I am often shocked by how many different ways to fly exist within the MSFS world.
I typically fly 1 or 2 engined GA airplanes. When I hear folks talking about flying airliners, it is like they are speaking a different language.
I use a yoke, so when I hear folks talking about their HOTAS, I think they might be from another planet!
Then there are the stunt flyers and thrill seekers. Playing MSFS like a game of Forza Horizon in the sky! And I am like, “Woah… are you even allowed to do THAT?!?”
It is easy to think everyone else is doing it wrong.
But they aren’t.
This sim is just really BIG. So big I have spent well over a year learning to do just one of the things available. And it is enough to keep me busy.
Maybe some day I will move on to another style of flying. Maybe not. Who knows? I may have already found my comfort zone.
But after all these months, the scale and scope of MSFS is still impressive and intimidating.
It’s a big, open world. People are free to do as they wish as far as I’m concerned. So long their actions aren’t disruptive to other folks, then they can do as they please.
just like the motor racing world from remote control to formula one, there are a wide range of disciplines. i would never be interested in micro-lites or world war one biplanes if it wasnt for sims. in fs 2004 one of my favourite aircraft was the wright flyer low and slow threading through chicago, then into a Mig 29 and intercepting airliners.
When I see they land 787 or 747 at Lukla or Saba more and so often, or they complain that their GA aircrafts freeze at 40,000 ft, 50,000ft… I feel like I live in another planet, I just make a short visit here in this earth.
I don’t do if often, but when I set the multiplayer to see all players there is a lot happening up there, touch and go in regional airports, airliners goin from city to city, water landings, F-18 chasing other planes…
Everyone playing their style, maybe PC or Xbox or a home built cockpit, cool for some or annoying for others…
When you simulate flying an airplane and do something against the rules/law, against the POH/FCOM/FCTM, against the airline standard operation procedures, against the will to survive, of course you’re doing “it” wrong.
But the point is: neither are most people here certified pilots nor is this a real flight. It’s a sim, and specified as a game for a reason. Do what you want, that’s the point of this screen in front of us. Do as you can and know to, do how you have fun (most importantly!!). How cares if it’s wrong if you don’t?
I’m currently doing training patterns for a checkride to join a DCS squadron. Well, right now I’m taking a break. I want to be in that squadron and so I have to fly correctly. There is no room (or not much) for doing it wrong.
It all depends on the standpoint and the expectation one has for his or her flight. It’s a game and it can be a simulation, you decide how deep you wanna dive.
I would suggest you turn all players off, turn off real world/AI aircraft. That way you have the sky/airports/airstrips/oceans/seas and deserts all to yourself. There are no laws with this sim as to “our” flying style. Cruise at 90kts in a GA, break the sound barrier with a fighter jet or sit at FL390 in your Airliner. In this instance… The world’s your oyster
The OP really hits the nail. This is an open world of flight. As long as it is even remotely related to flight, possibly with the exception of combat involving weapons delivery, you can do it, and whatever you choose to do is fine. If I had to highlight one single thing as the most amazing and enjoyable aspect of this sim, that is the one. It is not all about one thing, it is about all things.
I like doing different things, I fly light aircraft myFR, I fly light aircraft as realistically as I can VFR, I fly airliners as realistically as I can IFR, and “airliner” could mean a DC-6 just as well as an A320, whichever I am in the mood for. Still there are tons of things others do that I don’t, some just because I am not interested, and other things just because I haven’t thought of it yet.
I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, which is a lot shorter than many on this forum and a lot longer than some - and that is fine. I still find new things to do, and I still enjoy doing some of the things I did in FS2000 20 years ago. I used flight sims before I got my PPL, I use flight sims after I got my PPL. It is a lifelong hobby.
On occasion I with HOTAS fly my c172, buzz the tower, then dip into the football stadium that happens to be by the runway, before getting back into pattern and land.
It’s great fun!
I also enjoy leaning navigation, procedures and going through checklists.
Is there any etiquette with multiplayer in the sim? Most of the time I see real people, they are more often than not, just parked and probably trying to figure out their G1000.
I had an A320 cross the grass, and take me and some signs out. But that was just real traffic AI for some reason. Later I had a heart attack in VR when a service truck came from nowhere and hit me at a high rate of speed.
I do kind of appreciate that crashing is made to be boring in the sim. It has no reward value.
