out the left front window and one for the view out the right front window. Otherwise circuits and any turns on approach to land become mere guesswork, which kind of defeats the purpose. We have found that dealing with lack of vision issues while trying to get everything else right tends to quickly change your mindset from serious flight simulation to annoying game mode. 

That old question again 

So, now that we know we need at least three screens, the next decision is what resolution we (a) need to be able to see properly and (b) can afford (or already have available). 

Basic Full High Definition (FHD) screens with 1920 x 1080 pixels (1080p) start around $100 each. Quad HD (2K) screens with 2560 x 1440 pixels (1440p) start around $250 each. Ultra HD (4K) screens with 3840 x 2160 pixels (2160p) begin at around $350 each. Prices quoted are for comparison purposes only, are the lowest we found for each category and change constantly. And remember, you will need three of these. 

Of course, there are a lot more choices and considerations about the best screen for your situation, such as wide screen options, refresh and response rates, contrast ratios and a host of other attributes. There is also screen size. The issue here is that the larger the physical screen size, the more pixels will be required to retain a sharp image at a given viewing distance. So, if you are thinking of the larger screens (27” or more) then Full HD is probably not going to cut it for that reason alone. 

But is bigger always better? Not when it comes to screen size. Imagine the experience of standing right in front of a large cinema screen. You need to be a minimum distance away to even see properly, much less get the best experience. Turns out there is quite a bit of science behind it all. 

Getting the layout right 

In a simple single screen setup, some of these considerations are not important. For example, we can easily adjust the screen-to-eye distance to suit our situation. For us, a viewing distance of between one and two times the screen size seems to work well. The closer you sit to the screens, the more head movement is required – just like in a real aircraft.

‘Is bigger always better? Not when it comes to screen size’

That will then determine where your screens must be physically located in relation to your seating position. Yoke and rudder pedals should also feature in this layout design. 

However, when crowding three screens onto a desk around your flight controls, you might run into a space issue. And not the type of space where no one can hear you scream. In our old FSX setup, we use three 21.5” screens, which require around 120 centimetres total desk width. In this configuration we find that the ideal viewing distance from the screens is between 61 centimetres and 92 centimetres. The position of yoke, rudder pedals and panel instruments may dictate exactly where you sit. This is more than the distance we would sit from the windscreen in a small trainer, but to us the perspective looks about right. 

PPI, screen resolution and viewing distance 

We have covered the three main types of screen resolution currently available for computer monitors and TVs. But there is another aspect of this that needs to be understood. 

A particular screen type such as Full HD will have the same number of pixels (1920) across the width of the screen, whether that screen is 21.5”, 31.5” or 101.5” wide. Clearly, the same number of pixels must be spread over a larger distance on the larger screens. This introduces the pixels per inch (PPI) attribute, which is yet another important consideration in the FS2020 puzzle.

To keep it simple, for most people it is ideal to aim for a PPI of 110, with a tolerance of plus or minus 20. Below 90 the screen appears pixelated to most people, and above 130 the size of displayed objects starts to shrink. 

Using the table, we can see that using 21.5” Full HD screens, we will be five centimetres further away than the minimum required to make the pixels indistinguishable. The larger 24” Full HD screens may be borderline in this particular situation. Figures in brackets are the PPI for each combination. Results shown in bold are in the ‘sweet spot’ of between 90 and 130 PPI. 

As the smallest 2K screen we found for sale was 27”, that puts the minimum distance from screen to eye at 81 centimetres, which is ideal in our situation. However, it also adds around 20 centimetres to the total desk width required (not to mention adding quite a bit to the screen and PC hardware costs). 

We have also read reports where FS2020 users have claimed that the scenery only starts to show its full potential with screen resolutions of 2K or more. The only way to verify that is by comparing actual systems in use. However, for the real-world pilot rather than the gamer, this may or may not be a critical issue. 

The PC hardware you will need 

The process for choosing the right hardware to run FS2020 will be different for everyone, depending on individual requirements. The critical components that will make up a PC capable of delivering the outcome you require will need to be carefully selected. 

The graphics processing unit will probably be the most critical and expensive item inside the PC. Then you will need to consider the most appropriate central processing unit (CPU), memory size and type, motherboard, storage and power supply. 

For a detailed explanation of each of these and how they interrelate, please visit aerocircus.com.au. However, the basics of what we believe will be appropriate hardware combinations at this time are as follows. In all cases we recommend 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD for storage. Indicative prices exclude monitors, cases, power supplies and other peripherals that may not be required for a system upgrade. 

Our picks 

For those looking for a budget system using Full HD screens, we think a workable minimum is an i5-10400F CPU paired with a GTX 1650 SUPER graphics card. This should provide adequate performance for ‘flight training’ for those on a budget. Expect a basic system cost starting from around $850. In our testing, steam gauges appear good enough to fly with but a glass cockpit at this resolution seems pretty much unusable. And don’t expect realistic scenery. 

For the mid-range system using 2K screens, our minimum spec would be an i5-10600 CPU with an RTX 2060 SUPER graphics card. This should give you more realistic scenery and a more legible panel while being priced from $1,300. 

Finally, for the high-end system, we think an i7-10700 CPU matched with an RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card would satisfy most users. For those with deeper pockets, this lot starts from around $1,900. Of course, if money is no object then just get the best components you can find. Or wait for VR to be released. 

Why you should rush out and buy it today 

FS2020 represents a major leap forward for home flight simulators. The visual experience is sensational compared to what has come before. The screen layouts are reasonably intuitive and easy to navigate. There are plenty of tutorials available if you do need help. 

Right now, it is a game, and a bloody good one. If you just want to marvel at the realistic scenery, fly over your friend’s house or under a bridge that you probably shouldn’t in real life, then this is for you. 

You might be able to practice the odd cross-country navigation exercise or explore new aircraft types that you have not flown before. Because of the stunning scenery you will probably want to fly at low levels most of the time. 

Let’s face it – the entertainment factor of FS2020 will probably suck you in anyway. After you have finished your ‘training’ flights you can go and check out places or fly aircraft that you may never get to experience in the real world. 

And why you shouldn’t 

It is still early days for FS2020 and if you are not into pioneering with new products, maybe give it a miss for a while. There are bugs and glitches aplenty, as you would expect from such a new and complex piece of software. 

FS2020 is clearly not a finished product. At the time of writing, the early release of FS2020 does not have many key features that were available in FSX. Most critically for us, users cannot create additional views such as out the side windows. From our perspective, trying to fly an aircraft with the side windows blocked is not how we want to spend our days. For example, you have no visual reference to the runway when turning in the circuit. Sorry, but flying by guesswork is not going to improve anyone’s real world performance (IFR pilots excepted, of course).

Sure, you can manually pan the views in FS2020 as you could in earlier versions, but that is distracting and breaks the natural flow of real-world operations that we are trying to recreate. 

However, once multi-screen capabilities are available, we think FS2020 will be ideal for realworld pilots to maintain and even enhance their flying skills. In the meantime, it might be worthwhile getting used to FS2020, setting it up and fine-tuning it on a single screen for the best performance. Then, when the multi-screen functionality arrives, you can start honing those real-world skills straight away. 

Finally, let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t get too carried away with the realism thing and start charging us landing fees. 

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We hope this article has given you a different perspective on how to approach FS2020 as a training aid. Follow our progress or contribute to the discussion at aerocircus.com.au as we build and test PCs to compare to the old FSX system we have been using for years and find out what works best for real-world pilots in FS2020.

Aero Circus was formed by a group of General Aviation pilots with different experience levels, from RPL to Grade 1 Instructor. Their aim is to bridge the gap between what the CASA syllabus teaches and what a truly safe or employable pilot needs to know. For more information – including the full version of this article – see their website at aerocircus.com.au.